MIAMI — For most of the season, the Miami Heat were a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately team.
Then came the remarkable run from a No. 8 seed to the NBA Finals and within three victories of a championship.
But because the NBA also is a what’s-next league, it already is what’s-next time for Pat Riley and his front office.
The NBA draft is a week from Thursday, contract options have to be decided by June 29 and free agency negotiations open June 30.
So what’s next? To assist in that evaluation, here’s a look at where the Heat stand with the 17 on the roster.
Jimmy Butler
Age: Turns 34 on Sept. 14.
Contract status: $42.2 million in 2023-24, with two additional seasons on contract (with 2025-26 a player option).
What’s next: The cornerstone of the franchise now and through the end of his contract (and possible extension). Having previously pushed for the acquisition of Kyle Lowry in the 2021 offseason, it will be interesting to see if he again communicates personnel desires to the front office. What is clear is the expectation of missing about 20 games, meaning there has to also be a Plan B scorer.
Bam Adebayo
Age: Turns 26 on July 18.
Contract status: $32.6 million in 2023-24, with two additional seasons on contract (eligible this offseason for extension).
What’s next: At this stage, expecting Adebayo to turn into a higher-volume scorer or take his offense to the 3-point line likely stands as an overreach. The expectation that continues is of Adebayo as defensive anchor, possibly moving to power forward if a center in the Brook Lopez mold is acquired. As close to untouchable on this roster as anyone beyond Butler.
Tyler Herro
Age: Turned 23 on Jan. 20.
Contract status: $27 million in 2023-24, with three additional seasons on contract.
What’s next: There are two ways the Heat can approach Herro — either as the complementary scorer needed alongside Butler, or as the contract and upside best situated to be put into a trade. The offseason thinking with Herro could be less about Herro and more about the front office’s view of whether a roster makeover is required.
Caleb Martin
Age: Turns 28 on Sept. 28.
Contract status: $6.8 million in 2023-24, with one additional season on contract (with 2024-25 a player option)
What’s next: Although more than capable in his role as starter prior to Kevin Love’s arrival, Martin thrived when utilized as energy off the bench, well suited to play as sixth man. But there also could be trade consideration, based on utilizing Martin to fill out a deal as an additional attractive component or Heat concern about being able to re-sign him should he opt out in the 2024 offseason.
Kyle Lowry
Age: Turned 37 on March 25.
Contract status: $29.7 million in 2023-24, on final year of contract (eligible this offseason for extension).
What’s next: Lowry proved capable as a complementary component, with the issue being his leading-man salary. If the Heat can offload the contract, they likely will, in order to free room for other maneuvering with the salary cap. There also is the option of waiving and stretching Lowry’s remaining salary over three seasons to ease the 2023-24 luxury-tax crunch. But that also would, in turn, compound future cap concerns.
Kevin Love
Age: Turns 35 on Sept. 7.
Contract status: Impending unrestricted free agent.
What’s next: It is a matter of whether Love would be amenable to a minimal salary, likely on a one-year contract, with the Heat positioned to offer no more than $3.8 million for 2023-24. For as much of a boost as he provided at times, there remains question about age, health and mobility over the 82-game grind. His return likely will be a factor of what the Heat do with the rest of the roster.
Gabe Vincent
Age: Turned 27 Wednesday.
Contract status: Impending unrestricted free agent.
What’s next: This will come down to not only how the Heat value Vincent, but also how outside teams value Vincent. Anything above the $12.2 million mid-level exception and the Heat possibly could turn elsewhere, even while holding Vincent’s Bird Rights and having the ability to pay above and beyond. It could come down to whether the Heat view Vincent as their starting point guard of the future.
Max Strus
Age: Turned 27 on March 28.
Contract status: Impending unrestricted free agent.
What’s next: As with Vincent, the Heat will have to make a cost-benefit analysis, with it also coming down to whether an outside team views Strus as a starter (a role Strus assumed with the Heat only because of injuries to others). Strus’ opportunity to cash in with the Heat could come down to whether the Heat retain Duncan Robinson or offload Robinson’s contract.
Duncan Robinson
Age: Turned 29 on April 22.
Contract status: $18.2 million in 2023-24, with two additional seasons on contract.
What’s next: Since Robinson was re-signed in the 2021 offseason to his five-year, $90 million deal, the contract was viewed as one that could be put into play down the road. Now, with a playoff revival, Robinson again could have trade value. Or he could come to be viewed as the specialist that once and again will be part of the team’s future.
Haywood Highsmith
Age: Turns 27 on Dec. 27.
Contract status: $1.9 million in 2023-24 (non-guaranteed, with July 15 guarantee date).
What’s next: The Heat assuredly will guarantee Highsmith’s 2023-24 salary, with the team in need of low-end salaries to balance the cap ledger. Highsmith stands as an open-in-case-of-emergency contributor who yet could grow into something more with additional opportunities.
Victor Oladipo
Age: Turned 31 on May 4.
Contract status: $9.5 million player option for 2023-24 (with June 29 option deadline).
What’s next: The Heat will have a decision to make, with Oladipo not expected back from knee surgery until midseason, if even then. While the team has shown patience amid previous Oladipo recoveries, this could be a time when his salary is aggregated as part of a trade. Another option could be waiving and stretching his remaining salary over three seasons as a means of creating luxury-tax relief.
Cody Zeller
Age: Turns 31 on Oct. 5.
Contract status: Impending unrestricted free agent.
What’s next: Considering Zeller was not added until February, this likely will be a later-rather-than-sooner decision for the Heat, based on how they otherwise fill out their power rotation, which also could involve consideration for a possible step forward with Orlando Robinson from his two-way contract.
Nikola Jovic
Age: Turned 20 on June 9.
Contract status: $2.4 million for 2023-24, with team options for additional two seasons.
What’s next: There are two ways to go with Jovic. The first would be to continue the development curve, after an injury-limited season. The Heat also could add him to a trade as a prospect for a team looking toward a youth movement. If he is retained, summer league will be a significant career chapter.
Omer Yurtseven
Age: Turns 25 on June 19.
Contract status: Restricted free agent (if qualifying offer extended by June 29 deadline).
What’s next: Considering the Heat need only tender a $2.3 million qualifying offer to retain the right to match outside offers, expect the Heat to maintain flexibility with the big man who never was able to fully push back from a preseason ankle injury. But could Yurtseven get a large, hard-to-match offer elsewhere? Then it would get interesting.
Udonis Haslem
Age: Turned 43 on June 9.
Contract status: Has announced retirement (technically becomes an unrestricted free agent).
What’s next: Haslem has said he would like an ownership role with the team or perhaps something in the front office. But he continually has stressed that he has no interest in coaching. He has made clear that after 20 seasons, he is done as a player.
Jamal Cain
Age: Turned 24 on March 20.
Contract status: Restricted free agent (if qualifying offer extended by June 29 deadline).
What’s next: The Heat can extend a two-way qualifying offer to match two-way offers or can extend a veteran-minimum qualifying offer to match all free-agency offers. In a perfect world, the Heat get a full look at Cain during summer league before making a commitment for next season or beyond.
Orlando Robinson
Age: Turns 23 on July 10.
Contract status: Restricted free agent (if qualifying offer extended by June 29 deadline).
What’s next: The Heat can extend a two-way qualifying offer to match two-way offers or can extend a veteran-minimum qualifying offer to match all free-agency offers. In a perfect world, the Heat get a full look at Robinson during summer league before making a commitment for next season or beyond. The value of big men could make it more likely he is retained than Cain, although it could come down to how the team handles Yurtseven’s free agency.
