Pat Riley has always been an ambitious character, and that hasn’t changed a bit in the 2022 offseason.
Unsurprisingly, the Heat have emerged as serious suitors to trade for 2x champion Kevin Durant, who specifically named Miami as one of his two preferred landing spots. But the Heat do have other plans if the Durant pursuit doesn’t end well.
According to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, former Lakers guard Dennis Schroder has also emerged as a target for Pat Riley’s team this summer.
While Miami may not have an explicit need a point guard, it might want more protection since Kyle Lowry is 36 years old and having increasing trouble ducking the injury bug, and Gabe Vincent has fewer than 2,500 NBA minutes under his belt. Could that steer Pat Riley and Co. toward Dennis Schroder?
Assuming the Heat don’t win the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, they’ll need to find ways to juice their half-court offense. Of the realistic options still available, Schroder might be the best one to provide that spark.
Of course, this isn’t the first time that Schroder has been linked to south Florida. Earlier this month, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz revealed Miami as the most likely landing spot for the veteran point guard.
“Of the teams with at least the taxpayer mid-level exception left, Miami makes the most sense for Schroder. Kyle Lowry had a rocky first season with the Heat, as the 36-year-old missed 19 games and averaged his lowest scoring output since the 2012-13 season (13.4 points per game). While third-year guard Gabe Vincent did an admirable job filling in, Miami could use another veteran ball-handler as insurance for Lowry and to help keep him fresh for the playoffs.”
Miami finished first in the East this season and made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the young and talented Celtics.
They can definitely hold their own if they run it back as they are, but the Heat are always looking to improve, and if they can’t get Kevin Durant, they will settle for Schroder.
Either way, don’t expect Miami to sit back and stand pat as all the best players get taken off the board.
