Heat buyout target LaMarcus Aldridge opts to sign with Nets

If the Miami Heat are thinking about something big on the NBA buyout market, it will have to be something different than the initial target.

LaMarcus Aldridge on Saturday became the latest former All-Star to go from the buyout market to the Brooklyn Nets, following in the footsteps of Blake Griffin, with the agreement initially reported by ESPN.

So as Aldridge chases a championship alongside James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Heat’s attention shifts to other options in the wake of dealing former starter Kelly Olynyk at Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

Among remaining options are power forward Gorgui Dieng, who received a buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies, and center Andre Drummond, who received a buyout from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Other players are also free to enter the buyout market, pending a willingness by their current teams.

Even with the addition of Sacramento Kings outside-shooting big man Nemanja Bjelica, the Heat are operating at somewhat of a power deficit after trading away Olynyk, Chris Silva, Meyers Leonard and Moe Harkless ahead of the trading deadline.

The Heat have started Trevor Ariza as an underside power forward the past two games, losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets that dropped them to 22-24.

Beyond starting center Bam Adebayo and Bjelica, the other true power players on the Heat roster at the moment are rookie Precious Achiuwa and 40-year-old veteran Udonis Haslem, who has yet to play this season. Ariza, Andre Iguodala and KZ Okpala also are capable of minutes in power roles.

Because of the Heat’s position near the luxury tax, they have room to take in a single player at the NBA veteran’s minimum salary at the moment, with the ability to later fill the final roster spot with a minimum-scale player closer to the May 16 close of the regular season.

Under NBA buyout rules, a player must be released by April 9 to be eligible for another team’s playoff roster. That player then can be signed at any point until the final day of the regular season.

With Aldridge clearing waivers on Saturday after his buyout from the San Antonio Spurs, the expectation was the Heat quickly would be able to address their power play. Instead, the current season-worst six-game losing streak could create second thoughts for those looking to move to a playoff contender.

The Heat have two vacant roster spots after their trading-deadline deals for Ariza, Bjelica and Victor Oladipo.

Heat President Pat Riley on Thursday declined to address whether there was an expectation of the Heat adding Aldridge.

The Heat long have had interest in Aldridge. During the 2015 free-agency period, Riley met with Aldridge, encouraging the 6-foot-11 big man to take a shorter-term deal at a time the Heat lacked salary-cap space. Aldridge instead signed a four-year, $84 million free-agent contract with the Spurs, leaving the Portland Trail Blazers. He then re-upped with the Spurs on a two-year, $50 million extension that was cut short with the buyout.

By NBA rule, even if Olynyk, Silva or Harkless are waived by their new teams, they are ineligible to return to the Heat this season.