Heat have been in touch with DeMar DeRozan; eyeing Klay Thompson

The Heat have been in contact with DeMar DeRozan‘s representatives, though a deal doesn’t appear imminent.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, DeRozan has interest in Miami, but at least one Heat official prefers to “wait out the market” before committing to the veteran forward.

Part of the hesitation may involve Klay Thompson. Jackson reports that Miami remains interested in acquiring the Mavericks wing and is reluctant to use much of the roughly $8 million it still has available through the mid-level exception.

Doing so for DeRozan would leave the Heat with less flexibility to make other moves.

DeRozan, meanwhile, has little reason to accept the veteran’s minimum. Other teams with mid-level money available have contacted him, per Jackson.

The 36-year-old remains one of the more accomplished free agents on the board after averaging 18.4 points with the Kings last season.

There is a basketball question for Miami, too. DeRozan remains one of the NBA’s better mid-range scorers, but he’s never been a high-volume 3-point shooter. The Heat could use more perimeter shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

So the interest is real. The fit and the money aren’t quite as simple.

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