ASK IRA: Do the Heat remain in evaluation stage when it comes to Nikola Jovic?

Q: Secure the future, sign them next year to extensions. – D.S.T.

A: This was in response to Thursday’s confirmation of the Heat picking up the 2025-26 rookie-scale options on Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr.. The Heat actually will have another year to wait on Jaime, with the ability to also pick up his 2026-27 rookie-scale option. But it will be interesting to see the next move with Nikola, considering he has yet to offer a sustained breakthrough. The Heat will have to decide whether to put a $6.6 million qualifying offer in place to Nikola in the 2026 offseason, which would then be a starting point for restricted free agency. These next two seasons, provided there is not a trade or extension, likely will go a long way toward such a decision.

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Q: That’s the only offseason splash they do anymore. – Scotty.

A: This came in response to the announcement of the Heat formally confirming that training camp next month again will be held at the Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas. But, as the Heat have stressed this offseason, when they made the move for Terry Rozier last January, they effectively knew they were taking themselves out of this summer’s free agency. So before declaring this summer a Heat dud, perhaps give it a bit of time to see if Terry winds up as good or better than anything they could have done this summer. The Heat lacked the cap wherewithal to match the 76ers’ move for Paul George, or even the Magic’s move for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (if you even consider that an upgrade on Rozier), and little of free-agency consequence transpired otherwise this offseason (outside of trades, such as the Knicks’ for Mikal Bridges). Considering the Heat also gave up a potentially unprotected first-round pick to the Hornets for Terry, they basically have to make sure this works.

Q: When will the Heat fill the final two spots for training camp? – Eddie.

A: While NBA teams are allowed to carry up to 21 players during the preseason, it doesn’t mean they have to, and the Heat have gone to camp below the limit in previous seasons. Eventually, though, look for the Heat to add more names to their preseason mix as a means to funnel such players to their G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.