NBA Notes: Heat, Nikola Jovic, Pacers, Kyle Guy, Grizzlies

Heat

Nikola Jovic has agreed to a four-year, $62.4 million rookie scale extension with Miami, agents Jeff Schwartz, Sean Kennedy and Jared Mucha told Shams Charania of ESPN.

Per Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel, the deal is a straight four years — no team or player options — and runs through the 2029–30 season.

The 22-year-old forward is coming off his best NBA season, averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three.

His progress was interrupted by a fractured right hand in February, which sidelined him for two months, but he returned for the playoffs and scored 24 points in Game 4 against Cleveland.

Jovic mostly came off the bench last year, starting just 10 games after starting 38 the year prior. He said at media day that he hopes to compete for a starting role in training camp.

His $4.4 million salary this season is the final year of his rookie deal.

Miami drafted Jovic 27th overall in 2022. Injuries limited him to 15 games as a rookie, but his role has expanded steadily since.

The extension locks him in as part of the Heat’s long-term core. He’s currently the only player under contract past 2028–29, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.

Jovic joins Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Williams as 2022 first-rounders to receive extensions. Teams have until October 20 to finalize rookie scale deals.

As Winderman recently noted, Miami still faces extension decisions on Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, which will shape the team’s cap sheet deep into the decade.

Pacers

Kyle Guy is returning to the floor. The former NCAA Tournament MOP has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pacers, the University of Nevada announced.

Guy, 28, was hired as an assistant coach at Nevada in April but will now join Indiana’s G League affiliate in Noblesville, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star.

Guy began his coaching career as a mentor at Virginia before moving to Nevada under Steve Alford.

Drafted 55th overall by Sacramento in 2019, he played parts of three NBA seasons with the Kings and Heat before heading overseas. His last professional stint came in Spain’s ACB League in 2024.

The Pacers have a full 21-man training camp roster, so a move will be required before finalizing Guy’s deal. If he spends 60+ days with the G League team, he’ll be eligible for an $85,300 Exhibit 10 bonus.

Grizzlies

As written by Bobby Marks of ESPN, frontcourt depth is once again the major storyline in Memphis.

The Grizzlies have been hit hard by injuries over the past two seasons, and this summer brought more of the same. Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent turf toe surgery on July 2, while rookie Zach Edey had left ankle surgery on June 10.

Jackson has been cleared to begin ramping up activity and is expected to return in four to six weeks. Edey’s timeline is six to nine weeks.

In their absence, Memphis will lean on Santi Aldama, Brandon Clarke and Jock Landale. Clarke himself missed 18 games late last season with a PCL sprain and underwent another procedure to address knee synovitis; he’ll be reevaluated in six weeks.

Key contract dates loom as well. October 20 marks the deadline to extend Ja Morant, John Konchar and Clarke, while October 31 is the cutoff to exercise Edey’s third-year option.