The Miami Heat finished the regular season with a 37-45 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007-2008. The Heat’s season went down the drain due to injuries and not having the depth on their bench that other top teams had. With small forward being the only question mark on the Heat’s projected starting lineup next season, there are five guys they can get that could instantly put them among the top in the East again. Let’s get into the countdown.

Khris Middleton

Miami Heat fans are already familiar with Khris Middleton. The Bucks dawned the nickname Khris ‘Money’ Middleton nickname on Middleton when he was traded to the Bucks, and he has proven that. The Heat collapsed in the 4th quarter of the Heat’s most recent game versus the Bucks, and Middleton showed why he is nicknamed money.

With Khris Middleton coming to the Heat, it would give the Heat a small forward for the future. While Middleton is restricted, meaning the Bucks can match any offer for him, you have to wonder if they will decide to give him any dollar amount or not, as they will have to lock up Micheal Carter-Williams, Jabari Parker and others too for the future. Middleton can also play the guard position as well, which is another bonus.

Louis Williams

Louis Williams is also another player that the Miami Heat are familiar with. Williams’ dagger three in the Heat’s most recent game versus the Raptors virtually ended their season. which must’ve been a very hard feeling seeing an ex-player of a rival team doing that. None the less however, landing Williams may be one of Pat Riley’s biggest priorities in my opinion.

While Dwyane Wade can still put up 20 points per game, his inability to play every night killed the Heat, as they litterally had no one that can play at a high level like Wade off the bench. Louis Williams would change that instantly as we have seen him fill in for DeMar DeRozan this season, keeping the Raptors among the top of the East. Williams’ play may even get him the 6th man of the year award, another reason why he should be in a Heat uniform next season.

Brandan Wright

Let’s face it, Chris Andersen can’t be a reliable back up center anymore. Hassan Whiteside’s emergence gave the Heat what they wanted to get out of Greg Oden in the last year of the LeBron James era, but a big problem as to why the Heat’s center position still failed was because of health. Whiteside himself dealt with hand, ankle, and leg injuries as Chris Andersen dealt with calf, leg, hand, and other various injuries. Brandan Wright would provide the Heat with a durable back-up for Whiteside, as Wright was able to play 75 games last season. For a team that was injury prone last year, a guy who played 70 plus games last year is a blessing to the Heat.

Kyle Singler

Kyle Singler is one of the best three-point specialists in basketball, and that’s exactly what the Heat will need. The Heat ranked 24th in the NBA in threes made during the regular season, and with how consistent Singler has been throughout his young career, the Heat can get him on a cheap deal to improve their shooting from beyond the arc and more. Singler is restricted however, but he didn’t really do so hot in Oklahoma City, shooting a career low percentage from three. With Kevin Durant coming back and the Thunder maybe picking up someone better to back up Durant in free agency, you have to wonder what they’ll do with Singler.

K.J. McDaniels 

Oh man. Could you imagine the flexibility K.J. McDaniels would give the Heat? McDaniels is a combo guard, who is very explosive. His energy off the bench would be something that the Heat didn’t have last season. If McDaniels does come to the Heat, he will get to play along some players his age like Shabazz Napier, Tyler Johnson, and Zoran Dragic. If the Heat get Louis Williams and McDaniels, I wouldn’t be shocked if Mario Chalmers is on the trading block the very next day. Chalmers would still be a vital piece of the bench, but there may be away to get something else special for the bench. McDaniels would back-up both Goran Dragic (if he re-signs with the Heat) and Dwyane Wade. What a treat.

Like The Game Day Report on Facebook

[twitter-follow screen_name='TheGD_Report' show_count='yes']