What does the Heat do to build around Antetokounmpo and Adebayo? What to know
The most difficult and daunting part of the Heat’s offseason mission is complete: In Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat has finally harpooned a whale for the first time since Jimmy Butler in 2019.
Now comes the critical second part of the equation: Augmenting the roster around Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, after the late-night trade sent the two-time league MVP and forward Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the No. 13 pick in Tuesday’s draft, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2033 second-rounder and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
That leaves the Heat with a potential rotation of Adebayo, Antetokounmpo, Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell (if he re-signs), Andrew Wiggins (if he either opts in or re-signs), plus Portis, Pelle Larsson, possibly Nikola Jovic, Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith, and other players to be added through parts of three salary cap exceptions and the 41st pick of the second round of this week’s draft. Miami also could opt to re-sign free agent Simone Fontecchio, who was in and out of the team’s rotation last season.
Here’s what to look for now:
Wiggins and Powell
Though both players have flaws, attempting to keep both makes sense — and appears the Heat’s likely course — because both would neatly complement the Heat’s new core and the Heat can surpass the cap to sign both without using any of its exception money for either player.
Wiggins still might exercise a player option that would pay him $30 million next season. But if he opts out by Monday’s deadline, the Heat is now positioned to give him a two- or three-year deal because it no longer needs to hoard cap space next summer. (Miami can exceed the cap to extend or re-sign Antetokounmpo).
It would help the Heat if Wiggins opts out and agrees to a multi-year deal starting in the $22-$25 million range, because it would give Miami more flexibility to sign other players (including Norman Powell) under the limitations of a $209 million hard cap.
The upshot of keeping Wiggins: He’s a versatile, skilled two-way player who has thrived before when surrounded by great players (Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson). He shot 41.4% on threes last season, while averaging 15.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. Players shot 45.9% against him, compared to 47 overall.
The negatives which the Heat likely will need to overlook: Wiggins’ play hasn’t been commensurate with his salary. Miami was 35-33 with Wiggins starting and outscored teams by nine points during his minutes. That can at least partly be attributed to deficiencies in the supporting cast.
The Heat lost 13 games by double figures with Wiggins on the court after January 1, and he played well in just three of them and decently in two others. Wiggins had little impact in losses to Boston and Indiana (when he shot 5 for 14), mustered nine points in a blowout loss to the Spurs and five in a lopsided loss to Toronto. He reached 20 points just four times in Miami’s final 28 games. ESPN ranked him 161st in efficiency among all players this season.
But keeping him is the logical course because he’s a good fit with this roster and Miami likes his skill set and his unselfish approach to the game. And he did everything the Warriors needed on their championship teams.
As for the impending free agent Powell, acquiring Antetokounmpo allows Miami to offer a multiyear deal without needing to worry about cap space next summer.
But if Wiggins opts into his contract, Miami likely couldn’t offer a starting salary of more than $14 million or so because the Heat is hard-capped at the $209 million ‘first apron’ salary threshold. And Miami would be a tax team if it even offers that. That’s where keeping Powell could be tricky, and why Wiggins opting out and taking a lower first-year salary from the Heat could help Miami with efforts to re-sign Powell.
Powell’s litany of injuries last season (ankle, back, calf, groin) and 31.7% three-point shooting after the All-Star break — compared with 39.6% before — could give the Heat pause for thought on the length and dollar amount of a new deal. Powell has played in more than 60 games just twice in the last seven seasons, and he turned 33 last month.
But his exceptional pre All-Star break play shouldn’t be dismissed, and his shooting is badly needed on a team now built around two lower-percentage three point shooters.
Midlevel exception options
If Powell leaves or if Wiggins opts out and signs elsewhere, Miami would be able to offer its full $15.5 million midlevel exception without exceeding the $209 million ‘first apron’ salary threshold, the number which Miami cannot surpass next season.
But if Wiggins opts into the $30 million instead of opting out to take a deal potentially starting at a lower salary, Miami would have only $19 million below the first apron -- and $11 million below the luxury tax line -- without accounting for Powell, which would make it unlikely that Miami could use the full mid-level in that scenario.
The Heat could free up more room under the hard cap if it can dump Nikola Jovic’s four-year, $62 million contract extension that kicks in next season. But finding a taker for that contract, which includes a $16 million salary next season, will be difficult.
Two long shot midlevel options came off the board this week when Atlanta re-signed CJ McCollum and Minnesota re-sign Ayo Dosunmo to deals well above that $15.5 million. Charlotte’s Coby White would be another option; ESPN’s Bobby Marks said he would offer White a deal starting at $16.5 million.
Sharp-shooting Anfernee Simons would be an option for a chunk of the midlevel, if Miami and Powell don’t agree to terms or if they strike a deal well below Powell’s $23 million salary this past season.
Others who would be worth considering for a portion of the midlevel if they don’t either re-sign with their teams or get full midlevel money: Tim Hardaway Jr., Nik Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Dean Wade, Kelly Oubre, Keon Ellis, Luke Kennard (47.8% on threes last season but reportedly interested in staying with Lakers), Quentin Grimes or potentially Landry Shamet, Harrison Barnes, Collin Sexton, Jusuf Nurkic or John Collins.
Centers Robert Williams and Mitchell Robinson and power forward Rui Hachimura could command a full midlevel elsewhere.
The Heat could try to lure impending free agent LeBron James with its full midlevel exception, but a James return is considered a long shot.
The Heat also has available a $5.5 million biannual exception as well as a $5.6 million exception from the Haywood Highsmith trade with Brooklyn. That exception expires Aug. 17.
The Heat added Portis with a $16 million trade exception acquired in the Duncan Robinson deal with Detroit. Using that mechanism leaves the Heat hard-capped at the $209 million threshold.
But if Wiggins either opts in or re-signs, the Heat’s ability to maximize its exception money would be limited.
Options at the minimum
There likely will be a moderately appealing list of players who don’t get midlevel money and could opt to play with Antetokounmpo and Adebayo in Miami.
Potential options at the minimum include Khris Middleton (Antetokounmpo’s longtime former Bucks teammate), Kevin Huerter (a three-point specialist coming off a terrible season), Cam Thomas (value seemingly has diminished), former Heat guard Gabe Vincent, incumbent Heat forward Fontecchio, Jordan Clarkson, Bruce Brown, Seth Curry and center Jock Landale.
Because the Heat is hard-capped at $209 million, it likely will need to sign at least two veterans to minimum deals.
This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 12:21 AM.
