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Could Miami Heat Scoop Up Veterans Through Waivers?
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- Could Miami Heat Scoop Up Veterans Through Waivers?
(© IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Miami Heat 's regular season begins Wednesday when the team hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves. The preseason concluded Friday night and the Heat have until Monday evening to reduce their roster to the 15-player standard contract limit. Miami waived a few young prospects on Saturday but a bunch of other teams are forming their rosters and waiving players who the Heat could show interest in. With that out of the way, here are three recently waived players who would be solid additions to the Heat's rotation:
1. Pat Connaughton, Charlotte Hornets
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Connaughton, 33, has been in the NBA since 2015 and spent most of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks before being dealt to the Hornets in the 2025 offseason. He's shot 35.7 percent from three-point range throughout his career and if the Heat want to continue to add perimeter shooting pieces opposite veterans such as Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson, Connaughton is a more than serviceable option. Him playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis in Milwaukee for several seasons probably helps too.
2. Jeremy Sochan, Portland Trail Blazers
Sochan, 23, was a highly-touted prospect out of Baylor just a few years ago. He was drafted inside the top-10 in 2022 by the San Antonio Spurs. However, with the arrival of Victor Wembanyama for his sophomore season, Sochan's role started to change with the team experimenting playing him all over the court. It stunted his development and he was waived at the trade deadline this past season, joining the New York Knicks for the latter half of the campaign. He signed with the Trail Blazers and now finds himself back in free agency after a lackluster preseason. He presumably won't get too many more chances to make an impact at the NBA level but the Heat could take a flyer on him, especially with Erik Spoelstra's strong history of developing players with raw potential.
3. Bruce Brown, New York Knicks
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Brown is a veteran who has made a good career as a spark plug off the bench. After winning a championship in Denver in 2023, he found himself back with the Nuggets this past season where he played in all 82 games. Brown shot 47.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range. He joined the Knicks for training camp but didn't earn a spot on their standard roster. Despite being undersized, he can play both guard positions along with small forward. That versatility and flexibility could make him a solid addition for the Heat.
