Heat reportedly going all-in for $603M Future Hall of Fame duo to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Heat reportedly going all-in for $603M Future Hall of Fame duo to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Miami Heat have been linked to Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson and veteran DeMar DeRozan for quite some time now. The future Hall of Fame duo would be major additions, as both would address key needs on Miami's roster.

DeRozan is a player who can create virtually any mid-range shot he wants, though there are concerns about his defense. If the Heat had to choose between the two, one NBA scout believes DeRozan would be the better option.

“[DeMar] has more left than Klay. But stylistically is the problem. He's got to come off the bench — if he could accept the role as a six-man type, he would bolster their bench and maybe finish games," a scout told Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. "He's not going to defend, he did start to pass the ball a little. But that's not why you have him. As a sixth man, considering the other options, he's a cut above Thompson."

While there may be some truth to that evaluation, Thompson remains the Heat's top priority.

“They hope not. The Miami Heat's number one priority right now is to acquire shooting. And they found their No. 1 target for that...Klay Thompson. The problem is Klay Thompson has one year left on his Mavs contract so they're exploring whether they can trade for him, whether this could end up in a buyout, we'll see over the next several weeks," ESPN's Shams Charania said.

Miami has room to add both veterans, though its primary focus remains acquiring Thompson. While the Heat have explored the possibility of a buyout, The Stein Line's Jake Fischer believes the organization is pursuing both players.

“Miami wants to get in the mix for both Klay Thompson with DeMar DeRozan,” Fischer said.

Landing both veterans would address two major needs for Miami. Thompson would provide the elite perimeter shooting the Heat have been searching for, while DeRozan would give them a proven veteran scorer who could lead the second unit and close games when needed.

Thompson and DeRozan have earned a combined $603 million in contracts throughout their careers. Pairing the two veterans with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo would give Miami a much more balanced roster, adding floor spacing, scoring, and valuable postseason experience.

More NBA news:

• Cavaliers predicted to sign $305M Future Hall of Famer, pivoting from NBA champ Jonathan Kuminga​

• Lakers predicted to part ways with $18M former first-round draft bust after disappointing stint​

• Nuggets' NBA champion Peyton Watson gets disappointing $18M contract update amid discussions​

• Lakers predicted to swap Jarred Vanderbilt for $298M 4-time NBA champion, elite All-Star shooter​

Continue reading...