Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka reacts during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff series Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are among the teams interested in former Cleveland Cavaliers starter
Following the addition of Max Strus from the 2022-23 Miami Heat earlier this offseason, the 2023 Eastern Conference winners may be looking to reciprocate.
Lamar Stevens, a free agent who spent the first three seasons of his career with the Cavs, is apparently garnering interest from a number of teams, including the Heat.
Stevens was a part of the sign-and-trade that brought Strus to the Cavs. Overall, it was a three-team deal, with Stevens going to the San Antonio Spurs.
He was waived by the Spurs after being acquired, and he is now a free agent.
Last season, the 26-year-old played a significant part for the Cavs, appearing in 62 regular-season games and making 25 starts. He averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 18.1 minutes a game, shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from 3-point range.
Stevens found himself on the outside looking in as Cleveland’s rotation shortened in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, as he appeared in just two games and had minimal playing time.
It’s no secret that the Heat have had a difficult offseason because of the Damian Lillard trade fiasco. Due to the Portland Trail Blazers’ apparent unwillingness to cooperate in trade talks, the Heat are said to have passed up opportunities to add certain crucial players.
If the Heat sign Stevens, he’ll almost certainly be in the starting lineup, especially if the team finally secures Lillard and trades away some wings in the process. The fact that he’s attracting so much attention may imply that he’s one of the better players still available this offseason.
It’s also worth remembering that Stevens entered the league as an undrafted free agent, and the Heat have had a lot of success with undrafted free agents in the past. Stevens could be driven by the prospect of working with a Heat organization that will do all possible to maximize his potential.
As the 2023-24 season approaches, it will be interesting to see where Stevens ends up.
