The Heat opted to sign Smith instead of a backup center such as Kai Jones, who auditioned for Miami last week, or veteran center Trey Lyes, who also has been linked to the Heat. Miami isn’t expected to add a backup center in free agency anytime soon, though it’s conceivable that could be addressed with another trade.

The Miami Heat executed a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday evening, sending Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to New York in exchange for a protected 2026 second-round pick. The Heat followed this trade up with another move on Saturday,