Pelle Larsson has spent the last six months making a habit of getting hit in the face and heading to the free throw line. That kind of rugged, on-the-edge style has become part of his identity, and it’s a big reason the Miami Heat have reason to think long-term.
Larsson is coming off a strong summer in FIBA play after a breakout NBA season with Miami. The former second-round pick put up 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this past season, then carried that momentum into the summer.
Pelle Larsson wraps up his FIBA World Cup Qualifier run with Sweden:4 games:26.0 PPG | 42.9 FG% | 78.6 FT% Larsson will now focus on getting ready for Miami HEAT training camp. https://t.co/ghw9kGRJxk
From a roster-building standpoint, Larsson is in a spot the Heat usually love: productive, ascending, and inexpensive. He is scheduled to make just $2.3 million in 2026-27, and he’ll carry a $3.1 million cap hold next summer as a potential restricted free agent.
The question now is what kind of extension makes sense. One view is that Miami should move early and lock him in before he reaches that point, even if the number doesn’t come all the way to the max.
Larsson is seen as the kind of player who fits on championship teams because he handles the dirty work, plays with high energy, thinks the game well and keeps improving. He gets to the rim, draws contact and has a knack for slowing the game down.
If his shot from beyond the arc takes another step, his value could rise fast.
A four-year deal up to $93 million has been floated, but that feels rich for where he is right now. Another suggested range is closer to $18 million to $20 million per year, which would keep him on the roster and preserve some flexibility. A separate estimate lands at $15 million annually, with the idea that it would give the Heat room to build while still rewarding a young player they trust.
There’s also a belief that Miami has already shown its hand with players it wanted to keep. When the Heat like a player and trust his work ethic, they generally don’t wait until restricted free agency; they usually get something done earlier. That approach has worked more often than not, even if there have been exceptions like Nikola Jovic.
With Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware all gone to Milwaukee, none getting an extension with Miami, Larsson appears to have a clearer path. The expectation is that he becomes a major piece of the current build, likely opening as the sixth man and closing plenty of tight games. A four-year deal around $70 million has been suggested as a comfortable middle ground, one that would still be tradeable if needed, though the belief is Miami probably won’t want to move him at all.
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For the Heat, that mix matters because Antetokounmpo does not need every possession to start and end with him. He needs players who can defend, space the floor and keep the workload from piling up over the course of a season. Wiggins, Fontecchio and Larsson all profile as the sort of complementary pieces who can help make that possible, which is why their value looks a lot different in this version of the roster than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Face One Last Roster Gamble With Real Scoring Upside
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For Miami, the appeal is obvious enough: Thomas brings real shot-making, and the kind of offensive pop that can be hard to find this late in the summer. The question is whether the Heat want to make that last gamble on a player who still has something to prove, with Erik Spoelstra potentially in position to help steer that next step if the organization decides to take it. [Read more 🡒]