P.J. Tucker to opt out of contract with Heat, become a free agent

Veteran forward P.J. Tucker is opting out of his contract with the Miami Heat and will become a free agent this offseason, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Tucker, 37, had the choice to return to the Heat for the 2022-23 season by exercising a $7.35 million player option but declined. Charania says "several championship contending teams" are expected to compete for Tucker's services.

Earlier this offseason, Heat president Pat Riley made it clear that the team hoped to retain Tucker for the 2022-23 season.

"I'd love to have Tuck back next year," Riley told reporters. "He's part of our core. He's special.

"P.J. is like a cornerstone. When [Udonis Haslem] was in his prime ... he did things that were significant. That's what Tuck does. He doesn't do a lot scoring-wise, but makes a lot of great plays."

But Tucker sounded less than enthused with his $7.35 million salary, telling the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he's more than a "mid-level guy."

The Heat are set to pay forward Jimmy Butler more than $37.6 million next season. Bam Adebayo will make $30.4 million, Kyle Lowry will get $28.3 million, and Duncan Robinson will make $16.9 million.

Prior to joining Miami, Tucker spent a season with the Milwaukee Bucks and played a key role in the team's postseason run that ended with a win in the 2021 NBA Finals.