The Miami Heat have declined the $2.41 million team option on guard Jahmir Young for the 2026-27 season, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto. The move makes Young an unrestricted free agent after he split the past two years between NBA and G League opportunities.
Although Young appeared in just 14 games for Miami during the 2025-26 campaign, he put together one of the strongest seasons in the G League. The 25-year-old earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors after averaging 25.9 points, 8.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, establishing himself as one of the league’s most productive lead guards.
Young’s NBA opportunities remained limited despite that production. He averaged 1.8 points and 0.6 assists in 4.1 minutes across 14 appearances with the Heat, shooting 40.0% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. Across two NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Heat, he has appeared in 20 games.
The decision comes during a transformative offseason for Miami. After finishing 43-39 and earning the Eastern Conference’s No. 10 seed before being eliminated in the Play-In Tournament, the Heat reshaped their roster by agreeing to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade that is scheduled to become official on July 6.
Miami paid a steep price to land Antetokounmpo, sending Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, unprotected first-round selections in 2031 and 2033, a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-round pick to Milwaukee.
The roster overhaul also leaves Miami with a different backcourt outlook entering free agency. Davion Mitchell is coming off a season in which he started all 70 games he played and averaged 9.3 points, 6.5 assists and shot 39.5% from three-point range. Dru Smith remains under contract after appearing in 70 games, while veteran Norman Powell provides another experienced perimeter option after leading the team with 21.7 points per game last season.
Declining Young’s option creates additional financial flexibility as Miami continues building around the new Antetokounmpo-Bam Adebayo partnership. The Heat are expected to pursue veteran depth around their new star core while maintaining room to complete the remainder of their offseason moves.
