Lester Quinones is off the Miami Heat roster as of Monday, Oct. 12, according to the team's official roster. The move follows an Oct. 8 report naming the Heat and Nets in minor roster moves.
The move
Lester Quinones, a 25-year-old guard entering his fourth season, is no longer on the Miami Heat roster as of the official roster check on Monday, Oct. 12. The move had been flagged four days earlier: on Thursday, Oct. 8, Anthony Chiang reported it in "Minor Roster Moves: Heat, Nets," with confidence not listed. Quinones leaves the Heat for no listed destination; he is simply off the roster for now.
The money
Quinones's contract is not on file yet; public salary data can lag a roster move by a day. Miami's 2026-27 payroll stands at $209.1 million across 15 standard contracts, which puts the team over the first apron. The league salary cap is set at $165.0 million, the tax line at $200.4 million, the first apron at $209.0 million and the second apron at $221.7 million. Whatever cap room his departure frees up has not been quantified.
The fit
Quinones did not post an NBA line last season. Miami's backcourt and wing rotation last season ran through Tyler Herro at 31.3 minutes and 20.5 points, Norman Powell at 29.6 minutes and 21.7 points, Davion Mitchell at 28.6 minutes and 9.3 points, Jaime Jaquez Jr. at 28.3 minutes and 15.4 points, and Pelle Larsson at 26.4 minutes and 11.4 points. The Heat currently carry 21 players on the roster, against a standard limit of 15 plus three two-way slots.
Was Lester Quinones traded or released by the Heat?
That is not announced. The official roster shows him off the roster as of Monday, Oct. 12, with no transaction type specified.
What report preceded the roster move?
On Thursday, Oct. 8, Anthony Chiang reported it in "Minor Roster Moves: Heat, Nets," four days before the official roster reflected the change. Confidence on that report was not listed.
Is Quinones's new contract known?
No. His contract is not on file yet; public salary data can lag a move by a day.
How does this affect Miami's cap situation?
Miami's 2026-27 payroll is $209.1 million across 15 standard contracts, above the first apron of $209.0 million. The cap is $165.0 million, the tax line $200.4 million and the second apron $221.7 million.