The Miami Heat have set the stage for some intriguing roster moves, starting with Vladislav Goldin. The Heat have extended a two-way qualifying offer to the towering 7-footer, making him a restricted free agent.
Goldin, who joined the team undrafted out of Michigan, played in nine games this past season. Although his court time was limited-averaging just 2.7 minutes per outing-this move suggests the Heat see potential in him worth exploring further.
In contrast, the Heat have decided to part ways with guard Trevor Keels by declining their two-way option on him, which shifts him to unrestricted free agency. Keels, a 2022 second-round pick from Duke, made brief appearances in eight games for Miami, and now he'll be searching for new opportunities elsewhere.
Turning our attention to Sacramento, the Kings are making moves of their own by extending a two-way qualifying offer to guard Daeqwon Plowden. Plowden had a more significant role with the Kings, featuring in 32 games, including seven starts.
He made the most of his minutes, averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 26.4 minutes per game. This offer keeps him in the mix as a restricted free agent.
Over in Brooklyn, the Nets have tendered a two-way qualifying offer to Chaney Johnson. Johnson played 12 games for the Nets, contributing 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 20.5 minutes per contest. The move signals the Nets' interest in continuing to develop his skills within their system.
The New Orleans Pelicans have also made a move, offering a two-way qualifying offer to center Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson, who has roots in Michigan and Kansas, managed to get on the court for five NBA games this season after not being selected in the draft.
Lastly, the Houston Rockets have extended a two-way qualifying offer to Isaiah Crawford. Crawford, who went undrafted in 2024, initially found a spot with Sacramento before transitioning to the Rockets. In his 14 games with Houston this past season, he averaged 2.0 points in 6.6 minutes, showing glimpses of potential that the Rockets evidently want to continue to explore.
These qualifying offers highlight the strategic moves teams are making to balance developing young talent while managing their roster flexibility. Each of these players now faces a crucial offseason as they look to secure their roles in the NBA.
In Other News...
Heat Just Got Linked To A Familiar Reclamation Swing Around Giannis
Lonnie Walkers name is back in the NBA conversation after a season overseas, and that naturally puts the Heat on the fringe of the discussion. Miami has been hunting for backcourt shooting, and Walker fits the kind of low-cost, high-upside lane the team has not been afraid to explore in the past. He has already logged time with multiple NBA teams, and his stint in the EuroLeague only adds to the sense that he is the sort of player who might benefit from a fresh start.
For Miami, the appeal is obvious enough. Walker has the kind of familiarity with the league that can make a reclamation swing feel less risky, and the Heat also have a track record of squeezing value out of players other clubs have moved on from. If the door opens, this would not just be about adding another guard, but about seeing whether the right environment can still unlock a productive version of a player whose career has already taken a few turns. [Read more 🡒]
Former Heat Scorer Suddenly Linked To A Team No One Expected
One of the more interesting Heat-adjacent names to surface this week is Norman Powell, whose next stop could come in a place not many would have circled just a few months ago. The 33-year-old guard remains a proven scorer and a dangerous perimeter threat, which is part of why his market is drawing attention as Chicago lines up with more than $30 million in cap space and a clear need for shooting before the 2026-27 season.
What makes the Bulls' interest more complicated is the fit. Powell would bring immediate offense, but a long-term commitment would force Chicago to weigh age, role and flexibility against the appeal of adding a ready-made bucket getter. For a rebuilding team trying to stay disciplined with its books, that is the kind of decision that can look simple on the surface and get a lot murkier once the contract conversation really starts. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Fans Wont Like Where The Jaylen Brown Buzz Is Heading
The Jaylen Brown chatter that has hovered around Denver is trending away from becoming a Nuggets reality, at least for now. Sources say a Brown-to-Denver deal is highly unlikely because the Nuggets do not have the draft assets to make it work, even as Brown has drawn interest from several teams around the league and Cameron Johnson looks increasingly likely to be moved soon.
Miami is among the teams keeping tabs on Johnson, which gives the Heat another front-office lane to monitor as the market shifts around Denvers roster. The Celtics have also had past interest in Aaron Gordon, but the kind of three-player framework that would tie Gordon, Johnson and Brown together does not line up cleanly on payroll or fit, leaving plenty of talk and not much of a clear path just yet. [Read more 🡒]