The Miami Heat made several roster moves official over the weekend...
- Bam Adebayo officially signed a three-year, $165 million extension that had previously been agreed to. The deal keeps Adebayo under contract through 2029. Adebayo is estimated to earn $51.1 million in 2026-27, $55.2 million in 2027-28 and $59.3 million in 2028-29.
- Kevin Love officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract. "It felt like we were always optimistic that we would be able to get this done, get an extra year and just be able to provide as much as I possibly can for the team. I’m very, very happy to be back," Love said Sunday afternoon during a Zoom call with reporters.
- As expected, the Heat waived Orlando Robinson, whose contract would have become fully guaranteed on July 15. Miami has 13 players on standard contracts and will sign at least one more.
- The Heat signed guard Isaiah Stevens to an Exhibit 10 contract. The 6-foot guard averaged 16 points, 6.8 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals and shot 44% on 3s for Colorado State last season. Stevens and guard Bryson Warren have each signed Exhibit 10 deals and are expected to join the Heat for training camp.
Live from #USABMNT training camp: it's official ✍️@Bam1of1 // @MiamiHEAT pic.twitter.com/DwKPWRMKwa
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 6, 2024
What happens next?
The Heat remain in touch with free agent Haywood Highsmith about a potential return. If they don’t re-sign Highsmith, they can go a few different routes with the 14th roster spot (the Heat typically carry 14 players instead of the maximum 15):
- Sign another player to a veteran minimum contract or portion of the mid-level exception.
- Sign another veteran free agent who can help address needs at backup forward and point guard.
- Sign a player to a non-guaranteed contract.
This last option is what the Heat did with Dru Smith last season. Signing a player to a non-guaranteed deal allows Miami to easily open a roster spot and sign a player midseason. Over the last two years, the Heat have signed Kevin Love, Delon Wright and Patty Mills after they were bought out by their previous teams after the trade deadline.
If the Heat decide to go this route, potential candidates include Smith (again), Cole Swider and Alondes Williams. Swider and Williams are restricted free agents who have yet to sign a standard contract. Both are participating in the Heat’s summer league program.