The Heat may not have to wait much longer for some real clarity on how the roster puzzle comes together.
August 29 is the NBA’s stretch-and-waive deadline, and Miami is watching it closely. Barry Jackson reported that the date could matter as the Heat continue sorting through what their first-year roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo might ultimately look like.
The key idea is simple: once that deadline passes, more players could become available on the open market. There’s no promise that anyone Miami actually wants will shake loose, but it does give the front office another checkpoint before locking in the rest of the roster.
That’s especially true if the Heat are still considering help at center. Jackson noted that Miami could be waiting to see whether any additional bigs become available before deciding on a possible insurance option such as Nick Richards, who the team has been somewhat indirectly linked to.
“Miami is seeing what becomes available among centers in the weeks ahead; the waive-and-stretch deadline is Aug. 29.”
Right now, Miami has 12 players on standard contracts. The expectation is that one roster spot will stay open for an in-season buyout addition, which means the Heat still need to add at least two players before training camp opens.
One of those spots is still being kept in reserve for Klay Thompson, whom Miami is apparently waiting on first. But beyond that, the picture gets murky fast.
There’s also no guarantee Thompson will even be there for the Heat to sign. If that happens, Miami could be forced to fill two roster spots without a clean answer in hand, aside from hoping Thompson eventually becomes available through a buyout.
That’s what makes August 29 worth circling. It may not solve everything, but it could open the door to more options - and give Miami a clearer read on how to finish building out the roster.
For now, the front office still has a few ideal scenarios in mind. They just remain dream outcomes until something actually breaks their way.
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The wrinkle is how his next move gets decided, because Dallas would prefer to move him in a trade while a buyout would open a different path entirely. If Thompson reaches the open market, Miami is expected to be among the logical landing spots, which keeps this one worth watching even if the outcome is still very much unsettled. [Read more 🡒]