Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic Contract Extension Estimate REVEALED | Will Heat Lock Him Up?

Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic Contract Extension Estimate REVEALED | Will Heat Lock Him Up?

All right, one more thing here on Lockdown Eats presented by Open Phone. Keith Smith from Sprack wrote a piece outlining Miami’s offseason and came up with projections for DaVon Mitchell’s next contract and Nicola Yovic’s next contract. Let’s start with Nico. Um Keith Smith wrote, “If Miami could get him on a team friendly extension, something around 40 million over four years, they’d probably do it in a flash. For Yoic, that would be tempting money to lock in for. He could also bet on himself and play things out to restricted free agency in 2026 if Miami has to go up to the MLE equivalent deal. That’s as far as they should go to resign Yovic. Now, a sneaky contract extension that’s available for Nico and for the Miami Heat, right? We’re talking about Tyler Herro. We talked about it on today’s full episode. Uh but Yoic also eligible for a contract extension going into the final year of his rookie scale contract. This tends to be the time when teams lock up guys that they feel good about uh that they drafted. How do you feel about $10 million a year for Nico? I think that’s a great deal. I don’t think he’s quite lived up to that amount and I also don’t think that he’s lived up to more than that. And I think you’re still banking on the potential being realized. He just whether it’s because the team uh was set up with a different goal than being able to incorporate them and develop him and be able to use him more fully. I think or whether it was injury or just, you know, just development isn’t linear. And that being the case, I think you’ve seen enough from him over the last few seasons where you could say, “Yeah, he’s going to reach that point where he is a $10 million a year player.” And that’s not a bad deal for a guy given his skill set and everything else he can do out on the court. And I think he’s he’s shown the ability to grow, to morph into a different version of the player that he once was. He’s put in the work. We know how he’s embraced it and he’s he’s been a great fit for Miami, I think, in terms of again of having that potential there. Just they haven’t been able to maximize what he does. I know that last year could be looked at as a step back because he was given the starting opportunity and then lost it, but I think there was so much about that team that was just off to such a clunky Nico the way that it could have. But when he finally did get back into form, he was sensational and he provided a real spark off the bench. And even if that’s ultimately what his role is here in Miami, it’s still a role that you pay $10 million a year for. And I think that’s a good deal. $10 million for a high-end bench rotation guy. That’s about right. That feels good to me. Um that’s what Sam Hower makes basically for Boston, right? And if it’s it’s slightly less than what Nas Reed makes for Minnesota and Reed is won six man of the year last year. So that’s that that’s sort of what we’re talking about. I think $10 million a year is more than fair. Uh yeah, you’re right. You could look at last year as a step back considering that they projected him as a starter. He ultimately failed at that. He wasn’t a starter. I don’t think he’s a starter. Uh they need to kind of stop trying to make him a starter in my opinion. But I think he’s super valuable as a change of pace, juice your offense bench guy. And more than anything than his role fluctuating or whatever you think of that, he has shown real development over the first three years of his career. And that’s what you’re paying for is really the he got better from year one to year two where he was unplayable in year one to playable in year two. He was playing real minutes in playoff games two years in a row for us. Now, you probably don’t feel great about that, but he still did it. And if you’re projecting forward and whether or not he can outplay the value of that contract based on his development in three years, I would say for sure, yes. Like by the end of next year, he should be better than a $10 million a year player. and and certainly in two or three years, which is why if you’re Nico, you might just say, “Uh, I’d rather just bet on myself for another year and enter restricted free agency and make you have to match something for me in another year.” So, I don’t know that this is definitely and Keith Smith is not reporting that this is a for sure. I think Nikolovic also has a tough decision in, hey, do I just want to lock in for another guaranteed contract or do I want to bet on myself and enter a restricted free agency next summer? I could I could see him going either way with that, but it’ll be interesting to see if Miami even offers him that extension. My feel is that they als they obviously have to figure out first of all, is Nico on the team or is he traded in a in some big trade? Um, sure. And if he is on the team, what does it look like and all these they got to figure out all these other things first, but if we get to right before the year and and you got to start thinking about extensions and if Nikolovic has a place long term in Miami, I think they would at least have the conversation with him in his representation for sure. I two points on that. I think one I’d also feel much more comfortable if they were just a little bit lower. I mean, maybe I don’t think it’s nickel and dimming him, but I would feel better even if there was four for 36 rather than 4 for40. Maybe it’s just me and that that that $10 million a year. It’s the kind of that would be a much more easy to to handle deal for the Miami Heat, especially if they’re going to consider moving. That’s a nice much more movable contract even at just 1 million per year less. Um, and I don’t know that he I don’t think he’s done enough either to say that he’s going to earn a bigger contract around the league. That’s my next point is that I think if I don’t think it would behoove him. I don’t know who his representative and I don’t know who I don’t know how he’s looking at himself in in the future. I don’t think there are teams that see him that way. I really don’t. I mean, I think it was a pretty rude awakening for us. I know this has already been a couple seasons from now, you know, in terms of the the Damen Lillard trade. I remember talking to a lot of people around the league and we had a lot of them on the show here and and just the idea of Nikico Yoic, you know, that that that was a centerpiece of a trade or that was like you’re going to get a hell of a player in Nikico Yoic and they were like, Nikico Yoic, why would we care about Nikico Yoic? And and two years later, has he done enough to change that view around the league? Because I don’t think he has. Again, he’s still he’s a very tall ballkilled shooting, you know, big that can do a lot on the floor and he’s improved defensively. So, there’s definite improvement, but I don’t know that he’s done enough to be like, “Okay, yeah, I really feel comfortable paying him 10 million a year.” I I would say that most people around the league probably don’t even know who Nikico Yoic is. And so, I I think that’s just that’s an unfortunate referendum on his career and how little he’s been able to show consistently for Miami. So you got Keith Smith writing that I mean Keith Smith’s plugged in, you know, he’s doubt he’s he’s obviously plugged in. Yeah, but to your I don’t think any other NBA front office right now like fortunately for Nico, he’s not a restricted free agent now. He’d be restricted free agent in a year. If you were a restricted free agent now, he would have no leverage for $10 million a year. But because he could be a restricted free agent in a year, if you’re Miami, you would be saying probably not worth $10 million based on what he’s been able to put together. But if we get ahead of it, and we also are betting on Nico, just like Nico would be betting on Nico, we think the world of this guy. If we can get ahead of it, this could end up looking like a pretty big bargain in a couple of seasons. And that’s sort and that would be sort of the idea. But uh let’s talk about DaVon Mitchell’s projection here. I think a lot of Heat fans are going to be interested in this. But before we do that, uh, today’s one more thing is brought to you by Open Phone. If you’re running a business, you know that every missed call is money left on the table. Think about the last time that you had an urgent need, maybe for a plumber or a service provider. If the first person didn’t answer, did you wait? Probably not. You moved on. That’s why you need Open Phone. Open Phone is the number one business phone system built to streamline and scale your customer communications all from an app on your phone or your computer. Open Phone lets you manage business calls and texts from a single app. The shared inbox feature is a game changer. Your team can jump into any conversation instantly without missing a beat. And their AI agent handles afterhour calls, answers common questions, and captures leads so you never miss a customer. Open Phone is offering listeners 20% off your first 6 months at openphone.com/lockdonba. That’s openphone.com/lockdonba. If you have an existing number with another service, open port them over at no extra charge. Open phone, no miss calls, no missed customers. Uh Keith Smith also writes that the Heat uh that he expects the Heat to resign DaVon Mitchell this summer. So that’s great. Uh Keith Smith’s plugged in. I think he’s right. I think the Heat want DaVon Mitchell back. I think DaVon Mitchell wants to be back in Miami. The interesting part is this. Here’s what he writes. A deal in the range of $12 million average annual value makes sense for Mitchell. He won’t be a real target for the MLE teams, nor are the Nets likely to tie up their cap space in an offer sheet. He mentions the Nets only because they’re the only team with real cap space. That should allow the Heat to resign Mitchell on a relatively teamfriendly contract. $12 million a year for DaVon Mitchell, regardless of how many years, that’s a steal for the Miami Heat. And at the same time, I think Mitchell, if that’s what he gets, probably made himself a lot of money during his short stint in Miami. I think it’s a win-win. Yeah, no doubt. I mean, we had him on the show. Still really one of our favorite episodes in terms of how he brought his unique perspective to joining this team, to his continued development on defense. I think there was a he had a great few games here, a great few months here, and I think he became a fan favorite very quickly. I I mean, that was one thing that I’m glad that we pointed out when the trade happened is that as as nice a piece as Andrew Wiggins could have been, and you never know what you’re getting with slow-mo, etc., Damen Mitchell was going to endear himself to fans very quickly and that has certainly been the case. He’s got that that skill set and the tenacity defensively that is a natural fit for a fan base to be like, “Oh, I love that guy. He’s got that dog in him, etc.” So, I think that was it certainly looks like a great deal for Miami and for Mitchell both. I agree with Keith’s assessment that not a lot of teams are going to be trying to go after him. Um, I think it’s a good deal. I really do. I I just think you you don’t know again you don’t know what the rest of the roster will look like and it could change very dramatically. But to have a guy like him given the fact that he shot so well and that you believe in that shooting splits that you think that that’s still going to be more the norm than the aberration and the tenacity of which he brings defensively. Yeah. You need a highle role player like that and I think he’s a good fit for the Heat. Yep. And and to your point regardless of what happens this offseason, DaVon Mitchell is one of those guys that just fits in regardless of what it is. Um you got Kevin Durant. Great. Dam Mitchell makes sense for that team. You got Giannis, Dave Mitchell makes sense for that team. Like it, you don’t got any of those guys. Dave Mitchell makes sense for that team. Um, at $12 million a year, you don’t feel compelled to start him, right? It’s not Terry Rosier wasting away at $27 million a year. It’s, hey, this guy can also be our lead guard off the like our third our number one third guard. You know, he could be the number one guard we bring off the bench. Um, he could play with Tyler Hero, without Tyler Hiro, with player A, with player Z. It he’s that kind of guy. And, uh, $12 million is also about the going rate for highlevel backup point guards. And that’s what DaVon Mitchell would be if he was in that role. But, I’d also, like I said, if this is the roster and and you got another shot creator somewhere in that starting lineup, I think Mitchell could definitely start next year, too, at $12 million a year. I think he’d feel pretty good about it. Uh, that was one more thing here on Locked on Heat. If you missed our fulllength episode breaking down a Tyler Hero extension at $50 million a year, you’re going to want to make sure to check that out. That’s up on your YouTube uh on the YouTube channel and in your podcast feed. For now, thanks for making Lockdown Heat your first listen today.

Will the MIAMI HEAT secure their young talents? Dive into the financial projections and player value assessments for Nikola Jovic and Davion Mitchell’s potential contract extensions. Explore Jovic’s $40 million deal over four years and Mitchell’s projected $12 million average annual value. Uncover how these moves could reshape the HEAT’s roster and impact their championship aspirations. The hosts break down each player’s fit, development, and potential contributions to the team’s success. Don’t miss the in-depth analysis of how these contracts could influence the HEAT’s strategy in free agency and trade markets. Tune in for expert insights on the future of Miami’s dynamic young duo and their role in the team’s evolving game plan.

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