Tag Archive for: Miami Heat

Kendrick Nunn: More Than A Trade Asset

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It seems as if the first thing that comes to mind when people hear the name Kendrick Nunn is a trade asset. It’s definitely a possibility if Miami looks to make a big trade, since he’s an enticing young player, but for now he’s apart of this Miami Heat’s young core going forward.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances with Covid-19, which forced the league to go into a hiatus and eventually a bubble, many seem to forget the success that Kendrick Nunn had during the regular season.

Kendrick averaged 15 points a game as the starting point guard for one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. He also finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, only behind Ja Morant, an emerging young star.

Some of Kendrick Nunn’s bubble struggles seem to be the first thing on people’s minds when discussing him, and rightfully so since they last saw him play at a high level about nine months ago.

Those struggles in the bubble did not mean that Kendrick Nunn’s rookie season was a fluke. He had some unfortunate things come up such as testing positive for Covid and other personal things, which resulted in his exit from the rotation.

Although that did happen, the part that should be even more fresh in fan’s minds is the fact that he battled through all of that adversity and showed up in the Finals. That stood out to the Miami Heat’s organization, since that proved he’s a Miami Heat type player.

Once again, of course when discussing possible trade moves, his name will be inserted due to his value right now. But that’s definitely not all he is. The Miami Heat would love to bring him back next season and continue to develop him even more. His relationship with fellow rookie Tyler Herro is another thing that stands out, since they’re going to be looking to make a big second year jump together.

We will see if Miami decides to make a trade this off-season to improve this team right now, but if they don’t, Kendrick Nunn is more than capable of making a big impact next season on the offensive side of the ball.

Tyler Herro: A Milwaukee Native, A Milwaukee Enticer

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Some pretty interesting news came out today for the Miami Heat, when Ashley Nicole reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo is “prepared to sign a long-term deal in Miami.”

This is something that has been discussed consistently for a while now, which is why it’s no shock. The only difference is that it is now being discussed via trade instead of 2021 free agency, since Milwaukee wants to get some value in return.

I discussed his fit with this Heat team in a recent article, but what would this deal look like exactly?

Obviously it’s uncertain what Miami would need to give up exactly, but it definitely would have to include Tyler Herro.

I’ve been a big proponent of not including Tyler Herro in trades when they’ve been getting discussed over and over. I believe Miami does value him as untouchable, until Giannis gets put onto the table.

The reason I’ve been so adamant about not including Tyler Herro in these other trades that have been discussed, is because Miami has a shot at something much bigger.

Pat Riley is not afraid to make a move to get a “whale,” and I don’t even think Giannis is a whale, more like a cruise ship.

Tyler Herro, on the other hand, would be going back to the town in which he grew up.

There’s still so much unknown with this whole situation, since Miami is hoping for the opportunity to go after Giannis in free agency next season, but that may no longer be an option.

One thing about Pat Riley and the Miami Heat is that they’re never satisfied, which means there’s a good chance they make a deal to form a new big three in South Beach.

Could There Be Another Wizard On Miami’s Radar?

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Bradley Beal is a name that continues to come up when discussing possible trade targets to improve this Heat team. But could John Wall be on their radar as well?

The reason Miami is slower to act upon a deal for John Wall is because of his injury past. There’s also uncertainty how he would return from the ruptured Achilles tendon that occurred last season.

But after seeing all of his five-on-five runs in Miami this off-season with Remy workouts, I can assure you the injury doesn’t seem to be much of an issue. He even told CBS Sports back in May, “I’m gonna be better than I was before.”

Obviously he fits the mold of exactly what Miami has been looking for, since he’s a defensive point guard who can be well trusted with running the offense.

The 2018-2019 season, before he got injured, he averaged 21 points and 9 assists a game, but it was in only 32 games.

The issue with trading for him is that there’s still so much uncertainty. I do believe he’d have a lower asking price than Bradley Beal, but is it even worth taking the risk?

When healthy, John Wall is a top three point guard in the NBA, which makes me think there’s a better chance of them taking a chance on him over some other guys.

Washington would not be giving up John Wall for nothing though, which means they’d probably be asking for something along the lines of Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, and maybe the 20th pick. If that’s the case, there’s no chance Miami makes this deal.

But as discussed with every trade target, there’s always that possibility of him forcing himself out of Washington. And if he was to do that, Miami would be the number one option on his list, since he seems to be in Miami more than he’s in Washington.

I do believe though that Miami has so many options in both free agency and via trade that there’s no reason to risk going after John Wall. But due to the craftiness of the Heat’s front office, I wouldn’t put it past them that they could pull something off.

 

Voting on the Miami Heat’s Off-Season Possibilities

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In honor of Election Day today, I thought I’d vote on some free agent and draft options for the Miami Heat. Here are the most ideal and realistic pick ups for Miami.

Oh and by the way, make sure to go out and vote….

Most Ideal Free Agent Option:

Serge Ibaka

This one seems fairly obvious in my opinion. For starters, I believe if we are talking about the most ideal guy for Miami to grab, it would be a guy that can play next to Bam, while protecting the rim and grabbing boards.

And well, that’s exactly what Ibaka does. Something I mentioned in my piece a few weeks ago on Ibaka is that he has great offensive awareness through his spacing. He usually finds himself on the baseline right outside the paint, waiting for that dump-off pass or an offensive rebound.

He also always finds himself in the post, since that’s where he does most of his damage. And as I’ve mentioned before, a guy that thrives with his back to the basket is very important since that is not Bam’s game.

This signing may be a long shot for Miami, especially since there’s a good shot Marc Gasol will be out of Toronto. But with Miami, there’s always a possibility.

Most Realistic Free Agent Option:

Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews not only is the most realistic free agent for this Heat team, but it also makes a lot of sense.

For one, it’s a very cheap option since Miami would be giving him the mid-level exception. But for the basketball side of things, he gives Miami exactly what they’re missing at the guard position.

It has been fairly obvious that Miami needs a guard defender on this team, but with Matthews you’d be getting much more than that. He’s also a guy that is very capable of getting hot from deep. Some of the defensive guards that have been discussed in the past for Miami have offensive limitations, which means Wes has a decent advantage over those guys.

The fit is clearly there, but more importantly it’s a very possible option. They even have an opportunity to split the mid-level exception between Wes Matthews and another veteran like Paul Millsap.

We’ll see how it plays out, but keep your eyes open for this pick-up.

Most Ideal Draft Option:

Tyrese Maxey

The NBA draft this season will definitely be like no other. For starters, there is absolutely no consensus on who will be getting picked where, since mock drafts seem to be all over the place.

Tyrese Maxey has bounced around between late lottery and early twenties, which means Miami at least has a shot. And well, he’s a Kentucky Wildcat.

If Miami was to draft a guard, it would have to be one who is capable of holding their own on the defensive end. Tyrese Maxey gives them exactly that, and a ton of upside on offense. He’s showed that he can clearly score the ball from just about anywhere, which Miami could definitely try and tweak some efficiency things.

It also seems a little similar to Miami’s draft pick last year…

These two guys had the exact same stats for the same college at the same position. And after the last pick worked out so well, why not try it again?

Most Realistic Draft Option:

Daniel Oturu

Although I believe Miami would definitely pick Maxey if he fell to them, a big man may be the better option.

A bunch of bigs have been discussed, since most all seem to be falling in that early 20 range, but Daniel Oturu seems to stand out the most in my opinion.

I believe he has a mixture of all the other bigs that will be considered, including Jalen Smith’s shooting, Zeke Nnaji’s motor, and Vernon Carey’s feel around the rim.

He gives Miami the shot-blocking rebounder that they’re looking for, who also has the ability to stretch the floor next to Bam Adebayo. Although it’s clear a bunch of big guys will get consideration, Daniel Oturu seems to fit this Heat team the best.

 

(And once again, make sure to go out and vote.)

How Does Giannis Antetokounmpo Fit with Miami?

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Although Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t a free agent until 2021, he’s the guy that Miami seems to be revolving their 2020 free agency around.

There seems to be real optimism around Giannis joining forces in Miami if he chooses to leave Milwaukee. And well, that seems fairly obvious. Who doesn’t want to live in bright lights of Miami? And who doesn’t want to play with the hardest working organization to compete for a title?

But how would this fit truly look with this Miami Heat team?

For starters, the only issue that people seem to have with this acquisition is the fact that their three best players wouldn’t be able to shoot. And I can guarantee that thought won’t cross the front office’s mind once.

Jimmy Butler doesn’t shoot threes since he feels he can impact the game in every other part of the game, which is also why Erik Spoelstra bought into that. But with Giannis, I feel that they’d definitely find a way for him to improve his shooting.

I believe that starts with having play-makers on the floor who can make him feel comfortable. In Milwaukee, he’s the primary play-maker on the floor at all times, and he also has to play a bunch of one-on-one ball. But in Miami, he will be the third play-making option behind Butler and Bam, which I think could open up his shooting abilities.

Even if he doesn’t improve the shooting it’s not an issue. If Miami is running Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson in the starting lineup with those three, it’ll definitely make up for the lack of shooting.

But Miami is not trying to acquire Giannis to improve on the offensive side of the ball, it’s to overload on defense. Giannis is debatably the best defender in the league, who can guard any position on the floor.

The switches between Bam and Giannis on defense would be incredible, but the zone could be one of the deadliest things for this team.

The reason Bam thrived so well with the zone is that he has the ability to constantly move and can guard the perimeter. Giannis is all of that and more, which would definitely make the bottom of that zone a scary sight.

I also don’t believe a fit next to Bam has to revolve solely around a player who can shoot. It actually is about finding a player who can keep their offensive spacing while still playing to their strengths.

While Bam operates from the free throw line extended, Giannis would have no problem roaming the baseline for back-door passes and put-backs.

That doesn’t mean he won’t be their number one option on offense, since he’d probably be utilizing his abilities with his back to the basket as he did in the playoffs. That also takes some pressure off of Bam since he clearly doesn’t enjoy backing down defenders.

I don’t think there’s any question this fit wouldn’t work. As mentioned previously, this team would be the number one defensive and passing team in the NBA. And as long as you have Duncan Robinson, the shooting will be just fine.

Not only is he a fit with this organization and the Miami Heat’s players, more importantly I believe he’s a fit for Erik Spoelstra. Spoelstra has already dealt with a top player in his prime taking his talents to South Beach and he will do it again.

A new big three could be brewing in South Beach.

(Oh and by the way, get your Giannis-Bam 21 shirt here)

Goran Dragic to Tyler Herro: Passing It Down

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“I’m gonna say I learned everything from you.”

That’s what Tyler Herro told Goran Dragic mid-game while being mic’d up, after Goran told him he’s going to be watching all of his games when he is 40.

Learning everything from Goran is clearly a stretch, but learning a lot of things seems pretty accurate.

Obviously Tyler’s overall offensive game he’s had his whole life, but when you begin to look at the small things in his game, you begin to see some similarities.

For starters, the ability to use a soft touch off the glass. For many young guys, using the backboard doesn’t always seem to be their first priority. Usually players develop that part of their game as they age, but for Tyler Herro, it’s clear Goran has showed him that already.

Not only from the mid-range area, but mostly when attacking the rim for a layup. This was on full display once Tyler entered the bubble, where he’d throw the ball off the top of the backboard when driving for a soft touch off the glass.

Another thing that stood out was utilizing the floater off the pick and roll. The reason Goran is such a great pick and roll player is because he uses fundamentals when doing it. That includes patience, quick decision making, a floater, and the ability to throw the lob.

And now, these four things seemed to have been passed down to Tyler Herro in his rookie season. Tyler began to be comfortable with his decision making when throwing it up for Bam to catch the lob, but more importantly his natural feel around the rim allowed him to utilize his high arcing floater.

It’s also obvious that Goran Dragic is not afraid to use his off arm when going up for a layup to gain a bit of an advantage. And funny enough, Tyler began to do that as well when driving to the rim, except he doesn’t get the veteran calls like Goran does from the refs.

These two guys played next to one another all season since they both came off the bench, and it was clear that there was automatic chemistry between them on the floor.

Now that Tyler may be switching over to the point guard position, Goran may have a few more tips to add to his game. Obviously it is essential for Miami to bring back Goran Dragic this offseason, but it may be even more essential for them to bring him back for the continued development of Tyler Herro.

KZ Okpala Is Up Next For Miami

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It was no coincidence that Miami’s second round draft pick KZ Okpala went through a similar rookie season as second year player Duncan Robinson.

Duncan went through his rookie year with a two-way contract, spending most of his time getting ready for the Sioux Falls Skyforce team. He put up an intriguing stat line of 21 points a game, along with close to 5 threes per game as well.

Chet Kammerer even told the Sun Sentinel, “We purposely didn’t bring him in,” which is exactly what I’ve been saying Miami has been doing with KZ Okpala all along.

Although KZ wasn’t putting up 21 a game in the G-League, he was filling up the stat sheet quite nicely. He averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, but what jumped out most was his 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks a game.

Something I’ve noticed with the G-League is that it always seems to spotlight a player’s strength, like Duncan hitting 5 threes a game. And KZ’s spotlight has clearly been on the defensive side of the ball.

Obviously his length and quickness to guard guys out on the perimeter is just a God-given talent, but his tenacity and energy on defense just screams Heat culture.

And it’s hard to truly talk about a player’s defensive abilities until he’s guarding players in the actual league, but he seemed to showcase that talent when he got inserted into the game against Sacramento early in the season.

 

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The first thing that stood out from his defensive abilities that night was how quick he can move his feet. They played a lot of zone in that game with him at the top of it, and he just never stopped moving. And you may say that the word length is overstated at times with players, but KZ definitely used it to his advantage. Kings players had major trouble trying to get good shots off over his contests.

The only downfall that was shown in that game was foul trouble. He makes it such a priority to put as much effort as possible on that side of the ball, that he begins to reach which forces the whistle to get blown. Some of it may have had something to do with the fact that he had a small frame, but it’s clear he’s continued to add muscle and change his body.

With Derrick Jones Jr possibly leaving in free agency, it’s the perfect opportunity for KZ to step up into a new role in Miami’s rotation. Miami always seems to put the ultimate amount of trust in their players, which is why they started Duncan Robinson and Erik Spoelstra made comments prior to the season that he’s the best shooter in the NBA.

I believe they show KZ that same exact trust by giving him an increased amount of minutes on the first game of the season.

Once again, it’s not a coincidence that they gave KZ a year to work himself in like Duncan did, it’s just their process.

There’s also a reason that Miami seems reluctant to include KZ Okpala in trade packages for solid players. It’s because Pat Riley and the Heat front office see something in him, and that speaks major volume.

Would Miami Consider Dennis Schroder?

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The point guard position may not be much of a worry for Miami as of right now, since they have Tyler Herro possibly switching over, a 20th pick consideration, and of course Goran Dragic. The only issue is that although it seems very likely Miami will resign Goran, there’s still a small chance it doesn’t work out.

If Miami was to go into next season without Goran Dragic, a veteran point guard would be pretty ideal.

Dennis Schroder would definitely be an option for Miami through trade, since he’s going into the last year of his deal next season.

He’s coming off of a very impressive season averaging 19 points a game off the bench. The shooting even improved this year since he hit about two threes a game, shooting 39% which was a career best.

 

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I think it’s pretty obvious what Schroder gives you offensively, but what stands out now is the other side of the ball.

Schroder probably had one of his best defensive seasons of his career this past season. He’s very feisty and energetic on the defensive side of the ball, which led to him being an absolute havoc against opposing guards.

He actually was fourth in Defensive Win Shares among all of the other guards in the NBA during the regular season.

And when discussing the fit on this current Heat team, I believe it’s a pretty good one.

For one, Schroder thrived most this season when playing in lineups with two other ball-handlers, like Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And if he gets inserted into lineups with Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo, he should be able to thrive very similarly.

I also believe he wants a starting position in this league, and that won’t happen in OKC unless Chris Paul gets traded. And he’d definitely start on this Heat team since they’re in need of a defensive guard.

Once again, I don’t believe that Miami and Goran Dragic will part ways since Pat Riley made it clear in his press conference that they’re looking to take care of him. But if they were to move on, I believe Dennis could be a guy that they consider.

Could De’Aaron Fox Take His Talents To South Beach?

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Another player has emerged into some talks about possibly joining the Miami Heat in the near future, and his name is De’Aaron Fox.

The plan has continually been to go after Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021 free agency, but it’s never a bad idea to have a back-up plan.

It honestly seems to be the best possible fit you can think of.

Kentucky Wildcat, defensive oriented, emerging player, relationship with Bam Adebayo.

All of these things will play a part in this possibly happening, but how would this fit look exactly?

Around that time, Miami will officially be searching for that Goran Dragic replacement. Some hope that Tyler Herro can become the starting point guard of the Miami Heat eventually, which could still possibly happen, but doesn’t it seem ideal to have De’Aaron as the starting point guard instead?

The answer is yes. As mentioned previously he’s a guy that you can trust to guard opposing point guards, which is what Miami is looking for.

And that’s not the only thing that he brings, since he’s a player that you can trust to run your offense and get guys in the right spots. He has continued to become a better passer year after year, averaging seven assists a game this past season.

Miami wouldn’t mind to have a guy with that pacing run the offense, since I don’t think there’s anybody faster than him with the ball in their hands. That’s the type of guy that not only Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra would want to have, but especially Jimmy Butler.

The relationship with Bam Adebayo could potentially play a part as well, since De’Aaron has continued to be very supportive of Bam and the Miami Heat during their playoff run.

Obviously right now Miami is focused on what they have at hand for this upcoming season, but I’m 100% certain this De’Aaron Fox idea will continue to heat up as we get closer to that 2021 free agency.

It may be considered a back-up plan, but it should be considered the perfect fit.

Kentucky Wildcats All Over Miami Heat’s Draft Board Once Again

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It’s absolutely no surprise that Miami will be giving a Kentucky guy a look with the 20th pick. But this year, they have multiple Kentucky options.

For starters, there is optimism that Tyrese Maxey could potentially fall to Miami at 20, but ultimately there’s a good chance somebody grabs him earlier.

I’ve discussed why Tyrese Maxey makes sense for this Heat team, mostly due to the fact that he’s a talented two-way player.

Tyrese had a Pro Day on ESPN 2 on Thursday night, which Coach John Calipari spoke about him possibly getting overlooked like past Kentucky players. I think other teams recognize that, and if they do make yet another draft mistake, Pat Riley will be waiting to make that selection.

Greg Sylvander reported that the Miami Heat interviewed another Kentucky guard Immanuel Quickley.

His offensive package actually reminds me a lot of Tyler Herro’s game. Many have talked about his ability to play off the ball as a catch and shoot guy, like they said about Herro, but ultimately I believe he will emerge into more than that. He showed this past season that he’s pretty comfortable shooting shots off the dribble.

It would be an interesting back-court in Miami for the future. If they were to make this selection, it would definitely mean that they plan on making Tyler Herro the team’s point guard going forward, since ball-handling isn’t Quickley’s best attribute.

He also is another player who can be trusted on the defensive side of the ball. That hasn’t always been the case for Immanuel Quickley, but he really grew on that side of the ball this past season which showcases his work ethic.

He also has a close relationship with Tyler Herro, since they played together in college. He clearly fits the mold of a guy that Miami will consider in this draft.

Another name that I believe could get a look is Ashton Hagans. And what do you know, another Kentucky Wildcat.

His game definitely differs from Immanuel Quickley’s game, but they still both could fit this Heat team.

Hagans is a true point guard, who has good size and an outstanding ability to pass the ball. His shooting definitely isn’t his best attribute like Quickley, but he still has a pretty decent jumper that is evolving. He also has a great ability to get to the basket, and is most comfortable when he gets in transition.

His defense has also shown to be pretty dominant at Kentucky, but mostly off the ball when going for steals and things of that nature.

All three of these guys are 6’3 guards coming out of Kentucky the same year. Although those similarities are clear, they all have their own strengths that can all help this team right now.

If there was ever a year for Miami to draft a Kentucky Wildcat, it would be this year with all of these intriguing options.