3 top buyout candidates for Miami after Trade Deadline, ranked

With about two-thirds of the 2021-22 NBA season in the books, the Miami Heat find themselves atop the Eastern Conference standings. However, their lead in the East isn’t too safe as only 2.5 games separate them from the no. 5 seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Pat Riley usually makes a splash at the NBA trade deadline, which just passed last Thursday. But The Godfather stood pat with his roster and is reportedly looking into the buyout market to improve the Heat roster. Miami is in need of some backcourt depth and there are some potential names they could fill that role. With that, here are the top three buyout candidates for Miami after the 2022 NBA trade deadline.

Heat Buyout Candidates

3. Dennis Schroder

The Boston Celtics dealt Dennis Schroder to the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline. With the youth movement in full swing, Houston will likely buyout the German guard. Many contending teams should coming knocking on Schroder’s door when that happens. The Heat should strongly consider pursuing him.

In 49 games (25 off the bench) with the Celtics this season, Schroder averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. The 28-year old’s stock has fallen off over the last couple of years. But this is a guy who finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting just a couple of seasons ago.

Schroder is still highly capable of filling it up as a spark plug off the bench. As noted, the Heat have a need for backcourt depth. He should be an upgrade over Gabe Vincent, Miami’s primary back up for Kyle Lowry this season.

2. John Wall

John Wall has pretty much been a sitting duck for the Houston Rockets this season. As mentioned, Houston has focused on developing their young players this season. He and the Rockets made an agreement for Wall to sit out as they tried to work out a trade.

While Wall has been a consummate professional, helping and guiding the young guys on the sidelines, he still wants to go out there and compete. The 2010 no. 1 overall pick missed the entire 2019-20 season due to a torn Achilles. He came back last year and still looked much like his former self, averaging 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in the 40 games he appeared in.

However, Wall is reportedly not considering a buyout of the remaining two years and $91.7 million of his deal at this point. Perhaps the opportunity to win a championship with Miami could convince him to agree.

1. Goran Dragic

Goran Dragic’s Toronto Raptors tenure finally came to an end when they dealt him to the San Antonio Spurs at the deadline. San Antonio is fully expected to buyout Dragic. And several teams are already expressing interest in signing the 35-year old off the buyout market.

Miami traded Dragic to Toronto this past summer to sign Kyle Lowry. Dragic only lasted five games in Canada and left the Raptors citing personal reasons. Despite pretty much sitting the entire year, he has been spotted working in Miami on several occasions.

With Dragic apparently already in the area code, the Heat should look to bring back one of their key pieces in their run to the 2020 NBA Finals. Through the first three rounds of the 2020 playoffs, the Slovenian averaged 20.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 15 games.

Dragic may be the best bet out of the bunch due to his familiarity with the franchise and Miami’s signature culture.