The Miami Heat could benefit from these free-agent guards both this season and next.
The Miami Heat needed depth at point guard even before Josh Richardson and Terry Rozier suffered injuries. Now that both are expected to miss significant amounts of time, the Heat must look to the buyout market for support.
The Miami Heat may aim to sign any of the following guards as free agents:
Hayes, Killian
In 50 games, Hayes went from being a starter for the Detroit Pistons on opening night to being waived. This season, the point guard shot 41.3 percent and 29.7 percent from three-point range, respectively, and averaged a respectable 6.9 points and 4.9 assists. Hayes, who will be selected seventh overall in the 2020 draft, is only 22 years old. That puts Jaime Jaquez Jr., a rookie for the Heat, more than five months younger.
The six-foot four Hayes is a competent and long-range defender. Hayes would make an interesting long-term development project and a reliable depth piece this season if he can improve his offensive efficiency.
Ntilikina Frank
One word best describes Ntilikina’s strategy: defense. With a career defensive rating of 113.2, the former Charlotte Hornet would be ranked 27th in the NBA this season. While selected eighth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, Ntilikina has had offensive difficulties. During his most productive season (2019–20), he averaged 6.8 points. Despite his injuries this season, he has managed to score five points in five games.
