Heat match Tyler Johnson’s $50 million offer sheet with Nets
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The Heat have matched the four-year, $50 million offer sheet that restricted free agent guard Tyler Johnson signed with the Brooklyn Nets, the team announced on Sunday. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical first reported the news.
Johnson, 24, signed the contract when the free agent signing moratorium ended on Thursday, giving the Heat until midnight on Sunday to match the offer. His contract structure is heavily back-loaded, paying him $5.6 and $5.8 million over the first two seasons, then leaping up to the $18 million and $19 million range the next two. TNT’s David Aldridge reported the deal includes a player option after the third season.
Undrafted out of Fresno State in 2014, Johnson missed a large chunk of last season after having shoulder surgery but has shown plenty as an emerging piece of the Heat’s backcourt. He averaged 8.7 points, 3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 36 games last season.
• Grading NBA’s biggest deals | Free agent tracker | Salary cap FAQ
Miami locked up center Hassan Whiteside on a max contract to begin free agency, then lost star Dwyane Wade to the Bulls. On Sunday, the Heat made a slew of moves, trading for Luke Babbitt, and announcing deals for Wayne Ellington, James Johnson, Derrick Williams and Udonis Haslem.
Brooklyn has now lost two of its big three free agent signings this off-season with the Blazers matching the $75 million offer sheet the Nets signed with Allen Crabbe.
– Kenny Ducey
