If the Miami Heat aren't trading Nikola Jovic, or are not planning on expanding the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to find another taker for Bobby Portis (which has not been reported), it may be veteran's minimum signings the rest of the way in their attempt to build around their new superstar duo.
According to a recent report from Heat reporter Ethan Skolnick, Miami is not actively pursuing a trade for Jovic and will not include draft picks to get off his contract. Why is this so important? Well, trading Jovic was the clearest way for the Heat to gain more financial flexibility.
If that is, understandably, off the table, the Heat are unlikely to make another big splash in free agency. Or, if they are able to make it happen, they'll have to get lucky by getting a veteran to take a huge pay cut.
Now that financial flexibility from another trade is highly unlikely, look for the Heat to pivot in the direction of buyout candidates the rest of the summer. One name that Miami has already been linked to is DeMar DeRozan. Whether he'd be willing to sign on the cheap in Miami remains to be seen, but that's what might be next for the Heat if no added financial wiggle room is on the way.
If all else fails, though, perhaps believing in Jovic is the next hope that Heat fans could end up clinging to.
The Heat could hope for a huge Nikola Jovic bounce back season
And that's not such an outlandish idea, either. Even though Jovic had a pretty disheartening season a year ago, it would be foolish to suggest that he couldn't bounce back. He's still just 23 years old and does have some interesting skills as an option next to Giannis and Bam Adebayo.
Jovic is still an intriguing playmaker, and if he can bounce back as a perimeter shooter, perhaps playing next to a dynamic scorer like Giannis will give him a better chance to rewrite his narrative. Add in the element of diminishing pressure, and, just maybe, Jovic will find himself in a position where he can prove the naysayers wrong.
It certainly won't be easy, and even with a depleted supporting cast, Jovic will have to prove his worth for minutes. But it's not the worst idea in the world for the Heat to give Jovic the opportunity to play himself back into the good graces of the organization.
At this point, it's probably better than the alternative of having to attach a draft asset to get out from under his contract.
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