Heat guard Davion Mitchell reached an important milestone during Friday’s game against the Pelicans. By logging 22 minutes in the contest, Mitchell officially surpassed 2,000 total minutes played for the season.
This achievement holds financial implications as it ensures that he meets the NBA’s “starter criteria” – a benchmark that influences the value of qualifying offers for players on rookie contracts.
Because Mitchell crossed that 2,000-minute threshold, his qualifying offer for this offseason will remain at $8,741,210. Had he fallen short of that total, the offer would have dropped to $7,976,830.
The difference of over $750,000 can impact both Mitchell’s negotiating power in restricted free agency and how the Heat manage their cap space moving forward.
The “starter criteria” is designed to reward players who either start a significant number of games or log heavy minutes, ensuring their qualifying offer reflects their role and production.
Mitchell’s ability to stay on the court and contribute consistent minutes throughout the season has now guaranteed him a higher baseline for upcoming contract talks.
Southeast Notes: Larsson, Mitchell, Risacher, Middletonhttps://t.co/92js3dmg6w
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 12, 2025
