The Heat are set up to face one of the more pivotal offseasons in franchise history. Miami’s 2024/25 season seemed off from the start, with president Pat Riley calling out Jimmy Butler last spring before the latter requested out of Miami in December. The Heat ultimately acquiesced and sent Butler to the Warriors.
What followed the Butler saga were significant ups and downs. The Heat lost 10 games in a row before immediately winning six straight. The team then defeated both the Bulls and the Hawks as the 10th seed in the play-in, earning a playoff appearance, before getting swept by the Cavaliers in the most lopsided series in league history.
As Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes, Riley will have plenty to discuss during his end-of-season news conference on Friday. Several looming topics will likely be addressed, including the general state of the franchise, avoiding the repeater tax, and Tyler Herro‘s potential extension.
While Riley has never really operated this way, it’s possible a soft reset is on the horizon with Miami owning its first-round pick in 2026. As for the tax, the Heat have been a luxury tax team each of the past two seasons and are in danger of triggering the repeater penalties, which could dictate how they operate this year.
Meanwhile, Herro is eligible for a three-year extension worth up to $149.7MM starting Oct. 1. If an agreement isn’t reached by Oct. 20, he would be eligible for a four-year deal worth $206.9MM next summer. Whether or not that will be addressed this year will also be worth watching.
It’s also increasingly likely that Miami goes star hunting again this offseason. While past pursuits of stars like Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard came up empty, the Heat have appealing assets this offseason, including up to three first-rounders. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald breaks down the Heat’s complex asset cabinet that could be increased before the draft, meaning clarity on whether a star player would join would be necessary by that point.
The Heat also have numerous large expiring contracts and young players to make the math work for a potential trade.
This isn’t to say Miami will absolutely make a massive move this offseason. However, the first-round series against Cleveland proved that the Heat aren’t yet a contender, and it’s unclear whether they believe a full offseason with Andrew Wiggins on the roster will push them forward.
Now thats a lot of money
Given the current landscape of NBA contracts I still wouldn’t dare max Tyler Herro. I mean maybe 40M a year given what he is.. and isn’t.
If they give Tyler Herro $50 million a year, the rest of the league will just sit back and giggle. And I’m not even trying to disrespect. He’s a good player who has continued to improve. But he’s not that level of tying up your finances.
He’s a good player but he’s not a number one option. I don’t even think he’s a number two option on a championship team.
Yeah he’s a 3
I would say 4th option if the teams top 2 are actually focused on defense.
And no lottery pock…
Barry Jackson is a clown
Herro wasn’t movable before he really won’t be with that contract. Slightly better Jordan Poole.
Rozier trade was the mistake. Hopefully he comes back motivated to prove himself.
Herro+Wiggans = play-in every year. Hope Bam goes elsewhere where he can be better used.
How better can he be used ?