Heat pick up 2026-27 options on pair of former first-round picks

The Miami Heat have picked up their rookie scale team options on forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and center Kel’el Ware for the 2026-27 season, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac. Jaquez and Ware were already under contract for the upcoming season — now their salaries for ’26-27 are guaranteed as well.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. was a 2023 first-round draft pick

Jaquez, the 18th overall pick in the 2023 draft, finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in his first season but saw his playing time cut back a little in his second year, as he averaged 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20.7 minutes per game across 66 outings (17 starts).

Jaquez will earn $3.86M in 2025-26 and $5.94M in ’26-27 on his newly exercised fourth-year option. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2026 offseason and would reach restricted free agency in 2027 if he hasn’t signed a new contract by that point.

Kel'el Ware was selected 15th overall in 2024

Ware, who was drafted 15th overall in 2024, started 36 of the 64 games he played as a rookie last season, averaging 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 22.2 minutes per night. The 21-year-old big man made the All-Rookie second team and finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting.

Ware is now under contract for $4.44M in 2025-26 and $4.65M on his third-year option in ’26-27. The Heat will have to make a decision next fall on his $7.14M fourth-year option for ’27-28 — at this point, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which it’s not exercised.

Miami is the first team to exercise any rookie-scale options for the 2026-27 season. The deadline is Oct. 31, and all the outstanding decisions can be viewed right here.