The Miami Heat will begin free agency, just like every other NBA team, at 6 pm on Friday. Their plan is pretty simple and straightforward.
The Miami Heat have a little work to do as the NBA Free Agency period kicks off. While they will surely look to add a piece or two to what they already have, they appear content to essentially run it back with what they had last season.
That doesn’t mean that it won’t require any work though. With Kelly Olynyk opting into his Player Option on Thursday, one that will pay him $12.1 million in this upcoming season, the Miami Heat now have a better idea of what they have to work with across the acquisition period.
They actually are working under two different pretenses though. Here they are, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
"For the Heat there essentially now is either Plan A or Plan B when it comes to dealing with the 2020-21 NBA salary cap.Plan A is as simple as bringing back as many of the team’s incumbent free agents as Riley and his staff choose, with the ability to also utilize all or part of the full $9.3 million mid-level exception for an outside free agent, as well as the $3.6 million bi-annual exception for an outside free agent, with all of that math not to exceed the $136 million payroll limit for the luxury tax.Plan B is to operate utilizing salary-cap space up to the $109 million soft team cap, as well as a smaller $4.8 million mid-level exception and the $3.6 million bi-annual exception. Under that approach, all players, even the Heat’s incumbent free agents, would have to fit within the $109 million — roughly $22 million of spending money — other than those signed with exception money.Based on Riley’s comments in the wake of Wednesday’s NBA draft, Plan A appears the more likely Heat course, allowing the team to sign as many of the team’s incumbent free agents as desired, a group that includes Goran Dragic, Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones Jr., Meyers Leonard, Solomon Hill and Udonis Haslem, who already said he plans to return."
The Miami Heat have a bit of work to do in Free Agency. But they are set up perfectly to get it all done.
With this knowledge in tow, it gives us a more appropriate and realistic outlook on how things might play out. When it comes to that list of “incumbent free agents”, the Miami Heat will likely only look to bring back Goran Dragic, Jae Crowder, and Udonis Haslem for sure.
If the figures are right, meaning that they don’t command something nuts on the open market, there are windows for Solomon Hill and Derrick Jones Jr. as well. I don’t think Meyers Leonard will be back.
To be honest, I think that the Precious Achiuwa draft pick frees them up to let Derrick Jones Jr. walk as well. Solomon Hill is the tricky one, although it doesn’t seem like it.
Look, every NBA team should want at least two Solo’s on their bench. He’s decently sized, versatile, able to hit a shot, and willing to do whatever you need him to do when you call on him.
He can also guard a bit, while he just seems to work his butt off in all areas, from the outside looking in. I actually would love to have him back, as he’s the best kind of depth player.
Again, he can bounce across three positions, while always being a guy that should only add to the team. We shall see though.
It all begins at 6 o’clock pm and we can’t wait. Let’s see what happens!