As the Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga continue their offseason-long soap opera, the Miami Heat should be taking note. They cannot afford a similar headache with Nikola Jovic next summer.
The 22-year-old is extension-eligible right now. If he and the Heat fail to reach an agreement, he will enter restricted free agency over the 2026 offseason. And while Miami would have the right to match any offer, next year’s cap-space landscape is frothier than we’re seeing now. Another team could come in with a contract proposal that forces the Heat into a tough decision.
All of this can and should and must be avoided.