MIAMI — The Miami Heat’s holding pattern has kept their roster somewhat frozen, but additional commitments already are in place.
Because camp tryout players cannot be signed until at least 14 players are under standard deals, and because the Heat have only 12 such players under contract, agreements have been reached with four players from summer league that will be finalized ahead of training camp.
Once the Heat flush out their standard roster with two additional players, the Heat then have expressed intention to offer Exhibit 10 camp contracts to undrafted Louisville forward J’Vonne Hadley, undrafted Kansas guard Tre White, undrafted Southern Cal forward Ezra Ausar and undrafted Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin.
In addition, such an offer also could be forthcoming to undrafted Auburn forward Keyshawn Hall, if Hall does not avail himself to the extra season of NCAA eligibility recently received through a court order.
While players on Exhibit 10 contracts are listed with a $1.4 million minimum-scale contract, such salary does not count against the salary cap unless the players make the regular-season roster. A small portion, about $15,000, becomes guaranteed if sidelined by injury.
More likely is that players signing Exhibit 10 contracts with the Heat will either compete for a two-way contract or be moved to the team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Until signed, such Exhibit 10 candidates are limited to three-on-three Heat drill work, ineligible to compete at the Heat’s facility in five-on-five scrimmaging with players under contract.
Ultimately, it keeps the Heat’s focus on filling out their standard roster, needing to get to 14 such players before the camp roster can be set, with teams allowed to carry up to 21 players during the offseason.
Under standard contract to the Heat are Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ryan Conwell, Simone Fontecchio, Myron Gardner, Tim Hardaway Jr., Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell, Bobby Portis Jr., Dru Smith and Andrew Wiggins.
Under two-way contract are Vlad Goldin and Tre Donaldson, with teams allowed to carry up to three players under such contracts, slots that can be subbed out at any time.
Because of the Heat working this season under a hard cap created by the machinations required for the Antetokounmpo acquisition, a deliberate approach is required for the final two standard roster spots.
Among those reportedly being considered by the Heat for those two roster spots are Bradley Beal, DeMar DeRozan and Klay Thompson, should he become available from the Dallas Mavericks by trade or with a buyout.
Once the Heat roster reaches 14 standard players, the Heat then are expected to formalize their Exhibit 10 agreements. Last year, the Heat on Sept. 11 finalized Exhibit 10 agreements with Jahmir Young, Gabe Madsen, Trevor Keels, and Dain Dainja. Young received a two-way contract, with the other three getting Skyforce deals.
The Heat are expected to open the season with only 14 players under standard contract, one shy of the NBA maximum, because of their position hard against their hard cap.
Teams are allowed to carry a maximum of 21 players during the offseason. Counting 14 standard contracts, the two two-way players currently under contract and Hadley, White, Ausar, Schieffelin and Hall, it would put the Heat at the 21-player camp maximum.
Of the expected Exhibit 10 candidates, White is expected to have the best shot for a two-way deal. The 3-and-D wing who averaged 17.3 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Heat in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League.