With start of NBA Finals, even Heat will be on personnel clock; Jaquez to get Finals exposure

MIAMI — With Thursday night’s start of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat and the rest of the league will find themselves back on the clock, or at least part of a countdown.

Among the twists in the latest collective-bargaining agreement was a head start for teams when it comes to their own free agents, a negotiation period that begins two days after the conclusion of the Finals.

With Game 4 of the best-of-seven Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers scheduled for June 13, that means the internal negotiating period could begin as soon as June 15. But with Game 7 scheduled for June 22, that means the internal negotiating period could begin as late as June 24.

While the Heat’s focus during that early-access period figures to be on Davion Mitchell and perhaps also Alec Burks, the timing of that period also could factor in the direction teams such as the Heat take in the June 25 first-round of the NBA draft, with perhaps a better read on what actually might be available in free agency.

While there is a nine-day variance when it comes to the potential starting points of the internal free-agency negotiation period, it basically will be a rapid-fire personnel period from that point for the Heat the balance of this month and going forward.

June 25: The first-round of the NBA draft, with the Heat holding the No. 20 selection acquired from the Golden State Warriors at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline in the Jimmy Butler trade.

The Heat’s own first-round pick, at No. 15, is now held by the Thunder.

June 26: The second-round of the NBA draft, with the Heat without a selection in the round, its own pick at No. 41 now held by the Warriors (sent out by the Heat in the 2019 trade for KZ Okpala).

June 29: If an agreement is not reached in advance, this is the Heat’s deadline to extend an $8.7 million qualifying offer to Mitchell for next season’s salary in order to make him a restricted free agent, with the right to then match outside offers in free agency.

This also is the deadline for the Heat to pick up next season’s $2 million team option on the contract of Keshad Johnson.

In addition, this is the date when qualifying offers to retain the right of first refusal are due on the contracts of two-way players Dru Smith and Isaiah Stevens. Because of his four-season NBA tenure, free-agent guard Josh Christopher no longer is eligible for another two-way contract.

Further, this is the deadline for Duncan Robinson to invoke his early-termination option on the $19.9 million salary for next season.

June 30: The 6 p.m. start of the free-agency negotiation period.

The Heat are operating above the salary cap, but if willing to spend into the tax and aprons, could have available the $14.1 non-taxpayer mid-level exception, the $5.1 million bi-annual exception, a $16.1 million exception from the Butler trade and a $3.1 million exemption from the Josh Richardson trade.

July 1: Start of extension window for Nikola Jovic.

July 5-8: Heat participating in the California Classic summer league along with the summer rosters of the Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings.

July 6: The start of the free-agency signing period, at 12:01 a.m.

July 8: Deadline to guarantee the final $10 million of Robinson’s 2025-26 salary, with Robinson otherwise becoming a free agent.

July 10-20: NBA Las Vegas Summer League, with all 30 NBA teams participating.

Jaquez to Finals

Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been selected as one of four NBA players to serve as media correspondents for the NBA Finals.

The NBA Player Correspondent Program gives players the opportunity to serve as media correspondents at events such as the NBA draft, All-Star Weekend and NBA Finals.

Jaquez will serve in that role on the NBA’s social and digital platforms for Sunday’s Game 2 in Oklahoma City.

Also selected for such a role in other Finals games are Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (Game 1), Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (Game 3) and Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (Game 4).

Among those who previously worked in the program was former Heat player and current Heat assistant coach Caron Butler.

Preseason schedule

The Heat announced that tickets for their three preseason games at Kaseya Center in October will go on sale Friday at noon at Heat.com and Ticketmaster.com.

The home exhibitions will be Oct. 6 at 7;30 p.m. against the Milwaukee Bucks, Oct. 8 at 7;30 p.m. against the San Antonio Spurs and Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. against the Memphis Grizzles.

The Heat also have been linked to hosting an exhibition in Puerto Rico, with that game yet to be finalized.

Heat tickets for 2025-26 again will be mobile entry only.

The complete preseason schedule will be released at a later date, with the 2025-26 regular-season schedule expected to be released in August.

With start of NBA Finals, even Heat will be on personnel clock; Jaquez to get Finals exposure

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