NBA Notes: Heat, Revamped Lineup, Wizards, Celtics, All-Star Game

HEAT

By trading Jimmy Butler, the Heat have enhanced their financial flexibility heading into the offseason, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Miami now has $176.2 million committed to 12 players for the 2025-26 season, leaving the team approximately $11 million below the projected $187.9 million luxury tax threshold.

However, this total does not account for restricted free agent guard Davion Mitchell or the $1.9 million team option on rookie forward Keshad Johnson. Additionally, the Heat’s salary commitments do not factor in the potential contracts of first-round draft picks.

The Heat could further clear cap space by parting with Duncan Robinson’s partially guaranteed contract, potentially unlocking up to $10 million in room. This space could also be utilized in a trade.

Furthermore, with Butler waiving his $52.4 million player option, which he had been eligible to exercise, the Heat no longer face the possibility of that salary impacting their future plans. Butler’s decision to forgo the option came after signing a two-year extension with Golden State.

• Despite entering the All-Star break on a four-game losing streak and three games under .500, the Heat remain hopeful for a strong finish, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel wrote. Their outlook has improved with the conclusion of the Butler situation, and recent roster additions, including Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Mitchell, provide additional depth.
• Basically, the Heat’s revamped lineup, featuring the size of Ke’lel Ware alongside Bam Adebayo, adds a new dimension to the squad, offering a potential boost for the second half of the season.

WIZARDS

The Wizards have signed guard Erik Stevenson to a 10-day contract, the team announced in a press release. In a corresponding move, Washington waived Jaylen Nowell.

Stevenson, 25, has earned the opportunity after a strong showing in the G League. As a sixth man for the Capital City Go-Go, he is averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in 32 appearances this season.

Stevenson has recorded 20 or more points 15 times and was selected to participate in the G League’s Up Next game.

A former West Virginia standout, Stevenson was part of training camps with San Antonio in 2023 and Washington in 2024, though he was waived by the Wizards in October. He also played in three Summer League games for Washington in Las Vegas before joining the G League.

Nowell, who signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards on February 8, did not see any game action. He appeared in eight games for the Pelicans in November, averaging 8.4 points per game in 21.0 minutes.

Nowell spent the previous four seasons with Minnesota, with brief stints in Memphis and Detroit during the 2023-24 campaign before joining the Go-Go after New Orleans waived him.

CELTICS