The Miami Heat’s uneven start has already put plenty of pressure points under the microscope, but Nikola Jovic’s contract has become one of the loudest talking points around the team.
Bill Simmons went right at it on the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, where he was discussing his first power poll of the regular season. When the conversation turned to Miami, he didn’t hold back on the deal the Heat gave Jovic.
"The [Nikola] Jovic extension from last year was one of the dumbest extensions anyone's given in the last five years," Simmons said. It's been a disaster. He's unplayable."
Miami signed Jovic to a four-year, $62.5 million rookie extension before last season, banking on the forward becoming part of the franchise’s future. Jovic, the Heat’s first-round pick in 2022, was someone Pat Riley clearly valued for the long haul.
But the return has not matched the investment so far. After January last season, he was barely in the mix, showing up in just eight games the rest of the year.
This season hasn’t done much to calm the noise. Jovic is now on a deal that pays him about $15 million annually, and through four games he has topped 20 minutes only once.
The other three outings were all under 13 minutes. His numbers are modest: 3.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game, while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 25 percent from three.
Even with that rough start, Jovic doesn’t quite sit alone at the bottom of the contract conversation.
Gary Trent Jr. is another name worth bringing into the discussion. After solid seasons on inexpensive deals with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024 and 2025, Trent landed a four-year, $64 million contract this offseason.
Since then, he has played in just one game and has made one three-pointer. The Bucks are also being investigated by the NBA for possible salary cap circumvention.
Joel Embiid is in a different category, but his deal is tough to live with for a different reason. The Philadelphia 76ers center signed a three-year, $193 million extension in 2024, keeping him under contract through the 2028-29 season. The problem is availability: Embiid has not played more than 40 games in a season since his MVP year three seasons ago.
So while Jovic’s contract looks like one the Heat could end up regretting, the bigger issue right now is that it is not yet the league’s clear worst. He is still young, still has room to improve, and could even become a trade piece if another team is willing to bet on his upside.
Unlike some of the other deals that inspire panic, this one is not about health. Jovic has been available.
He simply needs to start producing.
In Other News...
Tyler Herro Just Reopened A Heat Debate Fans Wanted Gone
Tyler Herros strong start in Milwaukee has done more than give his new team its first win of the season. It has also nudged an old Heat conversation back into view, especially as Miami stumbled to 0-4 out of the gate. Herro delivered a near triple-double in the Bucks breakthrough, and the timing has only sharpened the contrast for a fan base still sorting through what his departure meant.
Austin Herro added another layer by posting a cryptic message on social media that appeared aimed at Heat fans, which was enough to stir the pot on a sore subject. There has also been talk this offseason of a physical altercation between Tyler Herro and former teammate Bam Adebayo, while Adebayo has drawn criticism for his slow start. For Miami, it is one more reminder that the aftermath of the Herro chapter is still very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Pelle Larsson May Have Given The Heat A Needed Bench Answer
Pelle Larssons latest outing gave Miami something it has been searching for off the bench: a reliable secondary creator who can keep the offense moving when the game starts to get sticky. In a recent Heat win, Larsson supplied 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists, and his ability to make plays without overcomplicating possessions helped the team find a better rhythm on offense.
Erik Spoelstra pointed to Larssons improved decision-making and versatility as a big reason Miami was able to lean more into pick-and-roll action and generate cleaner looks. For a team that just posted its highest scoring total of the season, that kind of bench production matters, and Larssons role now feels like one of the more interesting developments to watch as the Heat try to keep that offensive flow going. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Finally Showed A Look Miami Fans Have Been Waiting For
After a rough stretch, the Heat got a much-needed reset in Atlanta with a 129-117 win that stopped the skid and gave Miami something it had been missing for much of the early season: a cleaner, more connected offensive look. The ball moved better, the floor opened up more naturally, and the pick-and-roll finally looked like a reliable source of pressure rather than a possession-killer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the effort with 24 points and 18 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo made his own mark by setting the franchises all-time career rebounding record. For a team that has spent so much time searching for rhythm, the bigger question now is whether this was a one-night fix or the start of something more sustainable as the schedule turns. [Read more 🡒]