Heat Make 2 Roster Moves, What Does It Mean for Present and Future? Plus, Good News On Injury Front

The Miami Heat made two roster moves today. How do the moves affect the Heat the rest of the year and in the future? Plus, Tyler Herro is reportedly nearing a return.

Heat Makes 2 Roster Moves: What Does It Mean for the Present and Future? Plus, Good News On Injury Front?

Miami now theoretically has a full complement of players. Early this afternoon, the Heat promoted Myron Gardner from his two-way contract. NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that Gardner will receive a three-year deal.

“Miami Heat and swingman Myron Gardner have reached an agreement on a three-year deal, his agent Jake Cohen of Iconic Sports Management tells me,” Haynes tweeted. ‘The undrafted rookie earns a standard deal after playing stellar on a two-way contract.”

Gardner, who joined the Heat this summer, has shown improvement over the last two months. After seeing action in eight games over the first two-plus months, Gardner has seen time in 18 contests since the calendar turned to 2026. He averages 4.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and one assist in 10 minutes with shooting splits of 46.4/40.0/76.6. He has scored in a double-double four times and produced one double-double.

Gardner has earned the respect of Erik Spoelstra and his teammates due to his energy and high motor. The 24-year-old also brings physicality and versatility, capable of guarding 2 through 4. He is also a solid rebounder and can score on all three levels.

“[Gardner] providing value right now,” Spoelstra told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald after the Heat’s win against the Sacramento Kings on January 20. “He was given some opportunities because of injuries. Now he makes you raise your eyebrows and watch the film a little more closely, and that’s what you want. Make me watch you and make me play you, and you do it with your actions. I really like what he’s done. His energy is contagious. The guys like playing with him.” 

What Does Signing Myron Gardner Mean for The Heat Now and Future?

With the promotion, Gardner is now eligible to play in the postseason. While a playoff berth is not guaranteed, the Heat are 29-27 and sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are four-and-a-half games ahead of 11th-place Chicago. There are also two games back of the sixth-place Philadelphia 76ers.

Also, Miami now has 15 players on standard contracts. Gardner will earn the prorated portion of the veteran minimum.  However, the Heat are still well enough below the luxury tax that they could potentially add another veteran via the prorated minimum, according to Ira Windeman of The South Florida Sentinel. 

“The shift of Gardner to a standard contract leaves the Heat with enough room under the punitive NBA luxury tax to add another player to the standard contract on a similar prorated share of the veteran-minimum salary, should [Terry] Rozier be waived,” Windeman said. “Such a salary slot potentially could go to a player on the NBA buyout market. Players waived by March 1 are eligible to sign elsewhere for playoff eligibility.”

Gardner has started four games this season. All of his starts have come recently, and most have come with either Andrew Wiggins or Pelle Larson sidelined. So, when the Heat are healthy, Gardner will likely be out of Spoelstra’s rotation, either as the ninth or 10th man.

More significantly, Gardner’s deal means that Miami has 11 players under contract for 2026-27. However, Gardner is not guaranteed as his deal is conditional.

“Can confirm that the Heat has converted Myron Gardner’s two-way contract to a standard contract, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald tweeted. It’s a three-year deal, with conditional guarantees in the second and third seasons, according to a source.

Even if Gardner is on the roster, the Heat will be around $36 million under the projected luxury tax by the end of June. Norman Powell is their key free agent, and Wiggins has a $30.1 millio.n

Heat Fill Gardner’s Two-Way Spot With Trevor Keels

The other roster move Miami made was inking Trevor Keels to a two-way deal. Keels takes the spot that Gardner occupied.

Keels, the No. 42 pick in 2022 by the New York Knicks, has spent most of his career in the G League, as he has seen only eight minutes of action in three games for the Knicks in 2022-23.  After spending the last two seasons with the Iowa Wolves, the Sioux Falls Skyforce acquired Keels’ G League rights after the Heat waived the 22-year-old during training camp.

Keels is having the best season of his career, shooting the ball. Keels averages 18.6 points along with 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Keels also compiles 1.2 steals and makes 3.1 threes while shooting 45.2/39.6/72.5. He has scored in double-figures in 31 of 35 contests, scoring at least 20 points on 16 occassions including four contests of 30 or more points. Additionally, he put up a career-high 46 points on 16 of 18 shooting, including 12 of 12 from deep.

Keels is an experienced pro despite having seen only limited NBA games and being just 22. Besides his shooting, Keels is an interesting developmental player due to his strong frame and ability to play on or off the ball. He is also a willing defender who can guard multiple positions.

Keels is eligible to be active for 16 games. While Keels likely won’t see much time with the Heat, if he impresses, he could earn another minor-league deal for 2026-27.

When Will Tyler Herro Return To Action?

Miami will hold its first post-All-Star break on Thursday, Chiang tweeted, and Herro is expected to take part and could return to the court in the coming days. Herro has only played 11 games this year and has been sidelined since mid-January due to rib injuries.

“According to a league source, Herro has been recovering from three fractured ribs after suffering a buckle rib fracture during the Heat’s January 10 road loss to the Indiana Pacers,” Chiang said this afternoon. “Herro went on to play the next three games with the help of Toradol shots to ease the pain, but a subsequent MRI on his ribs revealed the severity of the injury.”

After tomorrow’s practice, Miami will travel to Atlanta on Friday. The Heat will host Memphis on Saturday. So, it is possible that if Herro doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he could play in one of these two upcoming games.

Herro has been pretty good in the few games he has played. The 26-year-old averages 21.9 points, on nearly 50% shooting, and 2.2 threes at 35.6% while grabbing 4.7 boards. He has scored at least 10 points in nine of 11 games this year,, though the Heat are just 4-7 inthose gamesd.

Wiggins (toe) and Larsson (forearm) are listed day-to-day and expected to play against Atlanta.