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ago 30 2026John Konchar won't spend much time on the free agent market. Miami Heat has positioned itself as a strong candidate to sign the wing, recently waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Brett Siegel at ClutchPoints.
An operation they already attempted in February
The interest is not new. Before the trade deadline last February, the Heat already wanted to acquire his services, but the Memphis Grizzlies decided to include him in the deal for Jaren Jackson Jr. and send him to the Utah Jazz. Six months later, with Konchar now a free agent, Miami is back in pursuit.
The franchise has the means to close the deal without complications: it has an open roster spot and sits approximately $2.5 million below the salary cap, sufficient margin to sign him to a veteran's minimum. It also fits the logic the front office has been following all summer: cheap, reversible signings with functional profiles to surround the stars.
Miami's summer, and the Konchar question
Because the Heat's summer has been one of the most active in the league. It all started with the trade that brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to Florida, and continued with the arrivals of Klay Thompson and Nick Richards, the latter with a non-guaranteed contract on the 14th roster spot. If Konchar ends up signing, he would occupy precisely the 15th spot that Miami had deliberately kept vacant.
As for what he brings, last season he split time between Memphis and Utah—the Grizzlies traded him on February 3 in the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal—and finished the year with 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks in 20 minutes per game across 56 games with eight starts. He shot 47.2% from the field. In Utah he found more playing time than in Memphis: in his 26 appearances with the Jazz he averaged 5.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 26.2 minutes, including a triple-double against New Orleans.
That's the player: one who fills the stat sheet without needing the ball. Per 36 minutes, his career averages 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals—numbers unusual for a 6'5" shooting guard.
The concern, however, is the usual one and it's not insignificant: his three-point shot. In 2025-26 he shot just 28.3 percent on a mere 1.8 attempts per game, well below the 34.9% he averages for his career. And there lies the contradiction of the move, because what Miami needs to get production from an offense built around Giannis and Bam Adebayo is exactly that: shooters who can space the floor.
Konchar brings other things—versatile defense, perimeter rebounding for his size, passing instincts and zero salary cap cost—but if last year's percentage wasn't a fluke, the offensive fit will have nuances.
