Heat's next free-agency move to maximize flexibility around Giannis is clear

If there's another notable move for the Miami Heat to make in free agency, one that doesn't involve minimum contracts, it's pretty clear how they're going to gain more financial flexibility to build around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It's almost certainly going to involve trading Nikola Jovic and/or Bobby Portis.

At this point, especially after giving roughly half of their available mid-level exception pie to Tim Hardaway Jr., the Heat just doesn't have much money to operate with. Depending on what those final figures for Hardaway Jr. look like, the Heat have roughly $5.5 million to offer to a player.

How much does the Heat want to make another splash move?

That's not going to lure the type of player needed to qualify as another splash free-agency move for the Heat. That means, if Miami is going to get there, they're going to have to shed some salary. The clearest way they can achieve that in the next few days is by trading Portis and/or Jovic.

Interestingly enough, there are pretty clear ways to accomplish that.

Theoretically, the Heat could try to expand the Giannis trade to multiple teams. Even though the Milwaukee Bucks and Heat have an agreement in principle for Giannis, they could still include a third or fourth team in the deal. Because that trade isn't expected to be executed until the new league year, there is some wiggle room from both sides to expand it.

A third team could be roped in to take on Portis or Jovic if they found a willing partner.

But even if the Heat don't want to go down that route (because of the risk of potentially ruining the agreement already in place with the Bucks), they could (separately) try to find a landing spot for Portis or Jovic. Miami would probably have to include an asset to get off those deals, especially with Jovic's poison pill contract, but that could be done.

Fans will certainly get more Heat clarity after July 6

As much as fans may not want to hear it, there's been a growing belief across Heat writers that they must be patient to wait out this entire process. More than one reporter has mentioned that July 6 is a day that Heat fans must wait for.

What does that ultimately mean? Who knows. Interestingly enough, though, that's when the Giannis trade becomes official. Could that hint that Miami may have another move lined up as soon as that happens?

With the way it's being built up, it does feel a lot like that is the case. If so, it's probably more of a certainty that it will involve Portis and/or Jovic, one way or another.

The Heat must practice patience. They did so with Giannis (for the most part), and it worked out. Maybe it'd be smart to do the same with other moves that the Heat may be planning. At the very least, it's certainly one thing to watch for over these next few days.

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