The Miami Heat are without question one of the most intriguing teams to watch each offseason, and they are going to be again in 2017 NBA free agency. Pat Riley will be interested in bringing in a superstar, and there are quite a few big names that will be available on the open market.
Stephen Curry is the obvious free agency prize, but there are a few other players that can change the future of any franchise that they sign with. Blake Griffin is another name that Riley and the Heat could look to target.
Miami could very well end up being the best suitor for Griffin during the free agency period. Convincing him to leave the Los Angeles Clippers may not be easy, but if there is anyone that can do it, it would be Riley. He was able to convince LeBron James to leave his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers a few years back.
Last season with the Clippers, Griffin ended up averaging 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He shot 49.9 percent from the field overall and knocked down 72.7 percent of his foul shots.
Adding those numbers to the Heat roster would put them back in serious contention in the Eastern Conference.
Chris Bosh has been dealing with health issues due to blood clots. He has been struggling to say the very least and there is no telling when he will be able to make his return to the court. Miami also lost franchise player Dwyane Wade to the Chicago Bulls this offseason, as ESPN originally reported.
At 27-years-old, there is no question that Griffin will be very careful with his next move. Whoever he signs with next offseason will get the rest of the prime of his career. Doc Rivers will likely do whatever he can do to bring Griffin back, while other teams will line up with an interest in signing him.
We have previously looked into two possible teams that could land Griffin here at the Inquisitr . The New York Knicks need to do whatever they can to sign Griffin, while the San Antonio Spurs could be a perfect landing spot for the superstar forward.
It will be interesting to see what next offseason has in store for Griffin to say the very least.
There is still a chance that the Clippers could trade Griffin ahead of the NBA trade deadline this year. Rumors have been flying this offseason about teams pursuing deals for Griffin and some reports have even stated that progress was being made in those discussions.
According to a report from Sean Deveney of Sporting News , the Boston Celtics were seriously pursuing a trade for Griffin. Those talks didn’t end up getting too far, but they were certainly interested in acquiring him.
Riley and the Heat will have to put together an aggressive presentation for Griffin. He is not going to make a rushed decision when it comes to free agency. Miami will likely be on his list of teams to interview with, although they might not be at the top of his list at this point in time.
Expect to hear the Heat mentioned as a landing spot for Griffin throughout the 2016-17 NBA season and into next offseason. He would be a huge step in the right direction for the Heat. Griffin may not end up signing with Miami, but they will do their best to make him consider the option.
Do you think the Miami Heat would be a good landing spot for Blake Griffin in free agency? What other teams do you think will show interest in signing him? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Photo by Danny Moloshok/AP Images]