Pelle Larsson reflected positively on his second season with the Heat after the team was eliminated from the play-in tournament this year.
“I’m happy with how I performed and played this year, compared to last year,” Larsson said after Miami’s elimination. “I definitely stepped up in my development. I think just getting more minutes, being on the court more and getting more familiarity with everyone around here. I got trusted more with our new offense, and that was great. I think it resulted in a lot of good things for me.”
The Heat hold a $2.3MM team option on Larsson for next season, which they appear very likely to exercise given the terms it would carry.
Exercising the option would keep Larsson eligible for restricted free agency in 2027, and he would become extension-eligible in July if the option is picked up.
Davion Mitchell, 27, is entering the final year of his contract after serving as a steady floor general for the Heat throughout the 2025/26 season.
Mitchell is set to earn $12.4MM in 2026/27 and is regarded highly by the coaching staff and front office.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke at length about the point guard’s impact on the team’s performances this season.
“He’s been one of our most important guys that’s kind of been under the radar,” Spoelstra said. “There’s been a lot of big factors to us winning versus losing. But in the games that he missed, it definitely changed the look of how we play. I just think he’s an elite on-ball defender. And he’s fully embracing everything in our system. So it’s giving him an opportunity to be seen in this league as a competitor. And that’s not even talking about his offense. He’s in many ways the engine of when we run, and we’re at our best and in our pace. Oftentimes it’s him, the one that’s igniting it and pitching the ball ahead.”
Italian forward Simone Fontecchio, 30, reiterated his desire to stay with the Heat despite facing unrestricted free agency next month.
“I hope to find a place for next season,” Fontecchio said. “I would love to stay in Miami because I felt very comfortable there and my family enjoyed it too. It would be important for me to continue what I built over the last year.”
Fontecchio also confirmed he will represent the Italian national team during the August qualifying window for the 2027 World Cup.
Miami’s primary offseason objective is reportedly to pursue a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, with that scenario described as the team’s clear first-choice plan.
If a trade for Antetokounmpo cannot be arranged, the Heat’s second option would involve chasing another star talent through alternative means.
Should neither of those paths materialise, Miami’s fallback strategy would be to preserve cap space heading into the summer of 2027, when Antetokounmpo could potentially become a free agent.
The upcoming “3-2-1” lottery reform changes, set to take effect next year, have also drawn attention regarding how they could affect the Heat’s ability to pursue Antetokounmpo this summer.
