Beal again linked to Heat; where things stand. And notes from Heat exit interviews

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, a frequent subject of Heat trade speculation in the past, has again emerged as a potential Miami option amid reports on Wednesday that the Wizards and Beal will work together on relocating him to another team if the Wizards opt to dramatically change their roster.

The Heat has expressed interest in Beal multiple times through the years, and the Heat would appeal to Beal, according to a source close to him.

Beal can control his destination because he is the NBA’s only player with a full no-trade clause. The Athletic reported that Miami is expected to emerge as a suitor if the Wizards and Beal decide to pursue the trade route.

A hypothetical Heat offer for Beal could include guard Tyler Herro and a sizable contract, perhaps Duncan Robinson or Kyle Lowry, among other assets. But the Heat might even need to give up Herro, if the Wizards became eager to move off of the $208 million that Beal is still owed.

The Wizards and Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, have been in contact, according to ESPN. New Wizards executive Michael Winger is in the process of deciding whether to rebuild; if he opts to that likely would lead to a trade for Beal.

Beal, 29, averaged 23.2 points and 33.5 minutes per game last season, while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent on three-pointers.

Herro, 23, averaged 20.1 points in 34.9 minutes, while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 37.8 percent on threes.

One enormous difference between the players is their salaries.

Both have four years remaining on their deals, but Herro is due $120 million, while Beal is due $207 million.

Herro is set to make $27 million, $29 million, $31 million and $33 million in a four-year extension that begins next season.

Beal is due $46.7 million, $50.2 million, $53.7 million and $57.1 million through the next four years.

Adding Beal, at the expense of Herro, would make it more difficult — particularly in two and three years — to add talent around Beal, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. That trio of players would make a combined $134 million in 2024-25.

The salary cap could be in the $145 million to $150 million range in 2024-25; next season’s cap is projected to be $134 million, and the Heat is already well over that number, with $176 million in payroll commitments without including impending free agents Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Kevin Love, Cody Zeller and Omer Yurtseven.

Beal has missed considerable time with injuries in recent years, appearing in 60, 40 and 50 games the past three seasons. He missed time last season with multiple injuries, including a pulled hamstring and left knee soreness.

Herro missed nearly all of the Heat’s 2023 playoff run after fracturing his right hand in the Heat’s playoff opener against Milwaukee. He has played 54, 66 and 67 games the past three seasons.

So playoffs aside, Beal has been available for 150 games during the past three seasons, compared to 187 for Herro.

For his career, Beal has averaged 22.1 points — including back-to-back seasons of 30.5 points and 31.3 points in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

He’s a three-time All-Star (2018, 2019, 2021) and was third-time All-NBA in 2021.

Herro was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in the 2021-22 season but has not had an All-Star Game invitation.

Beal is the second All-Star guard to emerge as a potential trade option for the Heat.

Last week, Portland eight-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard said the Heat would interest him if he asks for a trade.

Lillard has not asked for a trade at this point; his decision could hinge partly on whether the Blazers use the third pick in next week’s NBA Draft or use it as a trade chip to add the type of veteran help that Lillard covets.

As for Herro, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked if he regretted not playing him in Game 5.

“There’s no perfect answer to that. But certainly, yes, I do have empathy for Tyler,” Spoelstra said.

“He’s a competitor, so I know he felt after the game. He’s like all of our guys in our locker room, they want to contribute, they want to do whatever they have to do to try to help the team win.

“He’s a great competitor. I did not have to ask him how he felt after the game. That’s what makes him who he is and that’s the part I love about him. These are not easy decisions and that was such an extreme circumstance that there’s not an easy answer to that.

“And part of that is we all really appreciated and admired the work that he put in to make himself available. It’s also my job as the head coach to protect him and do what we think was best for the team. If he were to play, I wanted to also make sure that he would have been his best version to be able to help the team and there’s no way of knowing for sure.

“But I do know that that was just a totally unusual circumstance that you really can’t compare to anything else that we may have experienced. But the good news is he’ll have a great offseason and he’ll be fully ready to go next year when we start camp and get after this thing again.”

THIS AND THAT

The Heat must decide by next week whether to make a $2.3 million qualifying offer to center Omer Yurtseven, which is necessary for Miami to retain his rights. Otherwise, he would be an unrestricted free agent.

What skill will he prioritize developing this summer?

“Defensive abilities are going to be at the core, having the agility. I think I improved a lot on that coming back from injuries. The three-pointer was a big focus last summer.”

Yurtseven missed the first three-plus months of the season after ankle surgery and appeared in only nine regular-season games, plus late appearances in lopsided playoff games.

▪ Adebayo, on Udonis Haslem’s retirement: “I don’t think anyone can be another Udonis. There will only be one of him. Best thing we can do, is everything he’s taught us, you share it in your own form, your own way.”

▪ Haywood Highsmith, whose $1.9 million team option is expected to be exercised, said he hopes for a “bigger role. I think I can be a lockdown defender in this league.”

Asked if he might play in summer league, Highsmith said “I played in the NBA Finals” and hopes he has moved past summer league, while noting skill development remains a priority this summer, including “putting the ball on the floor” more.

▪ Forward Jamal Cain and center Orlando Robinson said they plan to remain in the Heat’s program and play for the team’s Summer League team in Sacramento and Las Vegas.

▪ Nikola Jovic said he has bulked up from 222 at the start of training camp to 229. What did fellow Serbian Nikola Jokic — the Nuggets star center — tell him during their brief embrace after Game 5?

“He’s my friend — happy for him,” Jovic said. “He gave me a hug and told me to keep working.”