The Miami Heat have spent one summer reshaping themselves into a far more dangerous team, and the latest move in that overhaul could push Nikola Jovic out the door.
Miami’s headline-grabber was the blockbuster deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, a swap that immediately changed the look of the roster. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the terms this way: “The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in Tuesday's NBA draft), one pick swap and one second-round pick, sources told ESPN. The Heat are sending to Milwaukee unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033 along with No. 13, a pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-rounder, according to sources," ESPN's Shams Charania wrote.
With that kind of star power arriving, Miami may have to trim somewhere else, and Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney thinks Jovic is a name to watch. “Nikola Jovic.
(Remaining contract: four years, $62 million.) There is trepidation about trading for Jovic, who is certainly available and is still only 23 years old.
But the remaining contract is a hefty bite for teams to take,” Deveney wrote.
Jovic already has real value for the Heat. Last season, Miami locked him in on a long-term deal, and ESPN reported it like this: “Forward Nikola Jovic agreed to a four-year, $62.4 million rookie contract extension with the Miami Heat, agents Jeff Schwartz, Sean Kennedy and Jared Mucha of Excel Sports Management told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday night. The contract is fully guaranteed,” ESPN wrote.
The appeal is obvious. Jovic is a six-foot-ten power forward with guard skills, and that kind of versatility is exactly why he would draw interest if Miami decided to move him. He’s still only 23, which only adds to the intrigue.
The Heat are also expected to give Antetokounmpo an extension at some point during the coming season. If Miami needs to create room to keep everything aligned, Jovic looks like the most likely piece to be sacrificed.
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