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Report: Heat still considering veterans, have shown interest in Emeka Okafor

Brad Mills / USA Today Sports

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With fewer than 15 players under guaranteed contracts and sitting safely below the luxury tax line, the Miami Heat are still looking to potentially add veterans using veteran minimum contract exceptions. They would have to cut one of several non-guaranteed deals to make it happen, but it seems like a possibility if the right player will sign at the minimum.

While the need for a shooting guard off the bench has them interested in Leandro Barbosa, among others, it's their search for another interior piece that's more interesting. Last season, the Heat took a reclamation flier on Greg Oden, and while that didn't exactly work out as planned, they may be interested in a similar signing this year.

According to the Miami Herald, Emeka Okafor is chief among the players the Heat have shown interest in:

Among power rotation players, the Heat has shown interest in Emeka Okafor and has considered Ekpe Udoh. Preliminary inquiries were made on Andray Blatche and Jason Maxiell. Agent David Falk said he talked to the Heat about Elton Brand but that Brand is unlikely to end up here.

Okafor hasn't appeared in a game since April of 2013 due to a herniated disc in his neck, and there hasn't been much in the way of status updates from his camp. When he last played, he was an effective rebounder and rim protector, having averaged 9.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and one block with the Washington Wizards in 2012-13.

He's also exactly the type of player a team like the Heat should gamble on at the end of the roster, because he represents a much higher upside - and more obviously fills a need - than anyone else available. If it doesn't work out, it was just a minimum contract 15th man anyway, but the potential return is much higher.

Ekpe Udoh is also an interesting name, as he flashed defensive potential in the past before a trade and subsequent injury slowed his development some.

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