Answering Heat questions on roster flexibility, draft picks, trade dates: Part 2 of 2

This week, we’re answering 15 key questions about the state of the Heat as we approach the start of training camp on Oct. 1 in the Bahamas. We examined the Jimmy Butler situation and other matters here.

Addressing eight other issues in Part 2 today:

▪ The Heat stands just $1.1 million below the dreaded $188.9 million second apron, a threshold that places onerous restrictions on teams. How does that limit what Miami can do in the months ahead?

As a team above the $178.1 million first apron, the Heat cannot take back more money in a trade than it sends out.

As long as any transaction does not leave the Heat over the second apron, it can aggregate players in a trade. (That means Miami can trade two players for one, or two for three, and so forth, as long as it’s not taking more money back and as long as the Heat stays under the second apron.)

Miami must remain under the second apron to preserve trade aggregation rights.

Nassir Little’s standard contract, announced Tuesday evening, does not put Miami over the second apron because it’s not guaranteed. But if he makes the team, he would either need to be cut midway through the season or another player would need to be traded (while talking less money back) to avoid surpassing the second apron.

But if Little makes the team and is cut in January, the Heat couldn’t add another player to a standard contract until very, very late in the season.

▪ If Little makes the team as a 15th player, how does carrying 15 players affect what the Heat can do with its two-way contract players?

Two-way players are eligible to be active for as many as 50 of a team’s 82 regular-season games. But if a team isn’t carrying 15 players on standard contracts, its two-way players can only be active for a combined 90 games.

So Heat two-way players Josh Christopher, Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith (any of whom could be replaced at any time) would be eligible to be active for 150 games if Little makes the Heat as a 15th player on a standard contract. But that total drops to 90 games combined if a team goes back to 14 players on standard contracts.

▪ Can anyone on the Heat be traded at any time?

No. Haywood Highsmith, Kevin Love, Alec Burks and Thomas Bryant cannot be traded until Dec. 15. Bryant couldn’t have been traded at all if he hadn’t waived his no-trade clause.

▪ What’s the deal with these partial guarantees for Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson?

Rozier’s salary is mostly, but not entirely, guaranteed for 2025-26; $24.9 million of his $26.6 million is guaranteed.

Per hoopshype.com, Rozier’s contract becomes fully guaranteed if the Heat participates in the conference semifinals and he plays in at least 70 regular-season games. Because most of Rozier’s contract is guaranteed, the small nonguaranteed amount is largely irrelevant and wouldn’t impact what the Heat does with him.

With Robinson, $9.9 million of his $19.9 million salary is guaranteed for 2025-26. The contract becomes guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before two days after the end of 2025-26 moratorium period early next July or if the Heat wins a championship this season and “he achieves various minutes/games played requirements,” per hoopshype.com.

▪ What teams are worth keeping an eye on as trade partners?

Phoenix, if the Suns implode in the months ahead and if Kevin Durant asks out.

The Knicks, if they struggle with impending free agent Julius Randle and decide to shake things up.

The Wizards, who could deal Kyle Kuzma, who has expressed admiration for Heat president Pat Riley in recent weeks.

The Pelicans, if impending free agent Brandon Ingram faces reality and accepts a deal well below the maximum. (Not counting on that.)

The Clippers and Warriors could be open to major moves if both struggle out of the gate. Golden State reportedly has interest in Butler; a package of Jonathan Kuminga (who wants a lucrative contract) and draft picks could be the best the Warriors could theoretically offer.

The Heat has made only two big trades this decade (Kyle Lowry and Rozier). But Miami, recognizing Boston’s greatness, remains willing to do something significant if an enticing opportunity becomes available.

▪ Why does the Heat quibble with the notion that the team is “running it back?”

Because Miami has only seven players remaining from the team that made the 2022-23 Finals, and because the Heat made a major trade by acquiring Rozier in January.

While the Heat has been an eighth seed the past two years, the organization has a valid point that Miami also has been one of the final four teams in two of the past three seasons.

▪ How many future Heat first-round picks can Miami trade?

Only one: In 2030 or 2031. The 2032 first-round pick becomes available to trade on draft night next year.

▪ Does the Heat own its 2025 first-round draft pick?

Only if Miami misses the playoffs. If the Heat makes the playoffs, Oklahoma City would own the Heat’s first-round pick in June 2025.

If the Heat makes the playoffs this season, then these things would happen: OKC would own Miami’s pick in 2025, the Heat would own its own pick in 2026 and Charlotte would own Miami’s pick in 2027 (unless the Heat misses the playoffs in 2026-27), and Miami would then own its 2028 pick.

If the Heat misses the playoffs this season, OKC would own Miami’s 2026 unprotected first-round pick and Charlotte would own Miami’s 2028 unprotected first round pick. Miami would retain its first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029.