What happened: The mechanism came from last summer's Highsmith trade and remained valid through the next business day after its one-year mark. It lapsed at 11:59 p.m. Monday.

Why it matters: The Miami Heat have less flexibility to absorb salary while operating against a hard cap. The slot had offered a path to add salary without conventional cap room.

What to watch: Miami's remaining cap mechanisms and minimum-contract options will shape its final moves before the 2026-27 season.