TITLE: Miami Heat juggle cap space, re-sign Davion Mitchell and add Norman Powell in busy 2025 offseason
SLUG: miami-heat-2025-offseason-recap
CONTENT:
The Miami Heat spent the summer reshuffling their roster and finances after a turbulent 2024-25 campaign, locking in guard Davion Mitchell, importing veteran scorer Norman Powell and completing several smaller moves before training camp.
Main additions
Free agents:
• Davion Mitchell – two years, $24 million (Bird rights)
• Dru Smith – three years, $7.9 million; second season non-guaranteed, third-year team option (Early Bird)
• Dain Dainja, Trevor Keels, Gabe Madsen, Ethan Thompson, Jahmir Young – one-year minimum deals, all Exhibit 9 and non-guaranteed
Trades:
• Simone Fontecchio acquired from Detroit in a sign-and-trade that sent Duncan Robinson to the Pistons
• Norman Powell brought in from the Clippers in a three-team swap that moved Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love to the Jazz
• 2026 second-round pick (top-55 protected) from Brooklyn obtained for Haywood Highsmith and Miami’s 2032 second-rounder
Draft:
• No. 20 overall pick Kasparas Jakucionis signed to a four-year rookie-scale contract worth $17,730,606
Two-way contracts:
• Myron Gardner – two years, $85,300 partially guaranteed (second year non-guaranteed)
• Vladislav Goldin – one year, $85,300 partially guaranteed
Key departures
Duncan Robinson (Pistons), Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love (Jazz), plus free agents Alec Burks, Josh Christopher and Isaiah Stevens remain unsigned.
Cap snapshot
• Team salary: approximately $186.1 million
• Over the $154.6 million cap but under the $187.9 million luxury-tax line
• Hard-capped at $195,945,000
• Full $14.104 million non-taxpayer mid-level and $5.134 million bi-annual exceptions still available
• Five trade exceptions on hand, the largest worth $16,834,692
How the summer unfolded
Mitchell’s strong post-deadline play—10.3 points and 5.3 assists on 50.4 percent shooting in 30 games—convinced Miami to guarantee him $12 million annually. Cost savings from flipping Robinson ($19.9 million player option) for Fontecchio ($8.3 million) allowed the front office to absorb Powell’s $20.5 million expiring contract without crossing the apron.
The club later shaved roughly $1.6 million to slip below the tax by sending Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to Brooklyn, then re-signed Dru Smith to fill the final guaranteed roster slot.
What still lies ahead
Miami sits at 14 standard contracts; adding a 15th player would push the team back into tax territory unless salary is removed. Waiving Terry Rozier—whose $26.6 million deal is guaranteed for only $24.9 million—would create room but sacrifice a sizable expiring contract that could be useful at the trade deadline.
Front-court depth remains a need if Bam Adebayo plays fewer minutes at center. Free-agent big men such as Precious Achiuwa and former Heat reserve Thomas Bryant are possibilities.
The club also holds one open two-way slot. Training-camp invitees Keels, Young, Thompson, Madsen and Dainja can all have their Exhibit 10 deals converted and will compete for that position.
Extension watch
Beginning Oct. 1, Tyler Herro is eligible for a three-year extension worth up to $149.7 million starting in 2027-28. The 25-year-old coming off career highs of 23.9 points and 5.5 assists faces durability and defensive questions, and Miami could delay a decision until next summer.
Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic are also extension-eligible. Only Jovic faces an October deadline, though his inconsistent role makes an immediate agreement unlikely. The Heat are expected to evaluate Powell and Wiggins during the season before addressing new deals.
The offseason maneuvering leaves Miami competitive while preserving flexibility heading into what could be an active 2025-26 trade market.
Source: Hoops Rumors
