Heat calls about veteran guard Konchar: Where things stand. And White’s lawsuit

The Heat has expressed some interest in veteran free agent guard John Konchar and has had internal discussions about whether to make an offer, according to a league source.

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Konchar, 30, has never averaged more than 5.1 points in any of his eight seasons, but he does several things pretty well and that skill set, versatility, feistiness, high motor, defensive tenacity and experience hold some appeal to the Heat.

The 6-5 Konchar, who can play shooting guard and small forward, frequently dives to the floor for loose balls, and is willing to accept a role as a utility player.

The Heat has 14 players signed to standard contracts and can sign a 15th player to a standard contract without surpassing the hard salary cap under which it will operate this season.

According to a source, the Heat has spoken to Konchar’s camp about potentially competing with Myron Gardner for a roster spot; the Heat is expected to circle back this week with a decision about whether it will formally offer that opportunity.

Of Gardner’s $2.1 million salary, $500,000 already has been guaranteed. The remainder would become guaranteed if he’s on the roster on Jan. 7.

The Heat, Magic, Raptors and Knicks are all monitoring Konchar, according to veteran NBA journalist Marc Stein.

Konchar would have interest in the Heat, but more so if Miami offers a guaranteed deal. And it seems doubtful that the Heat would offer a full guarantee because that would make it more difficult for Miami to add an appealing player on the buyout market during the season.

Miami potentially could offer the type of nonguaranteed deal that it gave veteran center Nick Richards, whose $3.1 million salary becomes guaranteed if he’s on the opening night roster. A source was skeptical about whether Konchar would take a non-guaranteed deal but wouldn’t totally rule it out.

Konchar’s $6.2 million salary from Minnesota is fully guaranteed this season, so he can afford to be patient if he chooses, or at least wait for fully guaranteed money.

Konchar joined the Grizzlies as an undrafted free agent in 2019, initially on a two-way contract, and forged a seven-year career there, averaging 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 337 games, including 58 starts. He shot 47.2% from the field and 35.9% on three-pointers.

Along the way, Memphis gave him a three-year, $19 million contract extension in 2022.

Last February, the Grizzlies dealt Konchar to Utah in the eight player deal that sent former NBA All Star Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah.

He averaged 5.9 points in 26 games and seven starts for the Jazz and produced two triple doubles late in the season – 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 156–137 loss to New Orleans, and 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists off the bench in a 147–101 win over Memphis.

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On Aug. 29, Utah traded Konchar and Cody Williams to Minnesota for Josh Green and cash. The Timberwolves immediately waived him.

Even after averaging 28 points in high school in West Chicago, Illinois, Konchar’s only Division I scholarship offer was from Chicago State. A Notre Dame assistant coach persuaded Purdue University Fort Wayne to give him a scholarship.

Though the Heat has 14 players under standard contracts, Miami essentially has three roster spots to work with if it chooses — the open 15th slot, Gardner’s roster spot (considering the modest guarantee) and Richards’ spot (because his deal is entirely non guaranteed until opening night).

The Heat could opt to be patient with the 15th standard contract slot and wait to see who shakes free on the buyout market in January and February. That approach holds some appeal internally.

Teams can bring as many as 21 players to training camp, and Miami has 18 signed: the 14 players on standard contracts; three players on two-way deals (Tre Donaldson, Vlad Goldin and Keshad Johnson); and former Louisville forward J’Vonne Hadley, whose Exhibit 10 deal comes with a training camp invitation.

The Heat has discussed Exhibit 10 deals with three other rookies who, like Hadley, also played on Miami’s Summer League team: former Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (who worked out with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Heat players in Los Angeles last week), former Southern California forward Ezra Ausar (who has been told he will get an Exhibit 10 deal) and former Kansas wing Tre White.

White, whose 3-and-D skill set intrigues the Heat, has held off on signing an Exhibit 10 deal while pursuing a potential return to college.

On Monday, White and 88 others joined a multiathlete eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA in Monroe County, Indiana, according to the Kansas City Star.

White and other players from the high school graduating class of 2022 are seeking an injunction that would legally guarantee them a fifth year of eligibility in college basketball.

White has completed four seasons of college basketball — at USC, Louisville, Illinois and Kansas. His agent declined to comment on whether he will continue pursuing a return to college or join the Heat.

If White continues to seek a return to college, that would leave the Heat with 20 players (including Schieffelin and Ausar, presuming they sign Exhibit 10 deals) and give Miami with an open camp roster spot to use on a veteran such as Konchar, if it chooses.

The Heat opens training camp on Sept. 29 and plays in the NBA’s first preseason game, on Oct. 3 against Toronto in Quebec City.

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Miami Herald sportswriter Anthony Chiang contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 15, 2026 at 10:21 AM.