Four Potential Miami Heat Targets On the Buyout Market

Here is a list of free-agent guards that could help the Miami Heat this season and beyond

Author:
Nick Crandell
Feb 15, 2024 9:02 AM EST

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Even before injuries to Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson, the Miami Heat needed depth at point guard. With both now set to miss extended time, the Heat must turn to the buyout market for help.

Here is a list of free-agent guards the Miami Heat could target:

Killian Hayes

Hayes went from Detroit Pistons starter on opening night to waived in the span of 50 games. The point guard averaged a respectable 6.9 points and 4.9 assists while shooting 41.3 percent and 29.7 percent from three this season. The seventh overall draft pick in 2020, Hayes is still just 22. That is more than five months younger than Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.

The 6-foot-4 Hayes is a rangy and capable defender. If he can increase his offensive efficiency, Hayes would be a solid depth piece this year and an intriguing developmental project for the future.

Frank Ntilikina

Ntilikina’s game can be summed up in one word — defense. The former Charlotte Hornet has a career 113.2 defensive rating, which would rank 27th in the NBA this season. Ntilikina was the No. 8 pick in the 2017 draft (New York Knicks), but has struggled offensively. He averaged 6.8 points in his most productive season (2019-20). He has battled injuries this season, scoring five points in five games.

But Ntilikina is only 25. The former lottery pick may retain enough potential to attract the Heat, who are famous for extracting every ounce of talent from overlooked players.

Ish Smith

The 35-year-old has played for an NBA-record 13 teams over his 14-year career. After winning a championship with the Denver Nuggets, Smith played in 43 games with the Hornets this season before being released. Smith is an old-school point guard: In 17 minutes per game, he averaged just 3.7 field-goal attempts but 3.4 assists.

The Heat won’t get much scoring (3.2 points per game), but Smith brings experience and professionalism that Miami should covet.

James Bouknight

Bouknight would be a major project, as he has struggled on and off the court with the Charlotte Hornets. A lottery pick in 2021, Bouknight was arrested on DWI charges in 2022. The 6-foot-4 guard was out of the rotation this season, averaging 3.6 points in 14 games before his release.

Why might the Heat be interested? Like Ntilikina and Hayes, Bouknight is young (23) and the former University of Connecticut star may benefit from the Heat’s elite player development program.