The Miami Heat chose not to exercise the waive-and-stretch provision before Friday’s deadline, leaving the club’s 2025-26 salary-cap picture unchanged.
The most likely stretch candidate was guard Terry Rozier, whose $26.7 million cap hit could have been spread at $8.9 million annually over three years. According to the Miami Herald, the front office felt less pressure to clear space after sending Haywood Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the offseason.
Miami now sits roughly $1.7 million below the luxury-tax threshold and about $7.2 million beneath the first apron. The Heat have 15 standard contracts on file, including one camp deal, although only 12 are fully guaranteed.
Rozier’s uncertain role
The Sun Sentinel reports that Rozier may be outside the regular rotation if he remains on the roster. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to lean on younger reserves such as Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis. Rozier could see minutes if injuries deplete Miami’s wing depth.
EuroBasket roundup
Nikola Jovic continued a productive EuroBasket for Serbia on Friday, hitting all six field-goal attempts for 18 points and grabbing six rebounds in a victory over Portugal.
Simone Fontecchio, added from Detroit in the Duncan Robinson sign-and-trade, has struggled for Italy. After a 1-for-11 shooting night (four points) in the opener, he scored 14 points in Game 2 but missed all five three-point tries and committed six turnovers during Saturday’s win over Georgia.
Larsson missed Sweden’s first game with an illness but rebounded Sunday with 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and two steals—offset by five turnovers—in a 78-59 win against Great Britain.
Source: Hoops Rumors
