Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra did not expect to start his offseason in early May. He planned to be busy coaching the Heat in the second round of the playoffs right now. “I literally wasn’t planning on these next two months looking like this,” Spoelstra said on Heat exit interview day earlier this month. “So, we have a much longer offseason.” With the Heat eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics on May 1, the focus now shifts to building next season’s roster. Here is a comprehensive look at the important dates, decisions, and strategic moves the Heat will consider during this extended offseason.
Draft Combine Preparations
Chicago Event
The NBA Draft Combine will be held from May 12-19 in Chicago. As usual, the Heat will be represented by a large contingent at the combine. Key attendees include President Pat Riley, general manager Andy Elisburg, assistant general manager Adam Simon, vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler, director of college and pro scouting Keith Askins, scouts Bob Staak, Jack Fitzgerald, and Bob McAdoo, senior director of team development Ruth Hunter, and scouting operations coordinator Jeff Saunders.
Player Evaluation
The Heat and other teams will spend the next month evaluating draft prospects. With the 15th overall pick in the first round and the 43rd overall pick in the second round, Miami will be looking to add young talent to the roster. The team cannot trade its first-round pick before the draft due to a lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, they could select a player on behalf of another team as part of a trade agreement to be finalized after the draft.
Free Agency Negotiations
Key Dates and Player Options
Starting June 15, the Heat and other NBA teams can begin negotiating with their impending free agents the day after the last game of the NBA Finals. Key players for the Heat include Caleb Martin, who is expected to opt out of his $7.1 million player option, and Haywood Highsmith. By June 29, Thomas Bryant ($2.8 million player option), Kevin Love ($4 million player option), Martin ($7.1 million player option), and Josh Richardson ($3.1 million player option) must decide whether to pick up their options.
Unrestricted Free Agents
If these players do not exercise their options, they will become unrestricted free agents. This is also the deadline for the Heat to issue qualifying offers to Jamal Cain, Cole Swider, and Alondes Williams to make them restricted free agents. Free agent negotiations can begin on June 30 at 6 p.m., with the Heat’s own impending free agents including Highsmith, Patty Mills, and Delon Wright.
NBA Free Agency Moratorium
Contract Signings
The NBA’s free agency moratorium begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 for all contracts other than the signing of first-round picks and minimum deals (two years or less). Restricted free agents can still sign offer sheets, and third year and fourth-year newcomer options can still be exercised. Two-way contracts can also be signed and converted during the moratorium.
Lifting the Moratorium
The moratorium is lifted at noon on July 6, allowing teams to sign free agents and finalize trades based on the new salary-cap year. The Heat is expected to begin summer league action as part of the California Classic at Chase Center in San Francisco around this time. The exact game schedule has not yet been announced.
Extension Eligibility
Bam Adebayo’s Supermax Potential
On July 7, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler both become extension eligible. Adebayo, who turns 27 on July 18, will be eligible to sign a four-year, $245 million extension with the Heat this offseason if he meets the supermax criteria. The only way Adebayo can still become eligible for the supermax is by being named to an All-NBA team (first, second, or third) for this season. If Adebayo does not qualify, he will instead be eligible for a three-year contract worth $165 million this summer. Any extension Adebayo signs would begin in the 2026-27 season.
Jimmy Butler’s Contract
Butler, who turns 35 on Sept. 14, will be eligible to sign a two-year contract extension worth about $113 million this offseason. This extension would replace his 2025-26 player option worth $52.4 million and begin that season. The two-year max extension would include salaries of $54.3 million for the 2025-26 season and $58.6 million for the 2026-27 season. The Heat has until June 30, 2025, to sign Butler to this extension, but he and his camp will push to sign it prior to the start of next season.
Summer League and Olympic Preparations
Las Vegas Summer League
The Las Vegas summer league begins on July 12 and runs through July 22. After participating in the California Classic, the Heat will join the league’s other 29 teams in Las Vegas. The game schedule for both events has not yet been announced.
Summer Olympics
Men’s basketball at the Summer Olympics in Paris begins on July 27 and runs through Aug. 10. Erik Spoelstra will serve as a Team USA assistant coach, and Bam Adebayo is on the national team’s 12-man roster. Nikola Jovic (Serbia) and Patty Mills (Australia) are also expected to represent their home countries in the Olympics.
Contract Decisions and Financial Management
Qualifying Offers and Guarantees
The final day to withdraw a qualifying offer from a restricted free agent is July 13. Jamal Cain, Cole Swider, and Alondes Williams could become restricted free agents for the Heat this summer. The deadline for the Heat to guarantee developmental center Orlando Robinson’s full $2.1 million salary for the upcoming season is July 15. If the Heat decides not to guarantee his salary, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
Waive-and-Stretch Provision
The final day for NBA teams to use the waive-and-stretch provision ahead of next season is Aug. 31. This provision allows teams to shed salary by waiving a player and stretching the money owed over multiple seasons. It is a critical tool for managing salary cap and financial flexibility.
Training Camp and New Season Preparations
Training Camp
The Heat is expected to open training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season on Oct. 1. This period will be crucial for integrating new players, finalizing strategies, and setting the tone for the upcoming season. The extended offseason provides an opportunity for the coaching staff and players to address areas for improvement and build team cohesion.
Odds
As the offseason progresses and the roster takes shape, NBA odds will reflect the Heat’s chances for the upcoming season. Evaluating player movements, draft picks, and free agency signings will be essential for predicting the team’s success.
With a longer offseason than usual, the Miami Heat will be focused on rebuilding and strengthening their roster for the next season. From draft preparations and free agency negotiations to contract extensions and summer league action, every decision will be crucial for the team’s future success. Coach Erik Spoelstra and the front office will work tirelessly to ensure the Heat is ready to compete at the highest level when the 2024-25 season begins.
