Trade & Free Agency 2026/2027

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Thompson remains the Heat priority, even though there’s no indication when or if he will shake free from Dallas. The Mavericks, well below the luxury tax line, have no particular financial incentive to dump Thompson — who’s owed $17.5 million in the final year of a three-year contract — unless he’s willing to take a significant pay cut on a buyout. The Heat might end up needing that $8 million in exception money to bridge the gap with what he would be losing by taking a buyout with Dallas. Though the Heat has interest in DeRozan and appreciates his skills, at least one Heat official wants to be patient and wait out the market before making a move with one of the team’s three open roster spots, a source said. Heat president Pat Riley has said that decisions are made by the organization collectively, among several people. DeRozan has interest in the Heat, but he has other suitors and Miami must determine quickly whether they will move forward with any offer involving at least some of the Heat’s remaining $8 million in exception money. Several teams have inquired about DeRozan, including teams with exception money available. So, DeRozan doesn’t really need to sign at the minimum anywhere, at this point, and doesn’t need to wait weeks for the Heat, either.

Miami Herald