(Mandatory Credit: Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
With two weeks until media day and less than two weeks until training camp, the Miami Heat’s roster still may not be all the way set.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line and the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson, the Heat — as well as three other East foes — has interest in bringing in free agent guard John Konchar to compete for a roster spot.
“John Konchar is one of the top free agents available and has drawn interest, league sources say, from Miami, New York, Orlando and Toronto,” Stein wrote Monday evening. “Yet the Raptors sit just $2.3 million under the first apron with a total of only 13 guaranteed contracts after reacquirng Leonard. The other three teams do have just enough apron flexibility to add one more player; both Florida teams have 14 players on standard contracts and the Knicks currently have 13.”
By adding both Klay Thompson and Nick Richards late into the summer, the Heat have 14 players on standard contracts, one below the league maximum of 15. They have enough flexibility to sign another player while staying below the first apron, but could also opt to keep that spot open — which they have done in the past.
According to Jackson, one player could be at risk of losing his roster spot if the Heat do bring in Konchar, who played 56 combined games with the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz last season.
“According to a source, the Heat has spoken to Konchar’s camp about potentially competing with Myron Gardner for a roster spot,” Jackson wrote. “The Heat is expected to circle back this week with a decision about whether it will formally offer that opportunity.”
Gardner’s contract is partially guaranteed — with $500K of the $2.1 million already guaranteed — and he can earn the full salary if he’s on the roster past Jan. 7.
Konchar, 30, averaged 4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds across 19.9 minutes per game last season. He shot 47.2 percent from the floor, 28.3 percent from 3-point range and 72.7 percent from the free-throw line.
His 3-point shooting was well below his career mark of 36.1 percent (1.8 3PA) heading into 2025-26. Konchar spent his first six-and-a-half seasons with the Grizzlies before getting traded to Utah in the Jaren Jackson Jr. eight-player deadline blockbuster.
What are your thoughts on potentially adding Konchar to the mix? Let us know in the comments!
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