Miami Heat Salary Cap
What the Heat owe, what counts against the cap, and how much room they have to add players. Every number is computed live; tap any underlined term or figure to see how it's built.
Cap outlook
Miami Heat payroll for the 2026-27 season is $168.2M against a $165.0M salary cap. Heat are $3.2M over the cap on payroll. An over-the-cap team builds with exceptions, not cap space. $32.8M of room before the luxury tax.
Payroll. Real payroll, the salaries actually on the books, is contracts plus dead money: $168.2M. Counting cap holds for their own free agents, the Heat' cap number rises to $261.9M, which is why there is no usable cap space until those holds come off the books. Renouncing every free-agent hold would open -$8.7M of room and give up Bird rights.
Tax and aprons. The Heat sit $32.8M below the $201.0M luxury tax line and $39.5M below the first apron, so the full set of exceptions is open.
Looking ahead. Looking ahead to 2027-28 (estimate), Tyler Herro's $33.0M comes off the books, and Kel'el Ware faces a team option decision worth $7.1M.
Related: Cap space · Luxury tax · Second apron · Cap holds
2026-27 cap report
Over the cap
Heat are $3.2M over the cap on payroll.
An over-the-cap team builds with exceptions, not cap space. $32.8M of room before the luxury tax.
Real payroll$168.2M
Free-agent holdsplaceholder$88.2M
A cap hold is a placeholder charge for a team's own free agent, sized by his Bird bracket. The Heat carry $88.2M in free-agent holds plus $5.5M in draft-pick holds; these count against the cap only, never the tax or aprons. What is the cap hold? →
Draft-pick holdsplaceholder$5.5M
Unsigned first-round picks count 120% of their rookie-scale slot against the cap. The Heat carry $5.5M in pick holds. What is the draft pick hold? →
Counts against the cap$261.9M
League cap line$165.0M
Salary capHeat are hereNo cap room to spend$3.2M overvs $165.0M · payroll
The salary cap is $165.0M (projected). The Heat's cap salary (contracts, dead money and holds) is $261.9M, putting them $96.9M over the cap, so they build the roster with exceptions and Bird rights instead of cap space. What is the salary cap? →
Luxury taxNo tax bill$32.8M undervs $201.0M · payroll
The luxury-tax line is $201.0M (projected); holds don't count against it, only contracts and dead money ($168.2M for the Heat). They have $32.8M of room before the luxury tax. What is the luxury tax? →
1st apronAll tools open$39.5M undervs $209.0M · payroll
The first apron sits at $209.0M (projected), about $8.0M above the tax line. The Heat have $39.5M of room before the first apron. What is the first apron? →
2nd apronUnder the top limit$52.5M undervs $222.0M · payroll
The second apron sits at $222.0M (projected). The Heat have $52.5M of room before it. What is the second apron? →
The four lines a team's spending crosses, low to high. The highlighted one is where the Heat sit now; faded lines aren't a factor this season. Tap any line for what it means.
Holds intact = an over-the-cap team with Bird rights. Renounce all free-agent holds (keeping draft picks) and room becomes −$8.7M, forfeiting Bird rights. How renouncing works →
The books · 2026-27 focused
| Player | Pos | 2026-27cap $165.0M | 2027-28cap $176.6M | 2028-29cap $188.9M | 2029-30cap $202.1M | 2030-31cap $216.3M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Signed contractsAn over-the-cap team can't spend cap space, but the CBA still gives it tools: exceptions. The Heat's current tools are Non-Taxpayer MLE ($15.1M), Bi-Annual Exception ($5.4M), plus Bird rights to re-sign their own free agents. How do teams build over the cap? → | ||||||
 Bam Adebayo | C | $49.5M | $53.5M | PO$57.4M | – | – |
 Tyler Herro | G | $33.0M | – | – | – | – |
 Andrew Wiggins | F | PO$30.2M | – | – | – | – |
 Nikola Jovic | F | $16.2M | $14.9M | $15.1M | $16.2M | – |
 Davion Mitchell | G | $12.4M | – | – | – | – |
 Jaime Jaquez Jr. | G | TO$5.9M | – | – | – | – |
 Kel'el Ware | C | TO$4.7M | TO$7.1M | – | – | – |
 Kasparas Jakučionis | G | $3.8M | TO$4.0M | TO$6.2M | – | – |
 Dru Smith | G | $2.6M | TO$2.9M | – | – | – |
 Myron Gardner | F | $2.6M | $2.5M | – | – | – |
| Dru Smith | G | $2.6M | TO$2.9M | – | – | – |
 Jahmir Young | G | TO$2.4M | – | – | – | – |
 Pelle Larsson | G | TO$2.3M | – | – | – | – |
| Signed contracts subtotal | $168.2M | $87.9M | $78.7M | $16.2M | $0.0M | |
Cap holdsplaceholders, not paidA cap hold is a placeholder charge for a team's own free agent, sized by his Bird bracket. The Heat carry $88.2M in free-agent holds plus $5.5M in draft-pick holds; these count against the cap only, never the tax or aprons. What is the cap hold? → | ||||||
| Free agents · Bird % of prior salary, renounce to clear | ||||||
| Terry Rozier150% | F | $40.0M | – | – | – | – |
| Norman Powell150% | F | $30.7M | – | – | – | – |
| Simone Fontecchio130% | F | $10.8M | – | – | – | – |
| Keshad Johnson120% | F | $2.3M | – | – | – | – |
| Trevor KeelsMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
| Vladislav GoldinMIN | F | $2.2M | – | – | – | – |
| Bam Adebayo150% | F | – | – | – | $70.7M | – |
| Tyler Herro150% | F | – | $49.5M | – | – | – |
| Andrew Wiggins150% | F | – | $45.3M | – | – | – |
| Kel'el Ware300% | F | – | – | $21.4M | – | – |
| Kasparas Jakučionis300% | F | – | – | – | $18.6M | – |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr.300% | F | – | $17.8M | – | – | – |
| Davion Mitchell130% | F | – | $16.1M | – | – | – |
| Pelle Larsson300% | F | – | $6.9M | – | – | – |
| Dru Smith190% | F | – | – | $5.6M | – | – |
| Myron Gardner120% | F | – | – | $3.0M | – | – |
| Jahmir Young120% | F | – | $2.9M | – | – | – |
Unsigned first-rounders · 120% of rookie scaleUnsigned first-round picks count 120% of their rookie-scale slot against the cap. The Heat carry $5.5M in pick holds. What is the draft pick hold? → | ||||||
| 2026 first round (No. 13) | – | $5.5M | – | – | – | – |
| Cap holds subtotal | $93.7M | $138.5M | $30.0M | $89.4M | $0.0M | |
| Counts against the cap | $261.9M | $226.4M | $117.9M | $120.2M | $20.9M | |
Hold values are computed: draft picks at 120% of the rookie-scale slot (season-adjusted), free agents at the Bird % of prior salary (Non 120%, Early 130%, Bird 150/190/250/300%), or a flat minimum. This table is read-only; edit source data in the database to change values.
Tax & apron position · 2026-27
FLOOR
$149.0M
$149.0M
TAX
$201.0M
$201.0M
APRON 1
$209.0M
$209.0M
APRON 2
$222.0M
$222.0M
Heat $169.5M
Marker = tax/apron salary (contracts + dead money); holds don't count here. Cap space is separate (includes holds) and shown in the report above.
Free-agent capacity · 2026-27
Non-Taxpayer MLEup to $15.1MThe full mid-level signing slot for adding an outside free agent. Using it locks their spending at the first apron for the rest of the season.
Non-Taxpayer MLEup to $15.1M
The full mid-level signing slot for adding an outside free agent. Using it locks their spending at the first apron for the rest of the season.
The Heat can offer the full non-taxpayer mid-level: up to $15.1M (projected) starting salary, up to 4 years. Using it hard-caps them at the first apron. What is the mid-level exception (non-taxpayer)? →
Bi-Annual Exceptionup to $5.4MA smaller signing slot, usable every other year. Using it also locks their spending at the first apron.
Bi-Annual Exceptionup to $5.4M
A smaller signing slot, usable every other year. Using it also locks their spending at the first apron.
The Heat can use the bi-annual exception: $5.4M (projected) starting salary, up to 2 years, but only if they didn't use it last season. It hard-caps them at the first apron. What is the bi-annual exception? →
Bird rightsLets them re-sign their own free agents for more than other teams can offer, up to the max.
Bird rights
Lets them re-sign their own free agents for more than other teams can offer, up to the max.
Bird rights let the Heat re-sign their own free agents up to the max even while over the cap. The attached cap hold is 150–300% of the player's prior salary, depending on tenure and salary level. What are Bird rights? →
25%
0–6 yrs
$41.3M
30%
7–9 yrs
$49.5M
35%
10+ yrs
$57.8M
Max starting salary by experience tier. Tap for how the tiers work.
Max contracts scale with experience (projected): $41.3M starting salary for 0–6 years, $49.5M for 7–9, $57.8M for 10+ (25/30/35% of the cap). How do NBA max salaries work? →
Outside FAs can only be signed at the max using cap space; otherwise capped by the tools above.
Decision points · 2026-27
Option calls ahead of 2027-28
Kel'el WareTeam option$7.1M
A team option (TO badge) lets the Heat choose whether to keep the player for that year's salary or let him become a free agent. What is a team option? →
Kasparas JakučionisTeam option$4.0M
A team option (TO badge) lets the Heat choose whether to keep the player for that year's salary or let him become a free agent. What is a team option? →
Dru SmithTeam option$2.9M
A team option (TO badge) lets the Heat choose whether to keep the player for that year's salary or let him become a free agent. What is a team option? →
Dru SmithTeam option$2.9M
A team option (TO badge) lets the Heat choose whether to keep the player for that year's salary or let him become a free agent. What is a team option? →
Expiring after 2026-27Tyler Herro$33.0MAndrew Wiggins$30.2MDavion Mitchell$12.4MJaime Jaquez Jr.$5.9MJahmir Young$2.4MPelle Larsson$2.3M
The forks in the road as the books stand: options someone must pick up or decline, and salaries that come off after 2026-27. Tap an option for how it works.
Draft picks through 2032
The Heat control 6 first-round and 2 second-round picks, 1 carrying swap rights.
2026
2026 1st (own) · No. 13
2026 2nd (via GSW)Golden State's own second conveyed to Miami at pick 41, routed via Charlotte, New York, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.
Their own 2nd, owed to SASMiami's own second conveyed to San Antonio at pick 44, routed via Indiana.
2027
Their own 1st, owed to CHATop-14 protected first owed to Charlotte from the January 2024 Terry Rozier trade; if it lands 1-14 it does not convey and Charlotte instead gets an unprotected 2028 MIA first.
Their own 2nd, owed to OKCOKC holds the least favorable, and PHI the most favorable, of the OKC/HOU/IND/MIA 2027 seconds under a February 2026 multi-team arrangement.
2028
2028 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to DETOwed to Detroit, unprotected, from the 2023 Dewayne Dedmon salary dump.
2029
2029 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to OKCOwed to Oklahoma City, unprotected, from the 2023 Victor Oladipo salary dump.
2030
2030 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to OKCOwed to Oklahoma City, unprotected, from the 2023 Victor Oladipo salary dump.
2031
2031 1st (own)
2031 2nd (own, swap rights attached)Washington holds swap rights on this second inside a Washington, Memphis, and Indiana 2031 pool; Miami keeps its slot only as the least favorable of that group.
2032
2032 1st (own)
Their own 2nd, owed to BKNTraded to Brooklyn with Haywood Highsmith in the August 2025 trade.
Protections and swap conditions in plain English. Full story on the Heat draft picks page.