Heat’s Pelle Larsson Hits Starter Benchmark, Elevating Potential Qualifying Offer
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Miami Heat wing Pelle Larsson logged his 41st start of the season on Sunday, triggering the NBA’s starter criteria that can raise a player’s qualifying offer ahead of restricted free agency.
Under league rules, a qualifying offer increases when a pending restricted free agent starts at least 41 games or plays 2,000 minutes in the season before free agency— or averages those marks over the two preceding seasons. By reaching the 41-start threshold, Larsson’s potential qualifying offer climbs to $5.91 million, up from the original $2.66 million.
The Heat, however, control a $2.3 million team option on Larsson for the 2026-27 campaign. Because the 23-year-old is only in his second NBA season, Miami is expected to exercise that low-cost option rather than decline it to make him a restricted free agent this summer. If the option is picked up, Larsson would still reach restricted free agency in the summer of 2027 after three years of service, giving the organization another season to negotiate a new deal or consider an extension.
Selected 44th overall in the 2024 draft, Larsson has become a steady rotation piece in his sophomore year. Through 54 appearances he is averaging 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists against just 1.2 turnovers in 25.1 minutes per game, shooting 48.7% from the field, 32.4% from three-point range, and 77.9% at the foul line.
Source: Hoops Rumors
