While the Miami Heat have north of $60 million in expirings heading into the 2025-26 season, they have plenty of extension questions they must answer. A few are easier to answer than others, but they must be answered nonetheless. So, which of their five players who are either extension-eligible right now, or will be before the new season, will they grant new deals? Let’s examine!
Andrew Wiggins:
What is he eligible for?: 4 Years, $177 million
Wiggins enters the penultimate year of a four-year, $109 million contract with a $30.2 million player option attached to the final year of his contract in 2026-27, his age-31 season. Wiggins couldn’t quite find his rhythm offensively outside of two games against Charlotte and Houston on March 21-23. He appeared in just 17 of the Heat’s 32 available games after acquiring him, averaging 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals. Heat wisely didn’t try to sell him for anything less than a FRP, and I expect them to try and build his value back up by next February’s trade deadline.
Verdict: He is not extended before new season
Terry Rozier:
What is he eligible for?: 4 years, $156 million
There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Rozier, 31, averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game on 39.1 percent shooting and 29.5 percent from 3-point range, his worst since his rookie season. Rozier’s play last season was a disaster, and he’s still in the thick of an ongoing federal betting investigation. Heat will have a very difficult time moving off of him before that’s settled, and my guess is that he remains on contract through the entirety of the 2025-26 season as an expiring. Learn from your mistakes!
Verdict: Respectfully, there’s a 0.0 percent chance they extend him before the new season (or at all).
Norman Powell:
What is he eligible for?: 3 years, $77 million (before season)
As detailed here, since he was traded, the NBA’s trade-and-extend rules prohibit him from earning the full four-year extension (worth $129 million) that he would’ve been eligible for in normal circumstances. Instead, the 10-year veteran is limited to just a three-year extension, but will be eligible for the full four after six months (since he was traded), which can be negotiated during the season since he’s an expiring contract. Powell, 32, had the best season of his career last year, averaging 21.8 points on 41.8 percent from 3-point range.
Verdict: Powell is not extended before new season.
Nikola Jovic:
What is he eligible for?: Any amount up to max
Jovic, 22, is entering his fourth season with the Heat. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last season, shooting 45.6 percent from the floor, 37.1 percent from 3-point range (4.6 3PA) and 82.8 percent from the free-throw line. His role has fluctuated throughout his young career, but he has intriguing potential because of his size, skill and shooting, canning 38.3 percent of his 3-point range over his last two seasons.
However, the 6-foot-10 wing has been limited to injuries over his first three seasons — having yet to play more than 46 games in a single season. I think the Heat should try and extend him for a number similar to the average annual value of what Corey Kispert (4 years, $54M; $13.5M AAV) or Moses Moody (3 years, $37.5M; $12.5M). But while injuries have plagued the start of his career, it takes two to tango, and I think it’s more likely than not he heads into a contract year unsigned — hoping to prove his worth. Perhaps I’m wrong — it wouldn’t be the first time, nor the last.
Verdict: Jovic is not extended by new season.
Tyler Herro:
What is he eligible for?: 3 years, $149.7 million
Ah, yes, the extension you’ve all been waiting for! Yes, YOU!! In some way, shape or form, Herro’s improved in each of his first six seasons. While he was preparing for a role more off-ball heading into last season, he saw his biggest usage of his career, averaging 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists on 47.2/37.5/87.8 shooting splits. The first-time All-Star played a career-high 77 games after playing a career-low 42 games — and will be entering his age-26 season as one of the Heat’s primary scoring options.
The caveat to his extension is that he won’t be eligible to sign one until October. The tea leaves suggest that they won’t reward him with the full max he’s allotted to, but I wouldn’t put it past the Heat to offer roughly $40 million per year. The question, under that specific circumstance, is whether Herro will accept that or try to improve on his career season for more greenbacks. He’ll be eligible for $207 million (over four years) next season, which could turn into nearly $370 million if he makes All-NBA this season.
Verdict: I’m on the fence, but I think no extension is agreed to before season.
It’s pretty bold of me to project that none of these five players sign new deals. A few I can be talked into, but what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
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You are wrong Herro deserve it I believe he will get the extension Wiggins and rozier damn near won’t an probably be traded next year if not this one an jovic don’t deserve a extension he has to improve some more
My best guess, based on my 25-year relationship with Pat Riley, is that a bunch of these guys will get extensions if the Heat win games next year. If the Heat don’t win, then they’re all expired or expiring contracts and the Heat will rebuild again next offseason
Seems the Heat have a lot of tough choices to make. Every player mentioned, with the possible exception of Powell, will have to prove their value. And the salaries todays players get are outrageous and that only makes these decisions harder. Even if every player deserved to get paid, the Heat probably couldn’t do it. If this was a chess match the Heat would be in check and under duress with only a couple of available moves. The Front Office must be very careful in their evaluations because something has to give.
To early to tell who to extend and who to trade. They all need to prove they are worthy of extensions.
hfls power rankings powell ty wiggy shnoz gambler(few years ago gambler would have been 1)
Who knows what the team will look like coming out of camp, much less by the trade deadline or end of the season.
Signing Powell for 3 years/$77M is a no brainer.
Ty, Wiggins and Jovic should only be considered if they agree to team friendly contract extension, presuming they earn them.
Rozier may surprise everyone and come into camp as the “Scary Terry” of old.
Unless a good trade or 2 come along, Miami should sit tight until the season starts. One exception would be for PF/C. I think Riley needs to have a good one before starting the season.
Who knows, maybe Jovic and/or Johnson come in to camp banging and pushing people around demonstrating their skills in an effort to earn the PF spot.
no mention of fontecchio ever hes got an nba build.i think hes a rotation player
Didn’t bring him or Highsmith up either.
hh just happy getting nba pay ck.dude could prob score 20 pts a game if he would just try to score,theres more there than weve seen.he does play good d so checks will still be coming in
Yup. Just not from Miami.
who is the gambler? The only gambler I can think of is Kenny Rogers
The innocent until proven guilty one. People ready to lynch him before he is tried and convicted. Probably cuz he’s not a whitesider. Murrica! Murrica!
i never thought terry could play this bad.one of the worse years i can remember a good player playing.id have to attiribute it to the investigation.if he was completely innocent do u think he would have played this bad.just a thought.hope hes innocent.man im gonna miss duncs d might have to become a pistons fan to post on their site
I believe Herro will get his powell Wiggins rozier ion know about them but jovic still need to improve needa wait another year before given him a extension
I think all that arguing and complaining about him is based on underlying question, which is:
Is he a Miami Heat type of player?
Good comparison are Booker and Young.
Great players, but nobody is expecting teams with them as leaders to win anything.
The same thing is with Herro. Great player, but just not impactful enough to be a leader of a great team. An average ones like Atlanta or Phoenix, yes.
But that’s not good enough for Miami.
Not his fault.
Life just sucks sometimes.