Heat absolutely must extend key player - but it's not the one fans think

"The start of training camp is less than a month away, but the Miami Heat still have some work to do before the end of the offseason. Over the next few weeks, the Heat's No. 1 priority should be to sign Nikola Jovic to a contract extension and, surprisingly, not Tyler Herro. Jovic has done enough this summer to prove he's worth the team-friendly extension that he'd likely be in line for before the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. Perhaps more importantly, Jovic could get an extension without completely handcuffing the Heat financially heading into the future."

"If the Heat believes the hype surrounding Jovic heading into this upcoming season, the decision should be simple. Herro is a much more complicated decision that comes with much more risk. If the Heat were to sign Jovic to an extension, he's probably looking at a $12-15 million per year deal. That could end up looking like a huge discount if he takes the fringe-star leap that many are expecting him to take this upcoming season."

"On the other hand, Herro may have already hit his ceiling as an All-Star offensive-minded guard, and it's difficult to envision him taking another leap in his development. Additionally, at $40-50 million per season, his extension would probably end any hope the Heat has of landing a superstar player within the next two seasons. Because of that, it's pretty clear that the Heat should prioritize Jovic over Herro at this point, but it may not be that simple after all."

Training camp approaches in under a month and the Miami Heat must resolve offseason contract priorities. Nikola Jovic emerged as a summer standout and appears likely to accept a team-friendly extension in the $12-15 million per year range that would avoid long-term financial strain. Jovic’s EuroBasket performance suggests significant upside and potential bargain value if he improves further. Tyler Herro projects as a higher-cost, higher-risk option who may have limited upside and could command $40-50 million annually, which could block future pursuit of a superstar. Jovic’s willingness to sign remains uncertain.

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