Tag Archive for: Miami Heat

Media Zoom Call with Heat’s Moe Harkless, Avery Bradley

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Both of Miami’s free agency acquisitions spoke with media today, and there was one word that floated around frequently.

Culture.

Moe Harkless talked about picking Miami, saying “You look at the culture, you look at the way they play.” He mentioned that there were a few teams that he was considering, but Miami was the clear fit.

He discussed the team’s success last year as well, saying “When things got harder, they fought harder.” And with the entire league watching from home, that clearly shot through the television screen.

He singled out Jimmy Butler, since he mentioned he’s exited to learn from him, since he’s “one of the hardest working players in the league.”

Moe was also asked what intrigues him the most about playing with Jimmy and Bam. He responded, “They leave everything out there on the floor…You watch Jimmy play, he’s constantly pointing to his teammates. Bam does the same thing.”

Avery Bradley also talked about his excitement for joining the Miami Heat, saying “I always felt if I ever had an opportunity to play here, I’d fit in perfect.”

He also made sure to set his goals straight, which are led by a personal goal of being on the All Defensive team once again, as well as winning a championship.

Avery also mentioned the team’s success this past season, saying “I feel like a lot of people aren’t even talking about our team. And they were just in the Finals.”

And well, that’s gonna be the case at all times when you join the Miami Heat.

To end it off, he gave some love to bunch of people individually. He praised Erik Spoelstra and his coaching staff for his success in the past, as well as getting the most out of every player.

Then when discussing the Miami Heat’s stars, he said, “Jimmy being one, Bam being one, and Tyler being an emerging star.”

Both Bradley and Harkless are very ready to get started with this Heat team, and lucky for them, training camp beings in exactly one week.

Bam Adebayo Signs Extension with Miami

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The Miami Heat gave Bam Adebayo a much deserved extension, worth $163 Million over 5 years.

This honestly shouldn’t have been much of a surprise, since there’s absolutely no reason to take the risk of waiting. He’s been watching a few of his good friends, De’Aaron Fox and Donovan Mitchell, get big time extensions as well.

Bam Adebayo is the textbook definition of a max/centerpiece player in today’s league. He deserves his money and he deserves it right now.

Obviously this makes many Heat fans wonder about the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation, but once again, that is not Bam’s problem.

As Barry Jackson reported here, he has heard that Giannis will be more impressed if they extend Bam than make him wait. Obviously, the Giannis situation could possibly be in play, but it would be via trade.

This also could mean for Miami that they’re more willing to make a big trade for a guy like Bradley Beal, since the trade route is the only route right now.

But Miami is in no rush. They were prepared for this extension for Bam, since it would’ve been a huge surprise if he waited a year.

They have a plan. And it may be a plan that not many people have been discussing.

The Perfect Balance: Veterans and Youth

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One of the most intriguing parts of last season’s Miami Heat team, was that they were young, but also filled with veterans around them.

And well, that will be the case this season as well for Miami. They have some young guys ready to make that leap, such as Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala, but also have guys like Udonis Haslem, Goran Dragic, and Jimmy Butler to teach them the ropes.

Goran Dragic also thinks this is a huge plus for this team, when he discussed Precious Achiuwa, saying “He’s gonna be a big piece of this team. Me, UD, Jimmy, we’re here to help him.”

And that’s a big deal in this league. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are both great talents, but they both had a mentor by their side every step of the way.

Bam had Udonis Haslem to go to if he had any questions, which ultimately helped him a lot.

Tyler had Goran Dragic this past season, which was even more impactful, since he had the luxury of playing next to him when they came off the bench.

And of course they still have Andre Iguodala, who is the ultimate veteran you’d want on the roster.

Bringing in a 29 year old Avery Bradley adds to that balance as well, since he’s been around the league for quite a few years.

Although it’s clear that Miami’s youth needs their veterans, the veterans also need the youth. It’s just something that comes full circle, since they need fresh legs to come in and take over a game at times, which happened quite a lot this past season.

In Miami’s 12 man rotation next season, they will have six guys 26 or under, and six guys 27 or over.

That is balance. And that matters.

Especially since this season will be very unique once again. So it’ll be interesting to see which type of players benefit most.

Media Zoom Call with Heat’s Meyers Leonard, Goran Dragic

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After Meyers Leonard and Goran Dragic both reached a deal at the start of free agency with the Miami Heat, they spoke with media about their return.

Meyers discussed his excitement to return to Miami, saying “There was unfinished business.”

He mentioned that his ankle injury in the bubble restricted a lot of the things that he wanted to do. He said, “I think it had everything to do with it.”

Now that he is healthy, he mentioned that he’s been working out like crazy, after being inspired by what Jimmy Butler did in the bubble. He said, “Watching what Jimmy Butler did…It made me feel like I could run through a wall in all of my off-season training.” And he looks like he picked up that Jimmy Butler mentality when he kept reiterating that he doesn’t care about what his stat sheet looks like.

Goran Dragic also talked with media, which he answered a question about losing Jae Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr. He mentioned “They made us better,” but went straight to discussing their new acquisitions in Avery Bradley and Moe Harkless. He discussed the fact that both of them are great defenders, and both have guarded him in the past.

He also said that he doesn’t care what his role is next season, “If he needs me to come off the bench, I’ll come off the bench. If he wants me to start, I’ll start.”

He also made sure to give praise to the rest of his teammates like Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and even incoming rookie Precious Achiuwa.

He mentioned that Precious will be a “big piece of this team.”

And well, it’s very possible with some slots opening up on this roster.

Goran Dragic is confident in this Heat team and so should Heat fans.

Miami Signs Undrafted Rookie Breein Tyree

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Well, there it is. In the very deep 2020 NBA draft, it was clear that there would be a lot of undrafted gems waiting to get picked up. And the Miami Heat got their guy.

Breein Tyree, a point guard out of Ole Miss, is a very intriguing prospect due to his wide offensive package. He averaged 19.7 points per game in his senior season in a variety of ways.

It’s clear that he can shoot the three ball with ease, since he knocked down two of them a game at a 36% clip.

Most of his three point shooting seems to be even more pure off the catch and shoot, which makes me think he will play more off-ball at the NBA level.

He does have a lot of on-ball attributes as well though, since he has a few signature cross-overs and step-backs that he loves to use. Those moves allowed him to be a huge threat when attacking the rim, which he did a lot of in college. One thing that stood out on his drives to the basket was that he’s very crafty around that area, and knows how to use the backboard to his advantage.

Most people would just go on and on about his offensive package, but he also has some defensive potential. He has very active hands and knows how to hit passing lanes. He’s the type of defending guard that Miami likes, giving it his all on that end of the floor. He has shown some issues one-on-one when trying to beat around screens and things of that nature, but these are things that can be cleaned up.

The reason this signing makes sense for Miami is because he shows a ton of upside, and that’s the type of player that Miami usually goes after.

I’ve seen this story before: drafting a rookie, signing an undrafted rookie, and getting ready to unleash a second year player who spent his rookie season in the G-League.

It would’ve been an ideal situation to throw Tyree into the Summer League and G-League, but obviously things will look a lot different this season. It’ll be interesting to keep track of his growth this next season.

And by the way, if Miami picked him up, there’s a reason.

Miami Has a Plan: Unknown Development

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The Miami Heat made two decent signings in free agency thus far after retaining Goran Dragic and Meyers Leonard. They brought in Avery Bradley and Moe Harkless on very good contracts.

This meant that they lost Jae Crowder to the Phoenix Suns. Although they made two big time acquisitions, that Crowder role will need to be filled, and I think it’ll be an in-house move.

Moe Harkless, in my opinion, is the replacement of Derrick Jones Jr, while Avery Bradley is the big time point of attack defender that Miami has needed. Now that the power forward position needs to be filled, there are two 21 year olds waiting to make that jump.

If Miami doesn’t go after a Jae Crowder replacement, it’s a clear indication that they believe in KZ Okpala or Precious Achiuwa to make that jump, or maybe even both.

It’s basically the Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro situation from this past season. A rookie immediately having a role, while a second year player who spent his rookie year in the G-League makes a big impact. We’ve seen this play out before, so what makes you think Pat Riley won’t do it again?

There’s a reason that Miami is reluctant to include KZ Okpala in any deals. It’s because they see something special in him, which isn’t a term that’s handed out freely from the Miami Heat’s organization. And Precious Achiuwa seems to be getting a lot of love too, since Pat Riley doesn’t always show that same excitement for an incoming rookie every year.

Since there’s less time for an incoming rookie to prepare, I believe KZ Okpala would probably be the more likely option that Miami’s waiting to let free. But once again, Precious could possibly be that guy as well.

As I said at the start of free agency, Miami will have a plan if Jae Crowder walks. Although that plan was to sign Avery Bradley, that is not a Crowder filler. And the reason they didn’t try and fill Crowder’s shoes in free agency, is because they already have two young wings ready to make that jump.

KZ Okpala. Precious Achiuwa. Your time is now. Go earn your spot.

Avery Bradley Signs with Miami Heat

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Well, there it is. The Miami Heat got their point of attack defender, and he’s a very good one.

Avery Bradley reached a deal with the Miami Heat, worth $11.6 Million over two years.

It was also reported by Shams that Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler recruited him to leave Los Angeles, and he was sold on the culture.

Of course he was sold on the culture, since he has the gritty and tough mentality that the Miami Heat tend to love.

If Miami could build their ideal point of attack defender, I’m pretty sure he’d end up looking a lot like Avery Bradley.

Pick you up full court. Great one-on-one defender. Great team defender.

And once again like I’ve continually mentioned, this was Miami’s plan all along. They knew they were going to try and go after a bunch of perimeter defenders, since they already have their offensive talents on the roster.

And by the way, let’s not just label Bradley as a straight defender. He was a very solid offensive player during his tenure with Boston, since he lingered around 15 points per game during that time.

And not only did he shoot 36% from three this past season, he has shot 36% from three over his entire career. Of course I wouldn’t label him as 3 and D, but he’s pretty close. And with this team, you’d rather 70% defense and 30% shooting from your guard than 50/50.

And the price makes it even better, since you’re getting an immediate contributor for a little under $6 Million a year.

And most importantly, if Jimmy Butler wanted him here, there’s a reason.

Once again, Jimmy doesn’t want a Tyler Herro replacement, he wants a Tyler Herro complement.

And he got one. Miami has made it very clear where their mind is with this team.

For one, they’re keeping their core intact while filling out the roster with fitting parts. And second, they’re fully focused on 2021 free agency.

Jae Crowder signed a 3 year $30 Million deal with the Phoenix Suns, but like I’ve said all along, they had a back-up plan ready. And this is a pretty solid back-up plan.

Welcome to Miami, Avery Bradley.

Moe Harkless Signs with the Miami Heat

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Moe Harkless just agreed to a one year deal with the Miami Heat, worth $3.6 Million.

For one, it’s a very good price for a player of his caliber. We had an eventful opening night of free agency, which included a lot of overpaying and questionable contracts.

Miami is not looking to overpay on a defensive wing, which is why this deal makes sense.

Now, as a fit with this team, I like that even more. I don’t see it as a Jae Crowder replacement as much as I see it as a Derrick Jones Jr replacement. Of course Heat fans are waiting for the emergence of KZ Okpala, but Moe is the bench filler.

They surely aren’t bringing Moe in for the shooting aspect, but he definitely can hit the occasional three ball. And as pointed out here, he has the same three point percentage as Jae Crowder had before joining Miami.

But most importantly, they’re bringing Moe in for defensive purposes. As I mentioned prior to free agency, Miami is looking to add defensive wings that are versatile, mostly to complement their offensive talents Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. And by the way, that does not mean they’re building around these two.

The difference between Moe and Jae’s defense is that Moe is more of a perimeter guy while Jae is more physical. And as of right now, perimeter defense is what Miami needs most.

This deal does not rule out a Jae Crowder return. They will still have around $14 Million to spend, so there’s still a possibility. And you have to remember who is crunching these numbers.

But it wouldn’t be a surprise if Jae Crowder was to move on, and once again, Miami will be prepared.

As stated here, I do believe that this may indicate they will look to make a trade at the deadline possibly. The decent sized salaries will be expendable, while these cheap deals they will look to make the most of.

There’s a lot to unpack with this signing, but the overall consensus is that it makes sense in all aspects for Miami.

Cheap. Versatile defender. They were prepared to make a deal like this, instead of giving Marcus Morris $18 Million a year.

Moe Harkless, welcome to Miami.

Life With and Without Jae Crowder for Miami Heat

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There is still a lot of uncertainty around what Jae Crowder’s decision will be.

He was a huge reason for Miami’s bubble success, due to his defensive presence and unexpected shooting stretches. But although Miami would like to bring him back, they will be prepared either way.

For one, life with Jae Crowder would mean that Pat Riley got his wish of running it back, which means they can play out this season with their core, while having the option of making possible deals at the trade deadline.

Life without Jae Crowder may be a little more dramatic for Miami, since ultimately they will need somebody to fill that role. Some guys like JaMychal Green and Marcus Morris were thought about as possibilities, but each of them ended up reaching a deal.

The Marcus Morris deal might’ve put some things in perspective for both Miami and Jae Crowder. Not many expected Morris to get a deal worth $64 Million over four years. And there was a rumor that $18 Million per year would’ve been the price if Morris came to Miami.

It’s clear that the money isn’t the issue with Jae, it’s the years, according to ClutchNBA5R. And with many of the viable replacements for Jae Crowder getting deals, it’s an indication in my opinion that Miami will work something out.

One name that still could be an option though is Paul Millsap. He seems to continually get linked to Miami, and he has yet to reach a deal with a team.

PJ Tucker could also be a great replacement via trade, since he does everything that Jae Crowder does, but slightly better.

Once again, there’s still uncertainty about the Jae Crowder decision, but Miami will be prepared either way. And ultimately, this is pure speculation, I believe Jae will be back in a Miami Heat uniform to start the season.

Meyers Leonard Reaches A Deal to Stay in Miami

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Meyers Leonard also reached a deal with the Miami Heat, which is worth $20 Million for two years.

Meyers told the Associated Press, “I wanted nothing more than to come back to Miami. Literally nothing more.”

And well, it happened. Although playoff minutes weren’t flying his way in the bubble, he was one of the most key pieces to this Miami Heat locker room.

Standing on the sideline, cheering his team on. That’s Miami Heat. That’s culture.

And of course, Jimmy Butler most likely had a lot to say about that. Although there’s so much to discuss about Meyers off the court, he also has some stuff to prove on the court.

He was the starting center in one of the most productive starting lineups in the NBA last season, and there’s a reason for that.

Not only do his shooting abilities allow him to be a dangerous big man, but his on-court fit with the Heat stands out even more.

Tyler Herro got his on-court leader in Goran Dragic back, and now Bam Adebayo got a mentor back as well.

The Hammer, welcome back to Miami.