Jordan Mickey

MIAMI — With the Heat close to the luxury tax line this offseason, every dollar counts. That’s one of the reasons Miami’s first roster move of the offseason was to decline the $1.6 million team option on forward Jordan Mickey’s contract, a league source confirmed Thursday to the Palm Beach Post. This decision helps the Heat save money against the luxury tax and opens a spot on the team’s 15-man roster.

MIAMI – Jordan Mickey had not played a significant minute in nearly two months when suddenly he found himself on the floor with the first unit during Tuesday’s shootaround. Mickey, the 6-foot-8 forward, was stepping in for Bam Adebayo, the backup center who had started the last eight games in place of Hassan Whiteside. Adebayo rolled his right ankle Sunday in Indiana and joined Whiteside on the sideline, who was about to miss his ninth straight game with a strained left hip flexor.

Wayne Ellington couldn’t wait for the question from Fox Sports Florida’s Jason Jackson. “And I want to say something about Jordan Mickey,” Ellington said while talking about the contributions of the Miami Heat bench during Friday’s win at Charlotte. “How often do we see him in a game. … and he’s ready.