As expected, the Miami Heat guaranteed another season on entry-level forwards’ contracts Jaime Jaquez Jr. And Nikola Jovic on Thursday.

Jaquez, selected by the Heat with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 draft, has been granted a $3.9 million option on the third year of his rookie contract for the 2025-26 season. Next season, the Heat will have to decide whether to pick up the $5.9 million option on the fourth year of Jaquez’s contract for the 2026-27 season.

Jovic, selected by the Heat with the 27th pick in the first round of the 2022 draft, picked up the $4.4 million option on his rookie contract for the 2025-26 season. He will then become a restricted free agent in the 2026 offseason unless he agrees to an extension with the Heat before this summer.

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Jaquez, 23, and Jovic, 21, were already under contract for the upcoming season. Jaquez will earn $3.7 million and Jovic $2.5 million this season.

After retaining options on Jaquez and Jovic, the Heat now have 11 players under contract for the 2025-26 season: Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler (player option), Tyler Herro, Haywood HighsmithJaquez, Jovic, Pelle Larsson (partially guaranteed), Kevin Love, Duncan Robinson (partially guaranteed), Terry Rozier (partially guaranteed) and Kel’el Articles.

Jaquez and Jovic are now part of the Heat’s recent youth movement, with Jaquez being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team last season and Jovic finishing last season as the Heat’s starting power forward.

Jaquez averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and one steal per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from three-point range last season. He finished fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting, which was awarded to San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.

Jovic averaged 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 22.2 minutes per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 39 percent on 4.5 three-point attempts per game during his 26-game stretch through the end of last regular season.

The Heat had until Oct. 31 to decide on rookie options for Jaquez and Jovic.

The Heat are scheduled to hold their annual media day on Sept. 30 at the Kaseya Center in Miami before opening training camp at Baha Mar in the Bahamas on Oct. 1 to kick off the 2024-25 season.

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