Heat are in no rush as signing period opens

The start was proactive: During the opening hours of NBA free agency, the MiamiHeat upgraded the contract of Derrick Jones Jr. from a two-way deal to a standard, season-long guarantee, removing him from free agency and unleashing a summer-league revelation.

Since then? Crickets. With the league having moved from Sunday’s start of negotiations to Friday’s start of the signing period (Joneswas an exception because of his minimum-scale deal), thewaitinggamecontinues with the five other Heat players whowent into the offseason as free agents.

There is, of course, no rush, with the Heat lacking the salary-cap space (they have none) to compete for big-name free agents aswell as much in theway of room below the luxury tax to stave off bids from other teams.

So where do the Heat stand with their remaining free agents? Here’s where:

Wayne Ellington: The situation has been wellchronicled.

While the Heat can offer a starting point for a new contract at $10.9 million for 2018-19, such spending would put theHeat over the punitive luxury tax. For example, paying Ellington $10 million for next season could result in as much as $25 million in total cost when factoring in the tax, while paying $6 million in 2018-19 salary could require a salary-plus-tax outlay of $15million.

As it is, many teams that had targeted 3-point specialists have already addressed that need, with it highly unlikely that Ellington, at this stage, could even secure an outside bid at the $8.6 million full mid-level exception, after Ellington earned $6.3 million last season.

So Ellington waits. And theHeatwait.

Dwyane Wade: Unless subsequent movement around the league has changed his thinking, Wade, 36, exited the season saying his choice would comedownto extending his Heat reunion or retirement.

In recent days, Wade has posted severalworkout videos on social media, including one alongside teammate Udonis Haslem. So there’s that.

But Wade also was present but not among those in uniform during a recent Miami pro-am game that included current and past teammates such as Hassan Whiteside, Briante Weber and Willie Reed. So there’s also that.

There are three 2018-19 salary options shouldWade return: The $2.4 million minimum scale for a player with his NBA tenure, the $3.5 million biannual exception, the $5.6 million taxpayer exception or even part or all of the full $8.6 million mid-level exception (until the Heat would then reach the $129.8 million hard cap in such a permutation).

The least painful resolution for the Heat would be the minimum scale, which counts at less than about half of the actual salary against the cap and luxury tax. A player ofWade’s Hall of Fame continuing on as a minimum-scale player is another story.

Udonis Haslem: While Haslem hedged about a Heat return when discussing a desire for more playing time, potentially even overseas, the likely decision about a return for a 16th Heat season will come down to whether there can be an acceptance of a miniscule role.

Heat President Pat Riley already has extended the invitation, with themoneynot an issue, since it will come down to the $2.4 million minimum for a player of Haslem’s tenure, again, counting far less than that against the salary cap and luxury tax.

The ultimate pressure could be on coach Erik Spoelstra, who again will be forced to decide between playing a franchise icon or players with more in-themoment or in-the-future upside.

Luke Babbitt: The Heat parted with Babbitt last summer only to reunite at the trading deadline for what proved to be little more than a cameo.

Babbitt only was able to receive a partially guaranteed deal last summer from the Atlanta Hawks, so it’s not as if there is going to be a biddingwar.

It again could come down to what else the Heat do before deciding where to circle back.

Jordan Mickey: While Mickey had his moments at a spot starter during his Heat debut season, the team also elected early during the offseason not to pick up his $1.6 million option for 2018-19, which makes it clear itwas not a money decision.

Should the Heat thin out their power rotation, or should Haslem retire, then there is a chancefor a return at the minimum if he remains available deeper into the offseason.

DerrickWalton Jr.: The Heat has a qualifying offer in place for a 2018-19 twoway contract, which includes a $50,000 guarantee.

At this point, it could come down to the Heat assessing their best options for their two two-way slots during the balance of summer league before committing.

Keep in mind that Walton played summer league last year for the Orlando Magic, so two-way contracts don’t necessarily always come from players on a team’s own summer roster.