The Miami Heat are looking to upgrade with free agents this offseason and names like Kyle Lowry, Chandler Parsons, Jimmer Fredette, Luol Deng, Isaiah Thomas and Lance Stephenson are targets for the team after the trade for Shabazz Napier and all those moves are coming in with the same goal in mind, which is to keep LeBron James in South Beach along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
LeBron James is the top free agent on the market, but he is not a realistic target for most teams, as he is focusing on returning to the Miami Heat. The team added Shabazz Napier in a trade after James praised him numerous times and now they are going after free agents, with names like Kyle Lowry, Chandler Parsons, Jimmer Fredette, Channing Frye, Luol Deng and Lance Stephenson as possibilities for the team.
According to ESPN.com, Luol Deng is not looking to take a pay cut and that could keep him from signing with Miami, while Lowry is looking like a very solid option if he isn't too expensive. Lowry is the top point guard on the market and along with Isaiah Thomas and those two names are targets for the team as well. ESPN writes that the team is looking at signing Lowry along with the rest of the Big 3 and it comes as Wade and Bosh are willing to take cuts in salary once again. Chandler Parsons is a restricted free agent and he could be a perfect fit in Miami, as he shot over 45 percent last season while averaging 16 points. The Rockets want to keep him, but if they sign Carmelo Anthony they may not be able to do so and that could open the door for Miami to bring him in after Houston declined his player option to make him an RFA.
ESPN writes that Bosh is willing to take a five year deal at $11 million, while Wade would take four years and $12 million, which would free up the Heat to sign James at $20 million. James wants a max deal, as he is the best player in the league and if the other stars take some cuts, Miami can sign more players. The team needs to restock the bench and players beyond Lowry and Parsons include Fredette, Marvin Williams and Vince Carter, who would be a perfect veteran option for the team.
The Miami Heat need to add some free agents after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the finals and that was one thing James said after the season. Many have speculated about James and his future and while teams like the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns want to sign him, it is looking like James is staying with Miami. The Heat have shown willingness to work with the Big 3 to sign players and get them in under the cap and other teams do not have the space to sign all three and LeBron still wants to play with Wade and Bosh. Miami is going to be a contender once again and they are trying to make it to the finals for the fifth straight season.
