With eye out for luxury tax, Heat decline Mickey’s option

MIAMI — With the Heat close to the luxury-tax line this offseason, every dollar counts.

That’s one of the reasons Miami’s first roster move of the offseason was to decline the $1.6 million team option on forward Jordan Mickey, a league source confirmed Thursday. The move helps the Heat save money against the luxury tax and opens a spot on the 15-man roster.

Miami now has 10 players under contract for 2018-19 who are due a total of about $119 million:

■ C Hassan Whiteside, $25.4M

■ G Tyler Johnson, $19.2M

■ G Goran Dragic, $18.1M

■ F James Johnson, $14.7M

■ C Kelly Olynyk, $12.5M

■ G Dion Waiters, $11.6M

■ F/G Josh Richardson, $9.4M

■ F Justise Winslow, $3.5M

■ C Bam Adebayo, $3M

■ G/F Rodney McGruder, $1.5M

That still puts the Heat above the projected $101 million salary cap and close to the projected $123 mil- lion luxury-tax line.

The Heat signed Mickey, who will now be an unre- stricted free agent, to a free- agent deal last offseason. The 23-year-old played in a limited role off the bench, averaging 4.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 23 games (three starts) in his only season with the team.

The Heat also must decide whether to make qualifying offers to two-way contract players Derrick Jones Jr. and Derrick Walton Jr. by the end of June, which would make them restricted free agents. If Miami decides not to make those offers, they would become unrestricted free agents.

There are now five free agents from the Heat’s 201718 season-ending roster: Luke Babbitt, Wayne Ellington, Udonis Haslem, Dwyane Wade and Mickey.

NBA free agency begins July 1.