The Miami Heat have been linked to Anfernee Simons as a possible free-agent addition, with one reported insider saying he still believes Simons is an addition for Miami. The idea has gained traction because Miami is still trying to finish its roster while working with limited cap space and looking for at least two more moves.
That is why Simons is suddenly in the conversation. He is 27, 6-foot-3 and an unrestricted free agent after finishing a four-year, $100 million extension, which makes him one of the few guards who could be discussed without requiring a major trade. The Heat already signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a one-year, $6.5 million deal, and the next addition has to fit a roster that is operating just below the first apron.
For Miami, the appeal is easy to see. Simons has a career 38.1% mark from 3 and has been framed as a younger, higher-upside guard who can handle the ball and create off the dribble. That type of player is useful for a team trying to add shooting and another creator without blowing past the limits that shape every move it makes.
The hesitation is just as easy to see. Simons’ most recent season was not a clean showcase of his ceiling. He had no starts in 49 games with the Celtics, then was dealt to the Bulls before the trade deadline and played only six games before injury shut him down. Miami can talk itself into the upside, but there is a real question about whether that version of Simons is worth one of its limited openings.
That question matters because the Heat are not shopping in the wide-open part of the market. Andrew Wiggins’ new $64 million extension already shapes the payroll, and his deal is set to pay him $34 million over the final two years. With the team still needing at least two more additions, Miami has to decide whether Simons is the best use of scarce flexibility or simply the most intriguing name attached to it.
If the Heat do move, it will likely be because they think Simons gives them more than a fallback plan. If they pass, the gap between interest and an actual offer will say as much about Miami’s cap math as it does about Simons’ fit. For now, the link is real. The contract is real. The choice is still unresolved.
