NBA Rumors: Heat Eye Nuggets Swingman For Added Scoring Punch Next Season

The Miami Heat made an impressive run last NBA season and there is nowhere else to go but up. The South Beach squad is expected to take in new players with Jerami Grant of the Denver Nuggets said to be among their targets this offseason.

According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, the 6-foot-9 forward is on their wish list if Grant opts out of his deal with the Nuggets. Grant can make $9.3 million this 2020-21 NBA season if he plans to stay with the club.

Considering the 26-year-old made a good account of himself in the NBA playoffs, it may be a wise move to check out the market and see if he can get something better. Aside from that, the winning culture could entice him if he should move to the Eastern Conference.

Grant had a good run with the Nuggets in the Western Conference as well before his team fell to the powerhouse and eventual NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers. Considering word of him opting out is purely speculation, it is also possible that he elects to stay with the Nuggets and see if they can do better for another year.

Grant averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 26.6 minutes of action for the Nuggets last season. He holds a high 53.7% shooting clip from the field and 38.9% from the three-point region. The Heat could use more scorers in the mix, particularly in the forward line.

Before joining the Nuggets, Grant also had stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. His best regular season, so far, was with the Thunder during the 2018-19 season where he normed 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and an assist in 32.7 minutes of action in 80 games per Basketball-Reference.

Though Jae Crowder made a good account of himself last NBA season, turning to Grant would bring in someone younger that can also work to the Heat’s plan moving forward. Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson are the future of the club and Grant appears to be a great fit.

Until Grant decides on his plans for next season, these reports should be taken with a grain of salt. The Heat are expected to bounce back harder after a great 2019-20 ride and new faces are likely to be added by team president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra.