According to Chiang<\/a>, Miami is hoping Dallas eventually agrees to buy out the veteran sharpshooter, because the trade route is close to unworkable.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile a trade for Thompson is also possible, it would be challenging to pull off considering the only three players on the Heat\u2019s current roster able to be traded for Thompson in a one-for-one deal are Nikola Jovic, Davion Mitchell and Bobby Portis,\u201d Chiang wrote, adding that the cleaner path involves Thompson hypothetically surrendering about $7 million of his current salary to reach free agency.<\/p>\n None of those three trade candidates is a throwaway piece. Jovic signed an extension before last season, Mitchell was re-signed to run the point of attack, and Portis was brought in to stabilize the frontcourt behind Adebayo.<\/p>\n Sending any of them to Dallas for a 36-year-old shooter on an expiring deal would solve one problem by opening another, which is why Miami has been content to wait on a buyout<\/a> that Dallas has so far shown no urgency to grant.<\/p>\n DeRozan\u2019s price tag changes the math<\/p>\n While the Heat wait on Dallas, the most accomplished scorer on the open market has put a number on his patience. During Thursday\u2019s episode of the \u201cClutch Scoops\u201d live stream, which ClutchPoints posted<\/a> with hosts Tomer Azarly and NBA insider Brett Siegel, Siegel reported that DeMar DeRozan has no intention of signing for the veteran\u2019s minimum.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem like he wants to take a minimum contract,\u201d Siegel said. \u201cHe probably wants to get around that $8-$10 million range to recuperate some value that he lost from Sacramento waiving.\u201d<\/p>\n That range collides almost exactly with what Miami has available. As covered here earlier this week, the Heat are protecting<\/a> roughly $8 million remaining on their midlevel exception and committing all of it to DeRozan would leave nothing behind for Thompson if the Dallas situation ever breaks loose.<\/p>\n The stream also addressed that overlap directly, noting the DeRozan situation is effectively being held up by the Thompson question \u2014 whether the four-time champion gets bought out or is moved to Miami in a deal that could involve Jovic heading to Dallas.<\/p>\n The Heat do not have the luxury of deliberating forever. DeRozan, who turns 37 next month, scored more than 18 points per game for Sacramento last season while shooting just under 50 percent from the field, and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards have emerged as strong suitors. Miami already learned this week that it is not the only team circling<\/a>, and every day spent waiting on Dallas is a day another front office can put real money in front of a six-time All-Star.<\/p>\n Beal represents the third branch of the same decision tree. The veteran guard is coming off a lost season with the Los Angeles Clippers and remains unsigned, which keeps him available at a price point Miami could reach \u2014 though his recent injury history explains why he has not jumped the queue.<\/p>\n Why Spoelstra\u2019s confidence matters anyway<\/p>\n Set against all of that uncertainty, Spoelstra\u2019s Friday comments read less like cheerleading and more like a signal about how the organization views its floor.<\/p>\n The core that will open training camp \u2014 Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jovic, Mitchell, Portis and young wings like Pelle Larsson behind them \u2014 is locked in, and the coach is telling anyone listening that the identity of this team will not hinge on which veteran takes the last meaningful roster spot.<\/p>\n There is recent precedent for taking him at his word. Spoelstra has spent his career extracting career years from veteran additions, and the \u201clike-minded pros\u201d framing echoes the way he has talked about his best locker rooms.<\/p>\n![\"DeMar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/USATSI_25918680_168403910_lowres-e1750264225644.jpg\")
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