After an improbable run to the NBA Finals, the Heat face an offseason filled with important financial decisions, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
Miami has just seven players with guaranteed salaries for next season, but Victor Oladipo is almost certain to pick up his $9.5MM option after suffering a knee injury in the playoffs and the team is expected to guarantee Haywood Highsmith‘s $1.9MM salary. With an estimated cap hit of about $3MM for the No. 18 pick, the Heat will have roughly $176MM committed, putting them well over the projected $162MM luxury tax line and in sight of the new $179.5MM second apron.
Kevin Love, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Cody Zeller are all headed to unrestricted free agency, while Omer Yurtseven will be restricted if Miami makes a $2.26MM qualifying offer. In addition, Miami has already been linked to potential trades involving Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal.
“The goal is to win a championship, and this organization will do anything possible for that to happen,” Bam Adebayo said at Wednesday’s exit interviews. “I feel like everybody in here knows it’s a business. And that’s why you cherish the moments you go through with your teammates, with your brothers because you never know what can happen next year.”
There’s more from Miami:
- The Heat hold Bird rights on Vincent and Strus, so they can go over the cap to re-sign them, although that would increase their tax bill, Chiang adds. Both players indicated that they plan to explore all their options. “Money plays a role, place plays a role, situation plays a role,” Vincent said. There’s a lot of things that factor in and I think it will all take care of itself throughout the summer.”
- Tyler Herro didn’t address reporters on Wednesday, but coach Erik Spoelstra expanded on his decision to not use him in Game 5, per Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Herro received medical clearance Monday afternoon after missing nearly two months following hand surgery. “It’s also my job, as the head coach, to protect him, and do what we think was best for the team,” Spoelstra said. “… And there’s no knowing for sure, but I do know that that was just a totally unusual circumstance that you can’t compare to anything else. But the good news is he’ll have a great offseason and he’ll be fully ready to go next year.”
- With trade rumors flying around the Heat, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald proposes a scenario in which the team could acquire both Lillard and Beal while keeping Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.
If Lillard is dealt, I like what Brooklyn can offer Portland for Lillard more than Miami.
Miami is gonna have to include some pick swaps, and their draft picks won’t be worth much until 2028, 2029.
The most value is all I want to see Portland get.
No more C.J. McCollum, and Gary Trent undervalue trades please.
Butler will be 34 next season and Lillard will be 33 and they both have a history of injuries, by 2026 any if Miami’s picks will be very enticing.
Lillard has had only one injury of a significant nature, tried to play through it, then dealt with it via surgery and had the best year of his career.
Betting on Butlers decline has really been paying off for the millenials, the Bulls, and the Wolves…
Thanks, but no thanks…
I’m only trading for the certain guys I talked about. The draft is a big indicator. The Heat could use help on the wing/at the 4/smallball 5, and I could also see them taking a versatile guard if there is one of those types of players I mentioned for them at 18. They also have whoever they bring into summer league, and they’ve had a couple of years in a row where they lost a bunch of players I was really interested in, as well as a couple of guys who were in the G-league this year, as well as on 2 way deals for them
I think that stuff presents a lot of options for the Heat, as well as veteran options that were out there they didnt sign last year
As of now, I would like to keep Kevin Love, if he can be had at the minimum, knowing we’re likely losing Strus. I might be more intrigued by other options if I look at FA after the draft, but as of now, I still like his value on our theoretical roster
Tyler Herro needs to improve off the ball, and in the half court, either from mid range, or posting up from certain areas, as well as making quicker/more aware decisions sometimes
I think they should be loyal and Resign. They are a old and some team mixed. Hopefully Love, Max and Gabe Resign out of loyalty and it back. Convince Haslem to come back just one more year we need you. Give a bigger role to highsmith. Trade Lowry, Victor and picks for all star PG and a defensive center ( maybe sign Whiteside as a backup up) sign the rest of the team. Start hero into the starting lineup. Difficult fix
Bam to the PF. Hero starting SG and butler the SF