Report: Miami Heat on verge of second-richest local TV deal in league

The current incarnation of the Miami Heat hasn’t won the NBA title yet, but apparently that isn’t stopping Fox Sports Florida from forking over big dough for the right to broadcast the team’s games.

Sources tell Mike Ozanian of Forbes.com that the Heat is in discussions with the cable network on a deal worth $80 million to $100 million per year. While this is only about half of what the Los Angeles Lakers will get from Time Warner Cable, it would still be the second-richest deal in the league.

The Heat’s current contract with Fox Sports Florida still has three years remaining on it, but given the heightened interest in the team since last season (Miami’s local rating is second to the San Antonio Spurs’), Fox is opening up the vault to secure long-term rights.