The 2025-26 cap is projected to be $154.6 million breach of contract | This is unexpected and shocking news it has happen again! as he has quit to……

What if Heat loses Butler next summer? Where that would leave Heat, according to cap rules

Part 1 of a series The Heat will be taking a risk if it goes past next February’s trade deadline with Jimmy Butler on its roster, in light of Butler’s intentions (at least for now) to opt out next summer and not sign an extension with anybody in the next 12 months.

(To be clear, Butler has not said this publicly, but The Athletic reported that’s his intention and the Miami Herald and others have been told likewise.) Very few teams (aside from teams in rebuilds) could realistically clear out the cap space to sign Butler to a max deal or anything close to it without the Heat’s assistance to help facilitate a sign-and-trade. So a sign-and-trade is the more likely outcome if Butler leaves the Heat next summer. The chances of the Heat losing Butler for nothing aren’t high, though not out of the question.

But here’s the problem if the Heat ultimately loses Butler for nothing: Miami wouldn’t have the cap space to come close to adequately replacing him.

With its current roster, the Heat would have no more than $13 million in cap space to replace Butler if he leaves in free agency next July. Realistically, Miami likely would have a bit less than that. Here’s how the math works: If Butler carries through with intentions to become a free agent next summer (with the Heat holding no right to match offers), Miami would have 10 players under contract for 2025-26 if it doesn’t trade one of the 10 in the months ahead: Bam Adebayo ($37.1 million),

Tyler Herro ($31 million), Terry Rozier ($26.6 million), Duncan Robinson ($19.9 million), Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($3.9 million), Nikola Jovic ($4.4 million), Kevin Love ($4.1 million), Haywood Highsmith ($5.7 million), Pelle Larson ($1.9 million) and Kel’el Ware ($4.5 million).

That adds up to $139.1 million. Cap holds – required by the NBA to fill open roster spots up to 12 – would add another $2.4 million to Miami’s cap, leaving the Heat at $141.5 million in commitments. The 2025-26 cap is projected to be $154.6 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. So that’s just $13 million in cap space — not nearly enough to add an All Star — if Butler simply signs elsewhere. Miami could create $10 million more in space by waiving Duncan Robinson, who has only $9.8 million guaranteed in 2025-26. But waiving Robinson would be poor asset management and likely not worth the net loss.