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The Miami Heat and point guard Norris Cole will have to wait until next summer to resume talks of a contract extension.
Because the two sides failed to reach an accord by Friday's midnight EST deadline, Cole will become a restricted free agent as of July 1st, 2015. The Miami Heat will have the right to match any offer sheet given to Cole, provided they extend him a $3.03 million qualifying offer.
Per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, "by waiting, it allows Cole to prove he is worth starter's money, now being cast in that primary role for the first time in his four-year tenure with the team. The wait also allows the Heat to get a better read on the future of 2014 first-round pick Shabazz Napier, the point guard out of UConn."
Cole is attempting to keep himself grounded in the here and now, rather than focusing on his future some eight months from now.
"I only can control what I can control, and that's being professional and making sure my play on the court is the best it can be, and everything else I'm sure will take care of itself," Cole said of the contract negotiations.
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