Miami's payroll totals $208.3M, above the $200.4M luxury tax line and pressing toward the $209.0M first apron. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins account for the bulk of that number, and the front office made no roster moves this offseason.
The Bill
Miami's payroll for 2026-27 stands at $208.3M, above the $200.4M luxury tax line and closing in on the $209.0M first apron. That number covers 15 contracts on a roster of 20, and it puts Miami in taxpayer territory before a single regular season game has been played.
Locked In
Five contracts carry the books: Giannis Antetokounmpo at $58.5M, Bam Adebayo at $49.8M, Andrew Wiggins at $30.2M on a player option, Nikola Jovic at $16.2M and Bobby Portis at $14.5M. Wiggins can opt out after this season, and next year brings more decisions: Giannis holds a $62.8M player option for 2027-28, Portis a $15.6M player option, and Klay Thompson a $5.9M player option. Depth arrives cheap: Dru Smith is owed just $2.9M on a 2027-28 team option, with Ryan Conwell and Myron Gardner both still on rookie-scale deals for next season too.
Picks Owed
The draft cupboard is thin. Miami's 2027 first is protected to Charlotte and its 2027 second is a swap; the 2028 first is conditional to Charlotte and the 2028 second conditional to Detroit. The Heat keep their own 2029 first outright, with swap rights attached to the 2029 second, the 2030 first and the 2030 second.
No Relief
Second apron sits at $221.7M, and Miami still has room under it, but a roster built this expensive leaves little practical space to add talent without shedding salary first. No trades or signings have moved this roster since the offseason opened.
Bottom Line
This is a taxpaying roster with no in-season upgrade path and draft equity already spoken for through 2030. Spending at the tax line only works if the group on the floor delivers more than last season's 43-39 record.
Is Miami over the salary cap for 2026-27?
Yes. The Heat's payroll is $208.3M, above the $200.4M luxury tax line and close to the $209.0M first apron.
Do the Heat have future draft picks to use in a trade?
Limited ones. Miami's 2027 and 2028 firsts are already committed to Charlotte, leaving only the 2029 first and swap rights on later picks.
