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MIAMI — From being on the clock at the NBA draft earlier this week, the Miami Heat now move to timing elements that could prove even more significant to the team’s future.
While the starting line for NBA free agency is 6 p.m. Tuesday, plenty will be in play, and on the clock, in advance for Pat Riley and the Heat front office, as they reshape and firm up the rotation that will surround Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Sunday: The deadline for the Heat to guarantee Dru Smith’s $2.6 million salary for next season.
With backcourt contributors Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis sent out in the trade for Antetokounmpo and with Norman Powell possibly to be lost in free agency, this would appear a simple decision to guarantee Smith, particularly because the Heat then hold a $2.9 million team option on Smith for 2027-28.
It is not unusual, however, for teams to request an extension of a guarantee deadline to better gauge the free-agent market.
Monday: This sets up as potentially the busiest day of the offseason for the Heat.
Foremost, it is the player-option deadline for Andrew Wiggins to opt into the $30.2 million final season on his contract. Wiggins also could opt out and sign a reworked deal, with free agents allowed to negotiate with their own teams ahead of the leaguewide free-agency signing period.
This also is the deadline for the team option on guard Jahmir Young, which likely isn’t a decision at all, since Young’s 2026-27 salary is non-guaranteed.
Then there is the matter of Monday also being the deadline for qualifying offers for Keshad Johnson, Vlad Goldin and Trevor Keels, with Johnson for a standard contract, and with Goldin and Keels for two-way contracts. Extending a qualifying offer allows the Heat to then match outside offers in free agency. It is possible the Heat bypass qualifying offers to all three.
Tuesday: NBA free agency begins at 6 p.m., the first time teams can have legal contact with free agents from other teams. While teams often jump the gun, the Heat likely avoid being tagged as a repeat offense, having been punished by the league for such early contact with Kyle Lowry during 2021 free agency.
Mostly limited to minimum-scale deals because of their position against the first-apron hard cap created by the trade for Antetokounmpo, this could be a soft open for the Heat, who likely will have to wait on veterans unable to find something more substantial elsewhere.
This, however, is when the Heat could open aggressively with their mid-level exception, to potentially add a significant rotation element.
This also is when restricted free agents can sign offer sheets with outside teams, when draft picks can begin signing, as can those who choose to sign minimum-scale free-agency deals and two-way players.
July 3: The start of NBA summer leagues, with the Heat playing their California Classic opener in San Francisco at 8 p.m. Eastern against the San Antonio Spurs’ summer roster.
July 6: The signing moratorium ends at noon, with free-agency agreements allowed to formally be signed and when all trades based on the 2026-27 cap calendar can be consummated.
This, therefore, is when the Heat and Bucks can formally sign off on the Antetokounmpo trade (or can wait to see if they want to expand the deal to include other teams).
This also would be the soonest Antetokounmpo could be featured at a Heat welcoming event.
July 9: The start of Las Vegas NBA Summer League, which features rosters of draft picks, young players and tryout free agents from all 30 teams. The Heat are expected to begin their play in Las Vegas on July 10.
July 13: The final day for teams to withdraw qualifying offers from restricted free agents, which for the Heat will come down to whether such qualifying offers are previously extended to Johnson, Goldin or Keels.
Aug. 5: The deadline to offer contract tenders to second-round picks, with the Heat assuredly to work well in advance to get No. 37 pick Ryan Conwell under contract so he can compete in both of their summer leagues.
Aug. 29: The deadline of 2026-27 cap calendar for utilizing “stretch provision” on waived players. Although a longshot, this would be a potential means for the Heat to move off of the contract of Nikola Jovic to open additional 2026-27 cap space below their hard cap.
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While the starting line for NBA free agency is 6 p.m. Tuesday, plenty will be in play, and on the clock, in advance for Pat Riley and the Heat front office, as they reshape and firm up the rotation that will surround Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Sunday: The deadline for the Heat to guarantee Dru Smith’s $2.6 million salary for next season.
With backcourt contributors Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis sent out in the trade for Antetokounmpo and with Norman Powell possibly to be lost in free agency, this would appear a simple decision to guarantee Smith, particularly because the Heat then hold a $2.9 million team option on Smith for 2027-28.
It is not unusual, however, for teams to request an extension of a guarantee deadline to better gauge the free-agent market.
Monday: This sets up as potentially the busiest day of the offseason for the Heat.
Foremost, it is the player-option deadline for Andrew Wiggins to opt into the $30.2 million final season on his contract. Wiggins also could opt out and sign a reworked deal, with free agents allowed to negotiate with their own teams ahead of the leaguewide free-agency signing period.
This also is the deadline for the team option on guard Jahmir Young, which likely isn’t a decision at all, since Young’s 2026-27 salary is non-guaranteed.
Then there is the matter of Monday also being the deadline for qualifying offers for Keshad Johnson, Vlad Goldin and Trevor Keels, with Johnson for a standard contract, and with Goldin and Keels for two-way contracts. Extending a qualifying offer allows the Heat to then match outside offers in free agency. It is possible the Heat bypass qualifying offers to all three.
Tuesday: NBA free agency begins at 6 p.m., the first time teams can have legal contact with free agents from other teams. While teams often jump the gun, the Heat likely avoid being tagged as a repeat offense, having been punished by the league for such early contact with Kyle Lowry during 2021 free agency.
Mostly limited to minimum-scale deals because of their position against the first-apron hard cap created by the trade for Antetokounmpo, this could be a soft open for the Heat, who likely will have to wait on veterans unable to find something more substantial elsewhere.
This, however, is when the Heat could open aggressively with their mid-level exception, to potentially add a significant rotation element.
This also is when restricted free agents can sign offer sheets with outside teams, when draft picks can begin signing, as can those who choose to sign minimum-scale free-agency deals and two-way players.
July 3: The start of NBA summer leagues, with the Heat playing their California Classic opener in San Francisco at 8 p.m. Eastern against the San Antonio Spurs’ summer roster.
July 6: The signing moratorium ends at noon, with free-agency agreements allowed to formally be signed and when all trades based on the 2026-27 cap calendar can be consummated.
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This, therefore, is when the Heat and Bucks can formally sign off on the Antetokounmpo trade (or can wait to see if they want to expand the deal to include other teams).
This also would be the soonest Antetokounmpo could be featured at a Heat welcoming event.
July 9: The start of Las Vegas NBA Summer League, which features rosters of draft picks, young players and tryout free agents from all 30 teams. The Heat are expected to begin their play in Las Vegas on July 10.
July 13: The final day for teams to withdraw qualifying offers from restricted free agents, which for the Heat will come down to whether such qualifying offers are previously extended to Johnson, Goldin or Keels.
Aug. 5: The deadline to offer contract tenders to second-round picks, with the Heat assuredly to work well in advance to get No. 37 pick Ryan Conwell under contract so he can compete in both of their summer leagues.
Aug. 29: The deadline of 2026-27 cap calendar for utilizing “stretch provision” on waived players. Although a longshot, this would be a potential means for the Heat to move off of the contract of Nikola Jovic to open additional 2026-27 cap space below their hard cap.
Continue reading...
