NBA: Grading the notable moves from the first day of free agency

Heat bolster the bench with minimum contracts, too

Grade: A-

The Heat made similar moves to the Lakers on day 1 in signing veterans to minimum contracts. For Miami, we saw Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Dewayne Dedmon, and Udonis Haslem get re-signed. After committing $379 million in contract today, the Heat must sign free agents for minimum deals to avoid the luxury tax.

Strus and Vincent were two-way players for Miami that seemed to have earned regular roster spots. Strus is a spot-up shooter and Vincent is a dynamic point guard. I’m a bit concerned with both players’ experience level, but both players should be key fixtures off the bench.

Dedmon burst onto the scene after being signed midseason with some incredible performances down the stretch. Compared to Chris “Birdman” Andersen from years ago for his energy, re-signing him was a priority for Miami. Unlike Andersen, Miami was able to get him back for the minimum, even with him rumored to get more money from other interested teams.

Going into his 19th season at 41 years old as the longest-tenured NBA player, Haslem is basically used as an assistant coach for the Heat. He sets the standard for players working out, acts as a mentor, and preaches the “Heat culture.” He will more than likely be part of the organization well after he retires, but for now, it is always worth giving him a roster spot, even solely for his leadership.