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Among the free agents currently available who the Heat has already shown some level of interest in are veteran guard Bradley Beal and veteran forward DeMar DeRozan. The Heat has had discussions with the representatives for both players, according to league sources. But league sources say the Heat has prioritized three-point shooting guard Klay Thompson, who is still under contract with the Dallas Mavericks and is due $17.5 million this upcoming season in the final year of his contract. This means that Miami would need to either trade for Thompson or hope he shakes free through a buyout agreement.
During the 2026/27 league year, only one NBA player will have a formal no-trade clause in his contract. That player is Damian Lillard, who negotiated a no-trade clause into his deal with the Trail Blazers last summer. LeBron James and Bradley Beal had no-trade clauses in their respective contracts in recent years, but Beal gave his up when he agreed to a buyout with the Suns during the 2025 offseason, and James no longer has one after his contract with the Lakers expired this summer. LeBron would have been eligible for a no-trade clause if he had rejoined the Cavaliers or Heat in free agency, but since he hasn’t played for Philadelphia before, he couldn’t add one to his new contract with the Sixers.
Heat Central: The Miami Heat will shift their focus to DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, and Klay Thompson after missing out on LeBron James, per @ShamsCharania “They had a very compelling pitch…. Now they’ll shift their focus to players like DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, and could you find a player like Klay Thompson on the buyout market”
If the Heat concludes that waiting on Thompson isn’t realistic, Miami could consider free agent Bradley Beal, who would welcome Heat interest after opting out of a Clippers contract that would have paid him $5.5 million. Beal’s camp and the Heat spoke earlier this offseason.
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Jake Fischer: ‘I was told today that Bradley Beal’s decision is not exactly being held up by LeBron, but is being impacted by it. I do think there’s some Miami interest there, and I would not rule out Boston for Beal because of the connection with Jayson Tatum. (…) He could go back to the Clippers. (…) Beal is definitely going to be signed by a team with playoff aspirations, that is my understanding there.’
NBACentral: Miami and Boston are potential landing spots for Bradley Beal, per @JakeLFischer (Via @BleacherReport )
Besides waiting for LeBron James, the Heat continues to wait patiently to see if another shooter or scorer shakes free. They had initial conversations with Bradley Beal but haven’t been aggressive in their pursuit, per a source. They hadn’t contacted Demar DeRozan as of Monday, though that could change.
Heat Central: Veterans minimum signings such as DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, and Khris Middleton could be on hold for Miami until LeBron makes his decision per, @JakeLFischer “We’re looking at Toronto, potentially Miami. All these veterans who could go to Miami and join Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, they I think will all be on hold with LeBron’s situation” (Via @BleacherReport)
Barry Jackson: There has been no contact yet between DeRozan camp and Heat, per source just now. Miami would be among teams of interest to DeRozan, who is being set free by the Kings. Miami's options now include - among others - DeRozan, Beal, Gary Trent. Or the Heat simply could wait on LeBron decision before deciding what wing player to pursue. I expect Heat to try to add another wing; tough call is whether to pounce on one of these players or wait to see if a surprise name shakes free. Mavs -- trying to be playoff contender- don't need to buyout Klay, obvously. And if Kings use waive and stretch on DeRozan (reported to be likely path), they do not necessarily need to do that with Zach LaVine.
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Etienne Catalan: Cam Christie is switching from No. 12 to No. 0 for the #Clippers. Number last worn by Bradley Beal in 2026. #NBA Christie brothers back on wearing the same number - as Max switched to 0 for the #Mavs as well.
A source said some of the bigger guards on Miami’s radar are 6-4 Bradley Beal, 6-3 Anfernee Simons and 6-5 Kentavious Caldwell Pope (who is expected to part ways with the Grizzlies). The 6-5 Zach LaVine could become an option if the Kings waive and stretch the final season (and $49 million) of his contract. And so could....
