At least two teams plan to aggressively pursue Heat point guard Kendrick Nunn in free agency this summer, Alex Kennedy of Basketball News reports.
Nunn is expected to be a restricted free agent, assuming Miami extends a $4.736MM qualifying offer after the season. Nunn would then have to sign an offer sheet and the Heat would have the right to match the offer in that scenario.
Several teams were looking to make a deal for Nunn prior to last month’s trade deadline, Kennedy adds.
Nunn has dropped out of coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotation at times this season but he’s played a major role with Victor Oladipo sidelined by a knee injury until sitting out Monday’s game against Chicago. He averaged 19.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 3.6 APG over the past five games while making half of his 3-point attempts. Overall, he’s averaging 14.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG and 3.2 APG in 29.0 MPG while starting 35 of 47 games.
He was the runner-up to Ja Morant for Rookie of the Year honors last season, averaging 15.3 PPG and 3.3 APG in 67 starts.
A handful of teams will have significant cap room this summer, which should work in the favor of restricted free agents such as Nunn, Kennedy notes.
When Miami initially acquired Oladipo, it was assumed the Heat would prioritize him in free agency. However, Oladipo’s knee and leg woes could convince the Heat to make more of an effort to hold onto Nunn.
Nunn free throw is as good as Steph Curry
Nunn and Robinson should get $64 million contract each
Nunn
3 pt
38.3%
Duncan Robinson
3pt
40.5%
Heat have zero salary cap room
Butler 36m
Bam 28m
Projected
Robinson 16m
Nunn 16m
Oladipo 16m
Ryan Anderson 5m dead money
Total 5 players $117 million salary
It makes a whole lot more sense for them to spend that kind of money on Nunn (and Robinson) instead of Oladipo. That trade with Houston is looking worse and worse the way Olynyk is playing right now. He should be way easier to re-sign this summer than Oladipo will be. Thank you Miami.
Would you rather have Olynyk than Levert? Cause thats what your owner chose
That’s a fair comment, but in the Oladipo/Olynyk swap, Wally has a point.
Heat fans want to sign or acquire Lowry
Add $30 million salary
6 players total annual salary $147 million
I don’t think Miami will pay up for both Duncan and Nunn. I think we bring Lowry and re-sign Duncan. Would probably have to let Goran walk in that scenario or offer him the midlevel exception… And Oladipo is a lost cause, unless he’s willing to take a discounted one year deal.
If Dragic and Nunn walk for nothing, Heat will be as bad as Celtics next season
You’ve got to pay huge luxury taxes in order to win championships
Kerr hates Nunn because he’s “not a fit” (???) so rule GSW out, which stinks because he probably is a great fit.
Miami should of been all in on Harden. Miami could of traded Robinson and Nunn along with picks.
Sometimes Riley pulls an Ainge like approach and becomes stubborn…
Nunn is not worth that much cash, but he would be a good backup on a contending team. He is an able defender and hustles, but he doesn’t really impact the game enough to get big money.
He’s better than Bledsoe for sure…
He’s still young. I haven’t seen enough of him but would imagine he has some room to grow especially if he can get some playing time. Say hes worse than Bledsoe — do the Pelicans sign him as a shooter while Zion runs point? Hard to know if Ball will be back.
Clippers,jazz,mavs,knicks would all make sense…
Nothing paves the way to contention quite like overpaying role players