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Ira Winderman: Nikola Jovic also has to be open to what is needed, which, at the moment, looks like time in a power role. In some ways, with the current composition of the roster, Niko stands as somewhat of a swing player. If he can make the same jump that Jaime Jaquez Jr. did last year, then he could prove invaluable. But that means better finishing and more of a willingness to play toward the betterment of the team. There is value there. But, agreed, it has to be rebuilt as he begins his four-year extension. At the moment, not sure anyone is taking on that contract without significant sweeteners, the type of sweeteners the Heat largely lack.
Anthony Chiang: The Heat has strong interest in veteran guard Klay Thompson. The issue is he’s still under contract with the Mavericks, as he’s due $17.5 million in the final year of his contract. It appears that the Heat will remain patient in filling out the rest of its roster to give Thompson time to possibly shake free through a buyout agreement. While a trade for Thompson is also possible, it would be challenging to pull off considering the only three players on the Heat’s current roster able to be traded for Thompson in a one-for-one deal are Nikola Jovic, Davion Mitchell and Bobby Portis. The cleaner path is for the Mavericks to eventually agree to a buyout with Thompson, with Thompson hypothetically giving up $7 million of his current salary to become a free agent. The Heat can then make up the difference on the money Thompson gave up by using the rest of its midlevel exception to offer him a $7 million salary for this upcoming season.
Heat Central: Giannis message to Nikola Jovic: “You were playing good. Translates very well to the NBA. The first couple of weeks, months into the season, the space will be so much open, and the decisions will be way easier for you. I’m excited bro” I’m hoping Giannis brings the best version out of Niko this season 🔥
Heat Central: Giannis Antetokounmpo on being in Miami: “Coach Spo brings the best out of players. I want to be coached hard…. I want people when they’re at work thinking about the Heat. I want people when they’re at their couch watching their favorite show to turn that off and put the Heat… I’m very excited to get in the gym with Bam, Mitchell, Wiggins, all these great players, Jovic.” (Via @GiselleSports) 🔥
Marc Stein on Klay Thompson to Miami rumors: The Mavericks at this point have operated as they are trying to find a trade for Klay Thompson. All scenarios about Miami’s interest… those are buyout scenarios. As we stand mid July, I don’t think the Mavs are giving consideration to a buyout. If no trade materializes and it’s August/September, and no trade has materialized, does the possibility change? Will Klay’s representatives push for a buyout? I’m sure that’s on the menu of possibilities. I know everybody loves to say Jovic and draft compensation from Miami. Do the Mavs want Jovic’s contract? Is the draft compensation from Miami attractive enough to do that? I have no sense that’s something legitimately percolating
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Anthony Chiang: Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic were at the Heat's summer league practice in Las Vegas today. Adebayo and Jovic were getting in a workout together on the adjacent court.
Ira Winderman: today's Heat stats from World Cup qualifying: Nikola Jovic in Serbia 94-78 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina: 32 points on 11 of 16 FG, 7 of 9 on 3s, 3 blocks. Pelle Larsson in Sweden 88-79 win over Slovenia: 31 points on 10 of 21 FG, 1 of 8 on 3s, 10-15 FTs, 3 assists.
Marc Stein: As of yesterday, it was still a two-team trade with Bucks and Heat. (It's an unpredictable business, so always a chance something could crop up before finalized). But today's confirmation of signings isn't expected to include surprises. As @Anthony_Chiang and I said last Tuesday, Heat had no intention of adding draft assets to entice a team to take Nikola Jovic. (Miami has no more tradable firsts, anyway). Miami now waits on LeBron and also hopes to add another wing with size and length and shooting ability at some point this summer, per source.
Barry Jackson: Powell can simply sign into Bulls cap space if he chooses. For those who ask 'why not dump Jovic to create more money' -- answer is it's a very hard contract to move and the Heat historically has been opposed to attaching first rounders to a negative asset simply to get off money. That has been a bridge too far for them over the years.
Heat Central: The Heat are looking to trade Nikola Jovic in addition to a sign and trade for Norman Powell, per @JakeLFischer “Nikola Jovic, his deal is definitely put out there on the trade market… He is a piece in addition to trying to sign and trade Norman Powell to a different destination”
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League sources say the Heat have shopped Nikola Jović in an attempt to cut salary to open flexibility for Powell. But Jović is entering the first year of a four-year, $62 million contract that already looks like an albatross by role player standards given his lack of development at 23 years old. Miami would have to attach draft capital to Jović’s contract to dump him, but the front office only has a 2029 first and swaps in 2028 and 2032 to dangle.
Nikola Jovic: ‘Ever since I arrived in Miami, I have been in trade rumors for Kevin Durant twice. Yes, twice for KD. For Kyrie Irving twice. For Damian Lillard, it was already a done deal because Lillard publicly stated that he wanted to come to Miami. It was like, 'I want Miami,' and that was it. For Lillard! And now most recently, I was in there for Giannis. I have been in seven or eight trade rumors already. Me and my brother Tyler Herro. I mean, my brother Tyler Herro, what he has endured, it is nowhere else! In the end, he didn’t survive, but I mean, he survived a long time. He truly was in every single trade rumor, every single one, which surely is not easy. You play for a club and you read this, and you are one of the main players. You are a young player on the rise, truly an incredible, great guy and an incredible player, but you read every summer: 'He is not good enough. We need someone new and a bigger star.' It surely was not easy for him.’
Serbia secured a convincing 90-76 victory over Czechia in a closed-door friendly at Aleksandar Nikolić Hall in Belgrade as part of its preparations for the upcoming FIBA window.
Nikola Jović led Serbia with 20 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Nikola Jokić finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, narrowly missing a triple-double, while Dejan Davidovac contributed 14 points. Vít Krejčí paced Czechia with 16 points and four assists.
