The Miami Heat were very quiet to begin NBA free agency. Pat Riley held back from making big moves until he got involved in a three-team trade that brought Norman Powell to town.
While the team has been quiet for the most part, there are still quality free agents available that the Heat could pursue.
One position that the team could focus on is point guard. Right now, Miami is projected to start Tyler Herro at point guard with Davion Mitchell as his primary backup. Adding another option would be a wise decision.
Who could the Heat pursue? How about longtime NBA star Russell Westbrook?
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After playing a key role for the Denver Nuggets last season, Westbrook is still available in free agency. Playing in Miami is always a draw and it could interest the 36-year-old point guard enough to get him to sign a one-year deal.
That is exactly what Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report has predicted.
“Westbrook would join a guard rotation that features Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell and rookie Kasparas Jakučionis, giving Miami a dynamic playmaker that can still get downhill and attack a defense. With making a playoff run still very much the goal, Westbrook can keep the seat warm for a year while Jakučionis learns the NBA game,” Swartz wrote.
“With Erik Spoelsta putting him in the right spots and a talented, veteran roster around him, the Heat make the most sense for Westbrook.”
Westbrook played in 75 games and made 36 starts with the Nuggets last season. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game and shot 44.9 percent from the floor while knocking down 32.3 percent of his three-point attempts.
On a one-year deal, Westbrook could provide some firepower off of the bench. He can still score the basketball and is more than capable of creating shots for his teammates.
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Those are skill-sets that the Heat could use off of the bench.
There are still other teams around the NBA who could consider Westbrook. However, he is slowly running out of options. Miami is one of the best available.
Expect to hear more news about Westbrook in the near future. The Heat are worth keeping a close eye on as a potential free agency landing spot for the veteran guard.
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