Heat land Tim Hardaway Jr. amid speculation of a LeBron return
· Yahoo Sports
MIAMI — The Miami Heat kept it in the family at Tuesday night’s start of NBA free agency, reaching agreement on a one-year, $6.5 million contract with Tim Hardaway Jr., the son of the franchise icon.
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The South Florida Sun Sentinel confirmed the agreement through an NBA source.
The Hardaway agreement, which cannot be finalized until the start of the NBA’s 2026-27 cap calendar on July 6, came amid word that former Heat forward LeBron James might be interested in a return to the Heat.
The James speculation came in the wake of the former Heat forward informing the Los Angeles Lakers he would be moving on.
For now, the Heat find themselves operating hard against the NBA’s $209 million first luxury-tax apron, a figure where their 2026-27 payroll is hard-capped because of last week’s agreement to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the wake of the trade for Antetokounmpo that sent out Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis, as well as significant draft capital, the Heat found themselves in need of shooting and scoring.
In Hardaway, 34, the Heat found some of that replenishment within their price range.
Hardaway is coming off a season with the Denver Nuggets when he finished third in balloting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
This will be the sixth NBA stop for Hardaway after two tours with the New York Knicks and time with the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Nuggets.
Hardaway last season averaged 13.5 points for the Nuggets, shooting a career-best .407 on 3-pointers.
With the Heat, the product of Miami Palmetto High School will get to play beneath the retired No. 10 jersey of his father, the Hall of Fame guard who helped resurrect the Heat along with Alonzo Mourning after Pat Riley’s arrival as franchise steward in 1995.
The question now is whether something bigger could be at hand, with James seeking a new playing home.
Among relocation possibilities linked to James are the Warriors, Heat and his hometown Cavaliers.
A return to the Heat, the team he left in 2014, would also be a homecoming of sorts, as well, having played in four consecutive NBA Finals under current Heat coach Erik Spoelstra alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh from 2011 to 2014, winning championships with that Heat Big Three core in 2012 and ’13.
While the Heat lack the salary-cap space to approach James’ recent salaries, his management has said the decision on a landing spot will come down to the forward’s preference from basketball and lifestyle standpoints.
Heat current commitments
(with 2026-27 salary)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, $58.5 million
Bam Adebayo, $49.5 million
Andrew Wiggins, $30.2 million
Nikola Jovic, 16.2 million
Bobby Portis, $14.5 million
Davion Mitchell, $12.4 million
Tim Hardaway Jr., $6.5 million
Dru Smith, $2.6 million
Simone Fontecchio, $2.5 million
Pelle Larsson, $2.5 million
Myron Gardner, $2.5 million
Ryan Conwell, $1.4 million
(Miami must sign at least two additional players to standard contract to reach NBA 14-player roster minimum.)
Two-way contracts
(Do not count against cap)
Tre Donaldson
Vlad Goldin (qualifying offer)