Kai Jones, 24, is entering his fourth NBA season after playing 40 games last season with the Clippers and Mavericks. (Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
The Miami Heat are working out free agent big man Kai Jones, NBA insider Chris Haynes first reported Monday.
Jones, 24, is one of the most athletic big men on the market. In 40 combined contests with the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks last season, he averaged 5.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game.
Free agent F/C Kai Jones is working out for the Miami Heat today, league sources tell me. The 2021 first-rounder remains a young, athletic prospect. pic.twitter.com/SrLM8s4KpT
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 11, 2025
The Heat have one roster spot available and are nearly $2 million above the luxury tax.
On Sunday, Sportando’s Allesandro Maggi reported that Jones was “close” to signing with Virtus Bologna in Italy. Though Andrea Calzoni reported Monday that he has a “verbal” agreement to sign there.
However, Calzoni notes that Jones has a “deadline” to get a contract from an NBA roster.
The former No. 19 overall pick is entering his fourth NBA season. Should the Heat sign him to the veteran minimum, he would cost roughly $2.3 million on the team’s cap sheet.
He could also sign an Exhibit 10 with the hopes of fighting for a roster spot in training camp.
Jones has never played more than 46 games in a single season. In 107 career games — including six starts — he’s averaged 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. On a per-75 possession basis, he’s averaged 12.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.
Miami does not have any reliable backup big options outside of their two primary centers, Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo. It’s a big need — figuratively and literally.
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