Miami Heat Saving Cap for 2027 — Giannis, Jokic?

The Heat are deliberately keeping their cap sheet light to chase the 2027 megaclass — names being floated include Giannis, Nikola Jokić, Donovan Mitchell, Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Karl‑Anthony Towns and Kyrie Irving. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst report Miami hasn’t had any “substantive talks” with Tyler Herro about a new deal; Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins look unlikely for extensions. Only Nikola Jović got a meaningful, trade‑friendly four‑year, $62.4M extension, signaling flexibility over commitment. Merlin sees Miami playing patient chess: sacrificing immediate upgrades for the slim chance of a transformative move in 2027. Yet free agency lately favors staying put (Jokić skipped a huge extension and said his “plan is to be a Nugget forever”), and rivals like the Knicks could outmuscle Miami in trades. Still, the Heat’s restraint keeps them in the hunt without burning bridges.