The Miami Heat reportedly are still looking to add a veteran in the frontcourt. Miami's top target appears to be free agent Emeka Okafor, who was sidelined all last season with a neck injury.
Miami's rebuild in the post-LeBron era continues. The Heat's weakest area is in the paint, where they're lacking in both size and depth. Although Heat president Pat Riley recently signed an undrafted power forward, the team reportedly is still looking for another big man.
"Heat officially announce signing of undrafted UNLV PF Khem Birch, a skilled shot blocker. Still looking at veteran backup centers, too," Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweeted Sunday.
Outside of Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem, Miami doesn't have any skill - or size - in the paint. Similar to the Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit, the Heat are searching for a rim-protector who can anchor the paint and block shots. In terms of big men, Okafor is the top free agent on the market. There are questions about his health, however, and he isn't expected to sign with a team until later in the season.
"Okafor could end up with more options if he waits until midseason to look for a deal," Cray Allred of Hoops Rumors wrote Saturday. "In-season pickups earn prorated salaries, meaning a team without room to squeeze the big man under the tax line now could conceivably do so later in the season, when a minimum contract's payout would shrink. As always, opportunities could open up for Okafor if any teams lose a frontcourt piece to injury. Teams currently unable to offer Okafor more than the minimum could gain that flexibility if granted a disabled player exception after a season-ending injury to one of their players."
It's also uncertain if Okafor has been cleared to participate in contact basketball activities. While his ability to stay healthy is a concern, he's considered a better bet than free agent centers Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden, whom Miami chose not to bring back for another season.
