Even with peaks and valleys in his play, Tyler Johnson was very good value for the Heat at $5.9 million each of the past two seasons.
That’s about to change.
Johnson’s salary boost to $19.2 million each of the next two seasons has created challenges for the Heat, which matched Brooklyn’s back-loaded four-year, $50 million offer sheet two summers ago partly because it was losing Dwyane Wade and partly because Miami saw upside in Johnson.
Now, the Heat has been trying to dump Johnson’s contract for a shorter deal with less money or to a team with cap space to absorb his salary, according to an NBA official in touch with the Heat’s front office.