Heat picks up contract options on Jaquez and Jovic. Both under contract through 2025-26

As expected, the Miami Heat guaranteed another season on the rookie-scale contracts of forwards Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic on Thursday.

Jaquez, who was taken by the Heat with the 18th pick in the first round of the 2023 draft, had the $3.9 million third-year option in his rookie contract picked up for the 2025-26 season. Next offseason, the Heat will need to decide on the $5.9 million fourth-year option in Jaquez’s contract for the 2026-27 season.

Jovic, who was selected by the Heat with the No. 27 pick in the first round of the 2022 draft, had the $4.4 million fourth-year option in his rookie deal picked up for the 2025-26 season. He will then become a restricted free agent in the 2026 offseason unless he agrees to an extension with the Heat prior to that summer.

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Jaquez, 23, and Jovic, 21, were already under contract for this upcoming season. Jaquez will earn $3.7 million and Jovic will earn $2.5 million this season.

After picking up the options on Jaquez and Jovic, the Heat now has 11 players under contract for the 2025-26 season: Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler (player option), Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith, Jaquez, Jovic, Pelle Larsson (partially guaranteed), Kevin Love, Duncan Robinson (partially guaranteed), Terry Rozier (partially guaranteed) and Kel’el Ware.

Jaquez and Jovic have become a part of the Heat’s recent youth movement, with Jaquez named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team last season and Jovic closing last season as the Heat’s starting power forward.

Jaquez averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and one steal per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from three-point range last regular season. He finished fourth in the voting for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award that went to San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.

Jovic averaged 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 22.2 minutes per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 39 percent on 4.5 three-point attempts per game during his string of 26 straight starts to close last regular season.

The Heat had until Oct. 31 to decide on the rookie-scale options of Jaquez and Jovic.

The Heat is scheduled to hold its annual media day on Sept. 30 at Kaseya Center in Miami before opening training camp at Baha Mar in the Bahamas on Oct. 1 to kick off the 2024-25 season.