Heat reportedly gets meeting with Brunson. And Heat updates on eve of free agency
On the eve of the start of free agency, some Wednesday evening quick hits with news and a look at how several NBA opt-outs impact the Heat:
▪ In a surprise, Dallas point guard Jalen Brunson - considered among the top free agents in a weak class - will grant a meeting to the Heat when free agency opens on Thursday night, according to Yahoo’s Chris Haynes.
Brunson also will meet with the Knicks - who are widely considered the heavy favorite to sign him - and the Mavericks.
New York reportedly is poised to give Brunson a four-year, $110 million deal. The Athletic’s Tim Cato has gone as far as to say that Brunson joining the Knicks is “seen as a certainty.”
Brunson, 25, averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 assists and shot 50.2% from the field and 37.3% on three-pointers.
Substack’s Marc Stein reported that Brunson’s representation sought the meeting with Miami, which likely would only have the ability to acquire him in a sign-and-trade with Dallas.
Any sign-and-trade would force the Heat to operate under a $156.9 million hard cap next season.
There’s no indication that the Heat wants to move on from 36-year-old Kyle Lowry - who is very close with Jimmy Butler - but Pat Riley has said that Lowry needs to get in better shape.
The Heat has assured Lowry that it has no intention of trading him for Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving, according to a source briefed on the situation.
We’re told that Lowry wasn’t upset when Riley said publicly that his conditioning must improve.
“He definitely is going to have to address that and it will be addressed,” Riley said recently. “I definitely think he can be in better shape. We’ll address it and try to help him.”
▪ By opting out of a $47.4 million salary for next season, James Harden on Wednesday gave the Philadelphia 76ers the ability to use their full $10.5 million mid-level exception to sign P.J. Tucker, a move that is widely expected, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The 76ers wouldn’t have had that full mid-level if Harden had opted in. Instead, Harden is expected to work with Philadelphia on a new contract,
The Heat on Wednesday hasn’t given up hope of signing Tucker, but Miami so far has been firm on giving him three years and $27 million (using his Early Bird rights) and not the three-year, $33 million deal that Philadelphia (or the Heat) can give him.
Miami doesn’t want to use its full mid-level on Tucker because it would move them closer to the luxury tax and make the Heat hard-capped next season at $156.9 million. With Tucker opting out, the Heat has $130 million in cap commitments.
But Heat players are said to be lobbying Tucker to remain with the team. Butler is very much hoping he re-signs with Miami.
Tucker allowed Wednesday’s deadline to pass without exercising his $7.3 million player option for next season, thus making him a free agent.
▪ Power forward Bobby Portis opted out of his $4.6 million player option with Miwaukee, according to ESPN.
According to a source, the Heat would be a team that appeals to him if he doesn’t sign with Milwaukee, but Miami is reluctant to give him or anyone the full mid-level exception, making Portis not likely for Miami.
Portis can sign for four years and as much as $49 million with Milwaukee.
With Taurean Prince re-signing with Minnesota and Portis viewed as unlikely here, the Heat’s top free agent power forward options to replace Tucker - if he leaves for Philadelphia - would include T.J. Warren, Kyle Anderson, Thaddeus Young, Nik Batum and Otto Porter. The Heat has been linked to Blake Griffin, but he’s in rapid decline.
The Heat also could have interest in Danilo Gallinari if he receives a buyout from San Antonio after being traded from Atlanta - with three-first round picks - in exchange for Dejounte Murray.
The Heat prefers to use a $6.47 million taxpayer mid level exception, instead of the full $10.5 million exception, because a team that uses the taxpayer mid level will not operate next season under a hard salary cap. Teams can use one or the other but not both.
If Miami loses Tucker, the Heat also conceivably could pursue a trade for Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes, Phoenix’s Jae Crowder or Washington’s Kyle Kuzma.
▪ Wizards All Star guard Bradley Beal declined his $36.4 million player option but has not requested a sign-and-trade to another team. The Heat would have interest in Beal if he asked to be traded to Miami. But as of Wednesday, he had not.
Beal can sign a five-year, $248 million maximum extension with the Wizards or sign a four-year deal elsewhere.
The Heat is operating over the cap and wouldn’t have the ability to sign any free agent outright for more than the $10.5 million mid-level exception.
This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 6:45 PM.
