As the embers of a hot summer cool down, former sixth-place finisher Danilo Gallinari is still without a contract signed.

At 36 years old and far from his best, many believe the Italian striker will return to his homeland to continue his career. Not only does Gallinari have experience with Olimpia Milano, Italy’s best team, but players at this stage of their careers often seek opportunities abroad. For example, 36-year-old Patrick Beverley turned down NBA offers and signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv. The main reason for his move was the chance to take on a bigger role as a scorer.

Although Gallinari averaged career lows of 5.7 points and 12.9 minutes per game last season, he is not ready to leave the league yet.

Danilo Gallinari talks about his NBA future and his contract with the Heat

“A return to Italy? Not yet,” he tells Mario Frongia of La Repubblica (h/t BasketNews).

“There is still time for me on the market, anything can happen at any time. Miami? My time has not come yet, there are other free agents and we will decide later. It could be anywhere, as long as it is a competitive franchise,” concludes the determined veteran.

Gallinari’s mention of the Miami Heat is significant given the limited movement in South Beach this summer.

Unable to afford DeMar DeRozan, their most notable offseason acquisition is rookie big man Kel’el Ware. Although the youngster looks like a steal on draft night, there’s a feeling the Heat need more weapons. So far, the Boston Celtics are the reigning champions, but the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks are gearing up.

You wouldn’t expect Gallinari to average 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 38.1 percent from threes like he did from the 2009-10 through 2021-22 seasons. However, at 6-foot-10, he can play up to three positions while offering live-ball skills and efficient three-point shooting. He could be a real weapon for a coach like Erik Spoelstra.

At the very least, he would add depth to a frontcourt that includes Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic and Kevin Love. With such a strong group, Gallinari is not only not needed, he probably won’t play much. However, given the injury history of Butler, Jovic and Love, he will likely find his time at some point.

Gallo’s farewell tour?

BasketNews notes that Gallinari is “currently training with Treviglio, a Serie B team.” This tiny detail may not mean much, but it shows that Gallinari isn’t sitting on the couch waiting for a call. When or if he’s signed, teams can count on him to be ready to play.

Still, the 14-year veteran will likely retire after the 2024-25 season.

“According to ‘La Prealpina’, next season will probably be Gallinari’s last as a player. After his retirement, Gallo wants to continue his career as a manager – preferably in the NBA.”

This is probably one reason why Gallinari is working so hard and why he is hoping to land an NBA contract. After all, he was one of the better players in the league for several years. There really is no better place for him to end his career.