Tag Archive for: Miami Heat

Goran Dragic Back in Miami Heat Uniform

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Goran Dragic decided to make his own announcement at the 6 pm free agency opening, and it was a good one for Heat fans.

It was reported that he has agreed on a two-year deal, worth $37.4 Million.

Obviously this wasn’t much of a surprise, since Pat Riley made it clear that he would look to take care of Goran.

His ability to play through the injury in the Finals put the cherry on top, since it showed he truly trusts this organization to take care of him.

And as stated here, that trade clearly did work out. Forget the production side of Goran Dragic on this Heat team, his veteran leadership is what made it most assuring about his return.

Tyler Herro needs his veteran point guard as he tries to break out in his second year in the NBA, and lucky for him he will be there every step of the way.

Miami has officially got their guy, and he will be in Miami for many years to come.

Pat Riley: “I’d Like To Run This Thing Back”

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Free agency officially begins this afternoon at 6 pm, and Miami may be involved quite a bit.

Most importantly they will look to retain Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder, which although some rumors have loomed, I have no doubt they will be back in a Miami Heat uniform next season.

Pat Riley mentioned in his press conference the other night, “I’d like to run this thing back.” And well, that starts with retaining their key free agents.

This statement can be taken a few different ways, but I believe he was saying they want to run it back with their core. I don’t think that exactly pertains to a possible move trading away Kendrick Nunn or Kelly Olynyk.

But ultimately, every team in the Eastern Conference right now is scrambling trying to get better in any way they can, while Miami is sitting back watching.

And there’s a reason for that.

It is known that Pat Riley and company are never afraid to make the big trade to make the team better, but they make take a different approach this season. After reaching the NBA Finals, Pat is content with keeping the young and productive core that this team has, and rightfully so.

For one, I believe that showcases the bright futures of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. Bam Adebayo is clearly untouchable, but Herro and Robinson seemed to have been thrown in some trade talks here and there throughout the off-season. But well, Pat isn’t giving these guys up for nothing, and he may not even give them up for something big.

There is a real and genuine tone in Pat Riley’s voice when he talks about the potential or production of his young players, and that is not always the case.

He is perfectly fine with “running it back,” and Heat fans should be too.

Possibly adding some role players, such as Wesley Matthews, may be the most attractive move right now, so we will see what happens this afternoon when Free Agency officially begins.

Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat Changing the NBA

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It’s no surprise that the entire NBA is trying to find their Bam Adebayo, but it’s just not going to happen. Not many people are given the God given talent of being a guard in a center’s body, but he is one of them.

A few decades ago, the league was being run by dominant bigs, who worked predominantly in the low post. We’ve seen a slow shift away from that type of play in the NBA, but June 22nd, 2017 was the night that we look back at as the beginning of a new era.

Bam Adebayo was picked with the 14th pick by the Miami Heat, and it wasn’t exactly the most loved pick. Why would they take a 6’9 center who can’t shoot the three ball and doesn’t have a low post game?

Well, that’s because he can do absolutely everything else on the floor, which is ultimately the bar for teams across the league when discussing a franchise center.

Now, the Miami Heat selected Precious Achiuwa in the 2o2o NBA Draft, which means that they sense a total 360 in today’s league. They started this trend, and they’re going to ride it out until the next trend comes around.

Many thought they would size up after the Los Angeles Lakers bigs gave them major trouble in the NBA Finals, but I also believe they see this as a counter. Having two quick bigs on the roster gives Miami major flexibility, and ultimately could play many team’s centers off of the floor.

And if any team was going to do it, it would be this fast paced, in-shape Miami Heat team, who could potentially look to run teams off the floor.

Once again, everybody is trying to find their Bam, but there is no other Bam. I’ve mentioned the fact that Precious can reiterate many of the things that Bam does, but that doesn’t mean he’s on track to be the same type of player.

Not only does every team want their Bam, but every player wants to be like Bam. The players in the draft also realize that the game is changing, so they will need to have a versatile offensive game by play-making, handling the ball, and potentially running the offense.

That’s the goal.

The goal is Bam.

And not many people are going to reach that goal.

Precious Achiuwa Drafted By the Miami Heat

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The Miami Heat got lucky in the 2020 NBA Draft, after a surprising player dropped all the way to pick 20, Precious Achiuwa.

Personally, I didn’t think he’d be available at pick 20, but I did mention in the past that it was intriguing that he worked out for the Miami Heat.

He gives Miami exactly what they lacked this past season, which is a Bam filler. Some believed they needed a guy that can do all of the things that Bam can’t do, but they instead went with the guy who can replicate a lot of the things he does.

For one, he has a very good face-up game, which is pretty similar to that of Bam Adebayo. He has the ability to drive to the basket off the dribble, and surprisingly utilizes a lot of the spots on the floor that Bam does.

That doesn’t mean they can’t play together. Precious has the ability to roam the baseline impressively, while playing outside of the box, which will allow Bam to continue to do what he does best.

There also won’t be much of a drop off on the defensive end when Bam exits the game, since he can guard anybody from a 2 to a 5. And after going up against the big man heavy Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, Miami knew he’d fit their needs. Not only for a guy that has size to grab some boards, but even to match up defensively against the many bigs and wings in the loaded Eastern Conference.

He’s a physical monster, and his biggest strength most likely begins with energy. Not many bigs play with high energy in college like Bam Adebayo did, but Precious does as well. He represents the type of grittiness and Miami Heat culture that they look for in a draft pick.

He also has the ability to shoot the ball, but that’s not his best attribute in my opinion. Miami wants their guys to play to their own strengths, which is why I believe he will have a role that I described earlier.

The shooting does seem to need some mechanical tweaks, which is a great sign. If he can just develop a consistent mid-range jumper, much like the one Bam Adebayo is looking to develop, he will be in fantastic shape.

And since he can play above the rim, it’ll be interesting to see how Erik Spoelstra utilizes him in the offense.

Although Miami didn’t make any ground breaking moves during the NBA Draft, it assuredly was a productive night.

5 Possible Miami Heat Draft Picks

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Tonight is officially the NBA draft, where the Miami Heat will be selecting at pick 20. Well, maybe.

There’s been discussion of Miami either including the pick in a trade after they make their selection, or using it to trade down to the second round. Since both are viable options, here are three possible picks for Miami at 20, and two possible picks in the second round.

First Round Possibilities

1. Vernon Carey Jr

This one is pretty obvious, since it’s somebody I’ve been discussing for a while now. Vernon Carey Jr is a quality young big, who can do a some of the things that Bam Adebayo doesn’t. For one, he thrives with his back to the basket in the post, and it’s obvious Bam enjoys facing up the basket. He also has the ability to stretch the floor, which is something he mentioned quite a lot in his media session. And clearly his ties with the Miami Heat make this a viable pick, and I believe he could fit in well, especially since Miami may not have a backup big if Kelly Olynyk gets moved.

2. Zeke Nnaji

Zeke Nnaji is another big man that I believe Miami will take a look at. For one, the first team he worked out for in this pre-draft process was the Miami Heat. When Miami is looking at these players, I believe they try to find a unique quality that they can bring. And Nnaji has an immense amount of energy that he brings every night, which appeals to Miami. He also has gotten his body right as of late, which he kept reiterating to media that he was down to 5.9% body fat, while adding 20 pounds of muscle. I think he’s a solid fit for Miami if they go for a big man at pick 20.

3. Desmond Bane

Now, Desmond Bane seems to be the guy that Miami Heat fans love the most, and rightfully so. First off, he’s a very polished player already, and that is what Miami will be looking for in this draft. He’s an outstanding shooter from deep, and actually was used quite similarly to Duncan Robinson when he was in college. He would run off a bunch of screens to find open shots, but still can score off the dribble. He also has a very high defensive motor, which if Miami takes a guard or a wing, it’ll be one who can play on the defensive end.

Second Round Possibilities

4. Ashton Hagans

Now, the reason I think there’s such a high chance Miami trades down to the second round is because there are many great options in that range. The one that I’ve mentioned a lot that will stick out to Miami is Kentucky guard Ashton Hagans. It’s clear he won’t bring much offensive impact upon arrival, but Miami has enough offensive talent. Instead he can bring his biggest strength, which is everything that involves the defensive side of the ball. He can pick you up full court, hit the passing lanes, and endures quickness to stay on his man one-on-one through screens. This defensive talent will stand out to Miami, which is why I believe if they trade down to the second round, it’ll be for Ashton Hagans.

5. Immanuel Quickley

The other possible second round pick is no surprise, another Kentucky guard. Miami loves their Kentucky players, and there are plenty of them in this draft. Immanuel Quickley is a solid 3 and D guy, who shoots the three ball at a very high level. He gets labeled as a catch and shoot guy since that was his role at Kentucky, but it’s clear he will be much more than that at the next level. He can take guys off the dribble when needed, which is why he reminds me of Tyler Herro coming out of college, since he was labeled as a catch and shoot guy as well. His defensive presence is mostly effective on individual assignments, which is what Miami needs, but does lack some quality team defensive attributes. Either way, Immanuel Quickley is a super talented prospect who will appeal to Miami. And at the end of the day, if Miami selects a Kentucky Wildcat, it’s a successful draft.

Miami Heat Draft Notes from Media Session Day 5

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Although there weren’t many prospects who spoke with media the day before the NBA draft, there was one player who surprisingly linked to Miami quite a lot.

Jahmi’us Ramsey, out of Texas Tech, mentioned that he worked out for the Miami Heat.

It wasn’t surprising that he worked out for Miami, but it was surprising that he had a private workout with Miami.

Jahmi’us went through two workouts preparing for the NBA draft over zoom. One workout had 22 NBA teams watching, while the other one had the Miami Heat as the only ones attending.

He kept mentioning that he thinks he can really bring shooting and defense to whatever team he lands on, but defensive motor definitely has been something to monitor, which is why Miami most likely wanted to get a closer look.

Tyrell Terry also spoke with media, but he mentioned he did not work out with the Miami Heat.

We will see the route Miami goes tomorrow night, especially since there’s a good chance they’ll be selecting in the second round.

The Miami Heat’s Off-Season Prediction

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The Miami Heat are expected to have an eventful offseason between trades, signings, and the NBA Draft. Some acquisitions from other Eastern Conference teams make these Heat decisions even more interesting, but here’s what I believe Miami can possibly do…

Resign:

Goran Dragic 

It’s pretty clear that bringing Goran Dragic back is going to be a priority for Miami, most likely giving him a  one year balloon payment. I’ve mentioned the things he can bring in terms of production, but more important in terms as a mentor. Having him around to direct Tyler Herro in his second season is a priority for Miami, which is why he will be taken care of.

Jae Crowder

Crowder is another one that Miami will make sure to bring back, since he proved in the bubble that he is the ideal fit next to Bam Adebayo. His shooting was obviously much better than originally expected, but his defensive actions is why Miami will resign him. Miami’s defense definitely won’t be their best attribute with some point of attack issues, but having a versatile wing like Crowder helps that out a lot.


Sign:

Wesley Matthews 

I’ve talked very highly about the signing of Wesley Matthews for a couple reasons. For one, he fixes Miami’s point of attack defense upon arrival. Secondly, signing him for the minimum is an absolute steal, especially since he’s also a knock down shooter. And lastly, it’s another move that improves Miami’s depth. While other teams will be trading away all of their depth for stars, Miami may look to counter for this upcoming season and grab a bunch of quality players.

Nerlens Noel

Nerlens Noel hasn’t been discussed much when talking about possible guys Miami could potentially sign, but I believe it’s a huge possibility. With the moves Miami might be making, it may leave them without a backup big. And with a cheap and productive Nerlens Noel on the market, I believe Miami may scoop him up. It also helps out Bam when he exits the game, since he can replicate some of the things he does on the floor.


Sign and Trade:

Miami trades- Kendrick Nunn, Kelly Olynyk, Pick 20, and possibly additional picks

Miami gets- Danilo Gallinari, Pick 53

Now, this is the trade that I believe Miami will end up pulling off. Miami will give Oklahoma City a quality young guy in Kendrick Nunn, as well as the 20th pick, and we all know they love their picks. We know how it would look for Miami adding Danilo Gallinari, but I also see them throwing in that 53rd pick. Miami has been intrigued with trading down to the second round, so it benefits both of their needs. Once again, Miami will look to counter these other teams, and that may mean adding a bunch of depth, as well as offensive talent.

Draft:

Ashton Hagans

So if Miami pulls off that trade, they would be picking late in the second round with the 53rd pick. And the guy I’ve continually mentioned Miami has their eye on is Kentucky guard Ashton Hagans. An absolute defensive burden, and could possibly make an impact off the bench in spurts. I’ve talked about Miami possibly selecting him higher than expected with pick 20, but this means they get him much cheaper.

Bam Adebayo: A Young Player’s Idol

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It is not everyday that a 23 year old gets labeled as a 19 year old’s dream player, but in this draft, that seems to be the case.

There’s one name that seems to come up for every big in this draft, when discussing what player they model their game after.

Bam Adebayo.

And it’s clearly not for a skill-set reason, since most of the players who mention his name play nothing like him. Instead, they model his work ethic, and more importantly, his uniqueness.

Adam Simon said in his press conference earlier in the week, Bam is “one of one,” and it’s clear that’s a mutual thought between everybody who has seen him play.

Whenever players in past drafts are asked the question of players they look up to, you usually hear LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and many other top players. But not only are those guys top five players, they’re also veterans who players in the draft have been watching since they were young kids.

So what makes it so interesting when Bam’s name comes up, is that most of these players just began watching him this past season.

Guards in the draft don’t say they want to be like Donovan Mitchell.

Wings in the draft don’t say they want to be like Jayson Tatum.

But for some reason, the star center from the 2017 NBA draft class, seems to have all the young bigs wanting to be like him.

And the best part about it for Bam Adebayo, is that he’s not even close to his ceiling. He’s evolving by the second, while improving in every part of his game little by little.

But ultimately, character matters in this league. And Bam Adebayo has just that, since it’s clear that he is a very likable player and person across the league.

There weren’t many guys shooting from way beyond the three-point line until Steph Curry did it.

There weren’t many big men shooting consistently and efficiently from three until Dirk Nowitzki did it.

And now, there aren’t many bigs who are capable of doing absolutely everything on the basketball court, but Bam Adebayo is paving the way.

And luckily, he has a herd of guys following behind him, which will alter the game of basketball yet again.

Some Miami Heat Draft Notes from Media Session Day 4

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Two guys that talked a little about the Miami Heat possibly picking them were Arizona teammates, Zeke Nnaji and Josh Green.

When Nnaji was asked about what teams he worked out with, the first team he brought up was the Miami Heat. He mentioned that they were the first team that worked him out.

He also mentioned quite a few times that his body fat is down to 5.9%, and he’s added 20 pounds of muscle. It almost seemed as if he was mentioning it for a specific reason.

He also brought up the fact that Andre Iguodala was a mentor for him, whenever he would come back to Arizona to speak with the team.

And with his improved shooting, he believes he can play some power forward, so Miami definitely could take him with that 20th pick.

Josh Green, on the other hand, did not mention any workouts with the Miami Heat, but did talk a little about the interview he had with them.

He said, “It was a good call. I was able to meet them all…I think they’re interested for sure.”

And I would think so too, since he’s the type of polished player that Miami would possibly consider. If Miami doesn’t take him with the 20th pick, I believe the 76ers would snag him with the 21st pick, due to the relationship with Ben Simmons.

Vernon Carey Jr also spoke with media today, but wouldn’t discuss any workouts with teams. I’ve talked about the connection with Miami for a while now, so it’s clear he will be considered.

Jaden McDaniels and Nico Mannion are also in that 20 range, but neither mentioned Miami when discussing the teams they’ve worked out with.

It’ll be interesting to see what Miami does with this pick on Wednesday, especially since there’s a chance it won’t be in their possession for long.

Miami Heat Off-Season: Best Player or Best Fit?

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NBA trades will officially begin today, and there’s a chance Miami could be among one of them pretty soon.

There’s talk of Miami packaging young assets for the big star, or they could potentially just acquire a role guy.

The question is what is Miami’s goal this off-season, landing the best player or landing the best fit?

Two players that land under that category are Danilo Gallinari and Wesley Matthews, since it was reported that both may have interest in Miami.

Danilo Gallinari is clearly an outstanding player for this team offensively. Many rave about the fit next to Bam Adebayo, but the fit with Duncan Robinson stands out more. Having two guys in the starting lineup, along with Tyler Herro potentially, that are that deadly from three would improve Miami’s biggest strength even more. But, it also hurts there biggest weakness.

At this stage, Miami’s offense is not a worry at all. Obviously there’s always room to improve it, but defensively is what Miami should be looking at more. If Miami has Herro, Duncan, and Gallinari in the starting lineup, it would honesty be a defensive nightmare.

Some will say that you can stagger the starting lineup, but the ends of games will be the bigger issue. If you can’t put your best overall lineup on the floor on any given night, there’s something wrong with the roster.

Now, the Wesley Matthews pick-up seems to be a lot more appealing to Miami’s needs. He’s an ideal 3 and D guy, that can guard opposing wings and guards. And most importantly, he complements Miami’s young and evolving offensive talents.

Some may argue that obviously you take the guy that can average 20 a night, but ultimately, I believe there’s a chance you can get that from Herro next season. Instead, this 20 point per game scorer will have a defensive co-pilot helping him out every step of the way.

Although I’m discussing the better pick-up, Miami could potentially end up getting both.

But if, for some reason, only one could get acquired, I’d probably go with Wesley Matthews. I’m probably a small percentage of people that think that, but I believe in best fit instead of best player, unless you’re talking about a total superstar.

We will see how this all plays out, since there’s a good chance Miami’s roster will look a little different next season.