The Miami Heat are already preparing for the 2025–26 season. On Friday, June 27, the Heat signed Undrafted Forward Steve Settle III to an Exhibit 10 contract.
Settle will join the Heat on Exhibit 10 and will work with them during their preseason training. He will be present during training camp and the preseason schedule. Miami may decide whether to convert Settle to a two-way contract or let him go free agent.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Settle explained. “… Your life can change with just one phone call. I know my agent is working hard for me.
I know I have done my part. Once that happens, I believe the true work begins for me, and I will continue to grow, improve, and become a great player. I can’t wait to start this journey.”
Settle graduated from college after five years. He spent the first three years of his college career at Howard before transferring to the Temple Owls for the remaining two years. Stettle finished the season with 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
Heat’s Excited for New Rookie
While Settle prepares to compete for a two-way contract this summer, the Heat will devise a strategy to get the most out of Kasparas Jakucionis, whom they selected 20th overall on June 25.
During a recent press conference, Vice President and Assistant General Manager Adam Simon discussed the Heat’s latest rookie.
“We see tremendous potential with Kas,” Simon added. “You’re talking about a 6-5 [guard] with a plus-3 [pointer], a good athleticism, and a high IQ. So, if you combine all of those factors with a strong work ethic, there’s no reason why you can’t develop him into an excellent NBA player.
We were drawn to him tonight. We didn’t expect him to be there. We had him higher, certainly, than where we selected him.”
Jakucionis could find himself in a starting position to begin the next season. Terry Rozier has not established himself as the team’s long-term guard. As a result, the coaching staff may decide that allowing Jakucionis to learn on the fly is the best course of action.
Bill Simmons is upset that Heat landed Jakucionis.
In a recent episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Bill Simmons expressed his disappointment that Jakucionis went to the Heat with the 20th pick.
“He fills the box score,” Simmons explained. “He’s just going to be good. It’s incredibly aggravating to me. Then they’ll sign Kuminga. Guess what? He’ll be excellent for them, too. Then we’ll be like, ‘We’re back with the Heat? I believed we had slain them. “We thought they were dead.”
Concerns about Jakucionis’ turnovers kept him out of the draft lottery. He made an average of 3.7 mistakes per game last season, prompting several teams to pass on him in the draft process. Nonetheless, at 6-foot-6 with exceptional processing speed and passing skills, the Heat may have found their guard of the future.
To make Heat supporters even more excited, if Settle can show himself this summer, the team might have two fresh prospects to groom in the coming months and years.
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