Pat Riley pursues backcourt depth as the Miami Heat weigh the defensive versatility of the veteran swingman against a potential reunion with former All-Star Victor Oladipo.
MIAMI, Fla. – The Miami Heat are reportedly showing interest in seven-year veteran and former Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward John Konchar, who is a free agent, according to The Stein Line.
The New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors are among the potential suitors.
Other than experience, Konchar doesn’t stand out so much. Last season, he split stints between the Grizzlies and the Utah Jazz following the trade deadline. Konchar was part of the blockbuster Jaren Jackson Jr. package. He averaged 4.4 points on 47.2 percent shooting, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals in 56 total games (eight starts).
Konchar’s best season came in the 2022-23 season on the Grizzlies. He averaged 5.1 points on 43.1 percent shooting, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 72 games (23 starts). The Grizzlies finished the regular season with a 51-31 record and clinched the second seed in the Western Conference. However, the success didn’t translate into the playoffs, as the team was eliminated in the first round after a six-game series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
It would be the beginning of the end for the Grizzlies’ young, rising core of Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, and two-time All-Star Ja Morant.
Konchar primarily plays without the ball and is mainly utilized in catch-and-shoot action. Although outside shooting is a necessity with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo sharing the frontcourt, the Heat have a different need to fill the last standard roster spot:
Additional playmaking depth.
The Heat’s current point guard projection is Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, and Tre Donaldson (two-way). Signing a veteran playmaker would provide a greater benefit than Konchar. Two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo is a strong candidate, since he was recently granted access to the Heat’s practice facility. He’s a combo guard, meaning the 34-year-old can facilitate and score.
Although the extensive injury history is a major concern, the Heat managed to navigate through it before. Oladipo brings more value to the roster currently than Konchar. The Heat have gone all in to compete for a championship this upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. After meeting the minimum of 14 players on the standard roster, the organization could still leave the last spot open for a potential trade or buyout candidate.
The Heat will commence training camp in the coming weeks. The team recently held unofficial practices to get ahead of schedule, as the journey to chase the Larry O’Brien trophy soon begins.
Anthony Aguirre covers the Miami Hurricanes and Miami Heat for Roundtable Sports. Contact info for tips/info: [email protected] & 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
