Heat shopping on hold amid Lillard wait, with familiar faces still out there

LAS VEGAS — To put into perspective where the NBA free-agent market stands, consider that open tryouts being held for scouts concurrently with the NBA’s summer league have included John Wall, Isaiah Thomas and . . . Dion Waiters.

Against that backdrop, the Miami Heat find themselves with two remaining open roster spots and in a holding pattern, still uncertain whether theirs will be a roster that eventually includes disgruntled Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard.

With a Lillard trade likely sending out multiple Heat players, the two open roster spots could turn into three or more, with teams allowed to carry a maximum of 15 players under standard contract during the regular season.

Without an addition of Lillard, the Heat are positioned to only add players at the NBA minimum. And even then, the Heat well could opt for non-guaranteed deals to maintain flexibility going forward with the back end of their roster.

The 13 players under standard contract at the moment for the Heat are Bam Adebayo, Thomas Bryant, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Caleb Martin, Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, Josh Richardson, Duncan Robinson and Orlando Robinson.

There are several options for the Heat at the moment.

Convert the camp and two-way contracts: Guards Dru Smith and Jamaree Bouyea, under two-way contract during summer league, both are eligible to be converted to standard contracts. So is Jamal Cain, who finished the season on a two-way deal, the same type of deal that already was converted to a partially guaranteed standard contract for Orlando Robinson.

Continue the nostalgia tour: Having already brought Richardson back for a second tour, the Heat seemingly can build an entire roster of former Heat players who currently stand as free agents.

Included on that list are Kendrick Nunn, Goran Dragic, Derrick Jones Jr., Markieff Morris, Justise Winslow, Rodney McGruder, Chris Silva, Meyers Leonard, Moe Harkless, KZ Okpala and, yes, Waiters.

Seize upon shooting: Having already lost Max Strus to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Gabe Vincent to the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, there is the possibility the Heat could lose Duncan Robinson and/or Caleb Martin in a potential Lillard deal.

That would leave few shooters for Lillard to target on the wing from what would remain.

Among those who remain on the free-agent market with NBA shooting pedigree, albeit not necessarily during the past season, are Wesley Matthews (if only to further the Heat’s Marquette legacy), Danny Green, Terrence Ross, Javonte Green, Terence Davis, Kelly Oubre and T.J. Warren.

Address the point: If Lowry and Herro go out in a Lillard trade, it would leave the Heat’s options at point guard beyond Lillard as Dru Smith and Jamaree Bouyea.

That’s where a reunion with Nunn or Dragic potentially could come into play.

The question with Dragic is whether the Heat would want an older point guard as a backup for Lillard, who turns 33 Saturday. That would figure to rule out the likes of John Wall, George Hill or Kemba Walker.

While Ayo Dosunmu also remains a free agent, the 23-year-old Chicago Bulls 2021 second-round pick is restricted, with the Heat lacking the salary-cap wherewithal to draft an offer sheet.

Address the power play: While the Heat have Kevin Love, Thomas Bryant and Orlando Robinson in place in the power rotation, it’s not as if they have a definitive fit alongside Bam Adebayo.

Such a fit could be P.J. Washington, who remains on the market, but the Charlotte Hornets 2019 first-round pick is a restricted free agent, with, again, the Heat not positioned under the salary cap to extend an offer sheet (or even add him in a sign-and-trade transaction).

Dario Saric would have been a tempting fit, but he has reached an agreement with the Golden State Warriors.

Among remaining power players on the market are Christian Wood, Nerlens Noel, JaMychal Green, Wenyan Gabriel and Darius Bazley.

Play the waiting game: The Heat have had success over the years by waiting until closer to training camp to have value arrive, as was the case with Caleb Martin in September 2021, Jamaal Magloire in 2008 and Gary Payton in 2005.

Load up the non-guaranteed: Even with 13 players currently under standard contract and Smith and Bouyea on two-way deals, the Heat can add up to six more players, with teams allowed to carry up to 21 players prior to the start of the regular season.

That leaves the Heat positioned to lock in those who excel during summer league, provided they are willing to accept limited or no guaranteed money. Similarly, the Heat during summer league are free to poach players from other summer rosters, as long as those players solely are on summer tryout deals.