The Heat’s summer plans are already getting squeezed by the cap, and that pressure is starting to shape the names linked to Miami.
The clearest buzz right now is around Norman Powell, but the outlook there doesn’t look great for the Heat. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that there’s a “growing consensus” around the NBA that Miami won’t be able to re-sign Powell.
The reason is simple: the team is in a financial bind after agreeing to trade for superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and fellow big man Bobby Portis. Because Miami took back more salary than it sent out, it’s hard-capped at the first tax apron and doesn’t have enough room below that line to put together a real offer for Powell.
Powell, who turned 33 last month, just made his first All-Star team in 2025/26. Even with the Heat’s limitations, he’s expected to draw interest elsewhere, and Scotto said the Bulls are among the teams likely to pursue him in free agency.
If Miami pivots toward cheaper options, Buddy Hield is one name to watch. Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald pointed to the Hawks guard/forward earlier this week as a possible target.
They noted that Miami has liked Hield before, and he could become available if he’s waived on Sunday. His $9.7MM salary for next season is only partially guaranteed for $3MM right now, and it becomes fully guaranteed at the end of June 28.
There’s also movement around two veteran guards. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that the Heat have “strong interest” in free agent guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mike Conley.
Jackson later confirmed via Twitter that Miami is keen on landing Hardaway, though he was less certain about Conley. Jackson said the Heat’s front office has discussed the possibility of signing Conley, who will turn 39 before next season starts, but some people in the organization would prefer to go younger.
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The part that lingers is how the Bulls handled the rest of the board, especially with shooting still sitting near the top of the rosters needs. Around the league, teams were able to turn useful rotation players like Isaiah Joe and Isaiah Stewart into draft capital, the kind of moves that at least hint at value extraction during a reset. Chicago, though, is still facing the bigger question of whether it is collecting enough assets to accelerate this process or simply leaving opportunities on the table while the roster waits for help through free agency or trade. [Read more 🡒]
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For Bulls fans, the debate comes down to whether moving on from Patrick Williams in that kind of scenario would be worth the cost. The logic is straightforward enough: Chicago would be trying to clear a contract it has struggled to slot into place while adding a player who might be easier to move later and better suited to what the team wants to look like. Still, the proposal is only one piece of a wider set of hypothetical deals, and the real question is whether the Bulls would actually be willing to take that swing. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls May Be Closing In On A Move Fans Will Debate
Chicagos offseason flexibility has put the Bulls in position to poke around on a move that would make immediate sense on paper, especially with a roster that still needs more shooting. League chatter has pointed to a veteran guard who can help fill that gap, and the fit is easy enough to see for a team with cap room and a clear need for reliable scoring on the perimeter.
The wrinkle is that Chicago is not alone in the pursuit, with Miami and Detroit also in the mix as the Bulls weigh how aggressively to use what remains of their spending power. If the front office does decide to make a push, it would be the kind of signing that says plenty about how the Bulls want to use the rest of their cap space, and why this one could split the fan base before any paperwork is even signed. [Read more 🡒]