Live updates: Heat late-afternoon news, LeBron tracker. Who’s signed, available
Welcome to Day 2 of the Miami Herald’s live Heat free agent blog and Day 2 of the franchise’s quest to bring back LeBron James. Please keep checking back all day for updates at the top.
Discussions with Beal
The Heat has had discussions with the representation for free agent guard Bradley Beal in the first 24 hours of free agency, according to a league source.
But it’s unclear how much Miami is willing to offer the three-time All Star. Beal, 33, has expressed interest in the Heat several times in the past; Miami opted not to acquire him from Washington three years ago because it did not want to inherit his no trade clause. Beal instead was traded to Phoenix.
He signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers but appeared in only six games before undergoing season-ending hip injury in mid-November. He recently opted out of the two-year contract, bypassing a $5.6 million salary for next season. He could re-sign with the Clippers for very similar money on a bi-annual exception if he wishes.
The Heat, operating under a $209 million hard cap, can offer as much as $6.5 million of its midlevel exception or minimum contracts.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Heat was taking a patient approach with its three open spots, according to a league source.
Inside the front office, there is some sentiment internally to remaining patient and waiting to see if the market dries up on some players. Then there’s the fact that the Heat and other teams are waiting to see what future Basketball Hall of Famer LeBron James will do in free agency.
Veteran wing Khris Middleton has been linked to the Heat in free agency, largely because of his connection with Giannis Antetokounmpo. While Middleton hasn’t been ruled out, he was not targeted by the Heat early in free agency, according to a league source. Middleton, 34, remains an unrestricted free agent.
Guard Anfernee Simons has been linked to the Heat. But Miami had not offered Simons its remaining $6.5 million exception money as of midday Wednesday, according to a source.
James developments
As the Heat, Warriors, Cavaliers and other suitors await word on his decision, ESPN’s “NBA Today” had a segment in which panelists made the case for several teams.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, who covers the Lakers, made this decent point about one potentially appealing factor with Miami that isn’t discussed a lot: “Think about the role he would have on the court. He would be able to have the ball in his hands a lot, much the same way he was energized in the playoffs when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were hurt. The ball was back in his hands. He would get to do this in Miami.
“Playing with those two big men, he remains the best transition player in the NBA. And guess what - Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo are going to get steals, deflections and long rebounds and kick ahead to LeBron and he gets to be that freight train going down the lane in front of the fan base that already appreciated that guy for four years in his prime.”
By contrast, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell handle the ball a lot in Cleveland, and Steph Curry does that for the Warriors.
Miami’s other positives are obvious: a comfort level with the organization, respect for Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley, playing with Adebayo and Antetokounmpo and an ability to play golf in warm weather as much as he wants.
One factor that could work against Miami: Would he fear backlash from Cavaliers fans -- in his home state -- if he finishes his career in an Eastern Conference city other than Cleveland? Who’s to say?
Another factor working against Miami: James would have family (Southern California and Akron area) closer to him if he picks the Warriors or Cavaliers.
James is not in a rush to make a decision, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Miami seemingly doesn’t need to save exception money for James because he’s willing to play for a minimum contract, Charania said; happiness – and the ability to compete for a championship - are more important to him at this point.
After agreeing to terms with Tim Hardaway Jr. on a one-year, $6.5 million deal and Simone Fontecchio on a one-year, $2.6 million contract, the Heat enters Wednesday with 12 players committed and three standard roster spots available.
Miami can remain under the $209 million hard cap if it spends $6.5 million of its midlevel exception on one player and minimum contracts on two others.
Veteran Khris Middleton remains one of several possibilities for one of those minimum contracts, but Miami has been in no rush to sign him, if it does at all.
Miami has respect for veteran point guard Gabe Vincent, who was on the Heat’s 2023 Finals team, but it’s undecided if the Heat will pursue this. Either way, adding another point guard remains a necessity.
Of course, a roster spot will be held for James if he wants it.
And a backup center also is needed, with slim pickings there.
Who’s off the board in free agency
Power rotation players: Jaxson Hayes (2 years, $12 million with Utah), Walker Kessler (from Utah to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade; Los Angeles is giving him four years and $130 million), John Collins (three years, $51 million with Detroit), Nic Vucevic (one year, $3.9 million with Orlando), Sandro Mamukelashvilli (four year, $52 million with Lakers), Zach Collins (two years, $17 million with Chicago), Robert Williams (three years, $44 million with Portland), Moe Wagner (two years, $19 million with Nets), Jock Landale (one year, $14 million with Hawks), Ariel Hukporti (one year, $3.4 million with 76ers), Branden Carlson (one year, $2.5 million with Portland), DeAndre Jordan (minimum deal with New Orleans); Ousmane Dieng (three years, $17.5 million with Milwaukee) and Precious Achiuwa (two years, $11.5 million with Sacramento).
Small forwards and guards: Tobias Harris (two years, $31 million with Spurs), Hardaway; Kelly Oubre (2 year, $17 million with Indiana), Collin Sexton (2 years, $19 million with Lakers), Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million with Lakers), Norm Powell (two years, $45 million with Bulls; Heat did not have the space to sign him), Dean Wade (four years, $39 million with Philadelphia), De’Anthony Melton (two years, $11.5 million with Golden State), Marcus Smart (two years, $13 million with Houston), Luke Kennard (two years, $13 million with Phoenix), Keon Ellis (two years, $18 million with Nets), Bogan Bogdanovic (Houston), Mike Conley (Boston; terms undisclosed; Heat considered but decided against), Kobe Sanders (four years, $11.2 million with the Clippers) and Jevon Carter (one year, $3.5 million with Orlando).
Who’s left in free agency
Here are most of the remaining free agents who would be options for the Heat’s remaining midlevel exception money or minimum deals:
Power rotation players Larry Nance Jr., Marvin Bagley, Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, Bismack Biyombo, Dwight Powell, Nik Richards, Kelly Olynyk, Maxi Kleber, Kevin Looney, Dru Eubanks, David Roddy, Kyle Anderson, Tony Bradley.
Wing players Bradley Beal (several teams have reached out; Miami among those appealing if they pursue), Anfernee Simons (wants more money than Heat has to offer but still an option if the market doesn’t produce a better deal for him), Gary Trent Jr., Nik Batum (also can play power forward), Matisse Thybulle (excellent wing defender but limited offensively), Seth Curry, Doug McDermott, combo guard Vincent, Middleton, Cam Thomas, Bruce Brown, Jordan Clarkson, Jett Howard, Josh Okogie, Jamal Cain.
Veteran point guards Aaron Holiday, Russell Westbrook, Cam Payne, Tyus Jones, Garrett Temple, and Gary Payton II.
Draymond’s take
Golden State free agent forward Draymond Green says Giannis Antetokounmpo will reap the benefit of joining the Heat eventually, but probably not immediately. (Unless, of course, Miami signs James.)
“Often times when you make trades like that, you don’t see the benefit for a year,” Green said on his podcast. It thins your roster out and often times, it takes a year to do.
“As it stands today, I don’t think it leaves Giannis in a much better position next year than he would’ve been with the Bucks,” Green said on his podcast.
“However, the long run I think it definitely leaves them in a better position because you can then build that team out. We’ve seen this even when LeBron and Chris Bosh went to the Miami Heat,... that team looked a bit different the second year than in the first year. The difference between Kevin Durant [signing with the Warriors in 2016] is we had cap space and we could sign KD with max cap space due to salary cap space as opposed to having to deplete our roster. Overall Giannis getting to go to one of the places he preferred to go to, I think it’s great. But it’s going to take another year to see this trade fully materialize into what they hope they want it to be.”
Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.
“I hate how people trying to act like Bam had this random performance like some bum,” Green said. “May I remind you Bam is a three time All Star, two time Olympic Gold medalist, first team all defense. The Miami Heat made a decision to move on from Jimmy Butler who’s great and build around Bam. Let’s stop acting like some Bum went and did something crazy.
“This is Bam Adebayo are y’all kidding me? I can’t believe it’s been this much fuss about Bam getting 83 like he cheated or something.”
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins keeps dissing the two-time MVP.
“No one is afraid of Giannis. What has Giannis done over the last three/four years that has been impactful or scary enough to let the world know that he is going to go down to Miami and actually do something?”
The roster tracker
After receiving free-agent commitments from Fontecchio and Hardaway, the Heat’s salary-cap breakdown includes 12 players on standard contracts for next season: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($58.5 million for 2026-27), Bam Adebayo ($49.5 million), Andrew Wiggins ($30.2 million), Nikola Jovic ($16.2 million), Bobby Portis ($14.5 million), Davion Mitchell ($12.4 million), Hardaway ($6.5 million), Dru Smith ($2.6 million), Fontecchio ($2.5 million salary, but $2.5 million cap hit), Pelle Larsson ($2.3 million), Myron Gardner ($500,000 of $2.6 million salary guaranteed) and Ryan Conwell (undetermined salary figure).
NBA teams are essentially required to carry at least 14 players on standard contracts and can have up to 15 players on standard deals during the regular seasons, which leaves the Heat with two to three standard roster spots to fill.
Assuming the Heat signs Conwell to a minimum contract that would come with a cap hit of about $1.4 million, the Heat now has about $199 million committed to salaries for 12 players.
With the salary cap for the 2026-27 season set at $165 million and the luxury tax set at $200.4 million, this means the Heat is already approaching luxury tax territory. With two or three roster spots still to fill for next season, the Heat is also on its way to approaching the first apron of $209 million.
The issue for the Heat is because it took back more salary than it sent out in the trade for Antetokounmpo and used a trade exception created last season to acquire Portis, it’s hard-capped at the projected first apron of $209 million for the entirety of the 2026-27 NBA calendar.
This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM.
