Miami Heat Secures Johnson, Extends Mitchell, Smith Ahead NBA Free Agency

The Miami Heat have quietly made key roster moves ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft to secure promising talent for the upcoming season, exercising Keshad Johnson's $2 million team option and extending an $8.7 million qualifying offer to Davion Mitchell, making him a restricted free agent. These moves enable Miami to retain the right to match any offers Mitchell receives in free agency, a critical step given his strong performance after being acquired in the Jimmy Butler trade and his expected increase in market value. Additionally, the Heat issued a two-way qualifying offer to Dru Smith, who showed potential before a season-ending Achilles injury, while opting not to extend an offer to Isaiah Stevens. Johnson impressed in the G League with solid statistics and earned a fully guaranteed salary for the next season, positioning him for restricted free agency in 2026. Although these are not headline-grabbing moves, they reflect the Heat's strategic approach to retain and develop young talent amidst ongoing uncertainty about the franchise's direction. The team’s activity on draft night will likely provide further insight into their offseason plans and future roster construction.