Tag Archive for: Miami Heat

Could Miami Take A Chance on Josh Jackson?

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Josh Jackson is another one of those young prospects who have yet to truly prove themselves, but are searching for that one opportunity.

Not many teams need a player like Josh Jackson due to the fact that he’s a liability on offense, but Miami seems like they could take a chance on him.

For starters, there’s a chance that Derrick Jones Jr could walk in free agency this off-season, and Josh seems like he could be the type of player to replicate some of the things he did.

He could be used as a spark for certain stretches when they’re having trouble defensively, since he’s fairly capable of guarding opposing wings and guards.

And I actually believe some of his offensive limitations could be opened up. He seems to be most comfortable when working downhill on the break, and has shown to be a pretty decent passer. Obviously the shooting just isn’t there, but once again I don’t believe it entirely needs to be when you have Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro.

There is still a lot of uncertainty as well with the exact numbers in this situation on both sides. But Josh Jackson definitely should be in their money range.

All he needs is one opportunity to prove that he is a valuable role player in this league, and all Miami needs is a guy that will accept his role and can help them out defensively.

People have mentioned that it would be in his best interest to join a team with a strong culture and established veterans. And well, I don’t know a better place than Miami.

He definitely won’t be the first person on their list, since they have some guys to re-sign and other needs, but it definitely could happen.

If the numbers were to work out perfectly for both sides, I could see it happening since he can fill the role of Derrick Jones Jr and possibly Soloman Hill, if he was to walk as well.

Miami usually leans towards players who have a chip on their shoulders with something to prove, and that’s exactly what Josh Jackson has.

Nerlens Noel Could Be a Big Man Option for Miami

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Nerlens Noel is another name that has emerged as a viable option for Miami.

He can definitely bring the energy and intensity that Miami needs in a back up big. His inability to truly stretch the floor means that he will not be getting many minutes next to Bam, but once again that is just fine.

He gives them some rebounding and rim protection which is ultimately what they need.

His defensive attributes is what stands out most on his resume, since he has the ability to guard the perimeter as well. This means he can replicate some of the things that Bam Adebayo does on the defensive end.

In only 18 minutes a game, Nerlens Noel averaged 1.5 blocks and 1 steal a game. That’s a pretty good stat line considering the role that he had with OKC this past season.

Miami doesn’t need a back-up big to score 15 a night. They just need a guy that is willing to play their role, much like Meyers Leonard did this past season, but can ultimately be trusted defensively to be on the court without Bam.

Nerlens Noel also fits the mold of a guy that still needs to prove himself, much like I mentioned with Harry Giles. Miami is the perfect opportunity for a player like that, since he can have a decent role with a team that is actually contending for a title.

Nerlens does have some offensive limitations though. But with the firepower offensively on the Miami Heat’s roster, that shouldn’t be an issue.

And if they were to make this signing, it doesn’t automatically mean that Meyers Leonard is out of the picture. If Meyers is willing to accept a leadership role with this Heat team for the minimum, they will happily bring him back.

And having extra big men wouldn’t be the worst thing for Miami, especially since Nerlens Noel is known for having issues with foul trouble.

Nerlens Noel is another one of those cheap big man options that Miami could go for, so there’s definitely a chance that they go this route.

Two More Draft Names on the Miami Heat’s Radar

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It was reported today that Miami has requested another zoom interview, this time with Duke’s Tre Jones.

He is a high IQ point guard who makes great decisions with the ball in his hands. He’s a good defender as well by jumping into passing lanes, but his size doesn’t scream great NBA defender.

His shooting began to get better as the season progressed, but he’s still a very streaky shooter.

He is a very gritty player though which definitely would entice Miami, but I’m not so sure he’s exactly what Miami is looking for right now.

If they did go this route of drafting Tre Jones, it pretty much means they’re moving on from Kendrick Nunn. If Miami is to grab a guard, it’ll have to be one that can be a trusted defender upon arrival such as Tyrese Maxey.

But once again, I believe that they end up going the route of getting a big.

Another big that I haven’t mentioned that stands out is Daniel Oturu.

I believe he’s the type of player in this draft that can give Miami immediate production, which is what they are looking for.

He can protect the rim and rebound at a high level, which is their biggest need.

His offensive package stands out as well, since he has a very efficient mid-range jumper and shot the ball well from beyond the arc this past season.

He is 6’10 and 240 pounds as well, which is why he can be a force on the block. He was very productive in the post this past season, mostly since that seems to be the spot he is most comfortable.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Miami arranges a zoom interview with Daniel Oturu pretty soon, as well as Vernon Carey who I’ve discussed in the past.

Does Giving Wes Matthews a Mid-Level Exception Make Sense for Miami?

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As shown above, it was reported that Miami could consider splitting their mid-level exception between two veterans, and among those on their radar include Paul Millsap and Wes Matthews.

I’ve talked about how a Paul Millsap signing would look in the past, but how about a Wes Matthews pick-up?

For starters, he fits the exact mold of a defensive guard that Miami has been looking for. The playoffs proved even further that he can be trusted when taking the assignment of talented opposing guards.

And on the offensive side of the ball, he’s proven that he is fairly capable of being a great three point shooter.

Miami could potentially run a starting lineup of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and Wesley Matthews. Shooting once again definitely wouldn’t be an issue, and you’re improving the defensive issues.

I truly believe this makes sense for Miami to try and grab a player like Wesley Matthews, and try and fill the big man gap in the draft if they elect to keep the 20th pick.

And once again, Pat Riley and company have so many options this off-season that truly anything could happen. But getting a 3 and D guy by using the mid-level exception seems pretty ideal.

We’ll see what transpires until the beginning of free agency, but this is an option for Heat fans to keep in the back of their minds.

Is the Most Ideal Power Forward for Miami Sitting Right in Front of Them?

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Even though it seems as if Miami’s number one option in free agency would be a lengthy big who can rebound, some possible power forward options have come up.

Danilo Gallinari, Paul Millsap, and Jerami Grant are just a few of the names that have come up as possibilities, but doesn’t Jae Crowder make the most sense?

Obviously he was a clear fit right when he arrived in Miami, since he gave them some more of that defensive grit and even added a bonus with his shooting. Miami did not expect Jae Crowder to shoot at the level that he did to finish the season and for a good potion of the playoffs.

He also gave them great veteran leadership and had an obvious bond in both the locker room and on the floor with a bunch of guys. The college connection with Jimmy Butler, the Boston connection with Kelly Olynyk, and even began to show a front-court connection with Bam Adebayo as they went along.

There’s been discussion about who would fit the best next to Bam. The consensus seems to be a guy like Danilo Gallinari since he can space the floor for Bam so well. But Jae Crowder was doing just that throughout this season, and was a huge reason their defense had such success, which you wouldn’t be getting from Gallinari.

Once again though, it’s not guaranteed that he will be shooting at those same levels all of the time, but they truly don’t need him to when Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro are on the floor.

It’s all about playing your role on this Heat team, and I’m not sure other power forwards would be as willing to accept a certain role like Jae Crowder would. He’s willing to do a bunch of the dirty work on both sides of the ball, which came up huge for them in a bunch of big time playoff games.

It’s not that Jae Crowder is better than the other options they have a shot at, but it is the most trusted option.

The good thing for Miami is that Jae truly wants to play for this team and live in this city. It’s hopeful that they can give him a one year type deal for this season to keep the 2021 free agency options open, and then take care of him afterward.

And I’m pretty sure Miami knows what Jae Crowder can do for this team going forward as they try and compete for another title.

Miami has already found their fit for Bam Adebayo, and the only other guy that Miami will feel totally fine with replacing him would be Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021.

Does It Make Sense For Miami To Bring in Harry Giles?

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Harry Giles is another big man option for Miami heading into this off-season for a couple of reasons.

He’s in that in-between stage right now, since he’s only 22 years old but he also has yet to truly prove himself. This means that I don’t believe that teams will be willing to give him a big deal, which means Miami has a shot.

Miami actually gave Harry Giles a look in the 2017 NBA draft, but many teams weren’t willing to take a chance on him due to the injury. But I’d say Miami’s draft selection ended up working out for the best.

Now that Miami is in search of a possible big to add to their roster, it seems as if Giles could be a viable option.

He is solid in basically every single area of his game, since he can rebound, defend, and score both around the rim and from the mid-range.

And even though I’ve discussed in the past that I don’t like the discussion of trying to find a fit for Bam Adebayo, it’s clear that they could play these two together.

He almost seems as if he could potentially be a Bam-lite, which would help this team out tremendously when he’s off the floor.

Obviously nobody can truly fill Bam’s shoes, but he can at least fill them somewhat. His ability to pass for his size was on display this season, and he actually ran a bunch of offensive sets in the spots that Bam does since he has the ability to put the ball on the floor like a point guard.

The issue when Bam went out in the Finals was that nobody could step up and do what Bam does. It’s possible for players to do what Goran Dragic does scoring wise, but you just can’t reiterate a player’s game when they do absolutely everything on the court.

It seems like a pretty ideal option for Miami to get this type of player this off-season, but once again they have so many options. And this one may not be the most realistic since he could potentially get more money elsewhere.

But there’s not a better place for Harry Giles to build up his reputation than with this Heat team.

I believe that Miami could give him a look if other possible signings and re-signings don’t work out.

Pat Riley Knows Tyler Herro Isn’t Going Anywhere

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“He just turned 20. My gosh.”

That’s what Pat Riley had to say about Tyler Herro in his press conference on Friday afternoon.

There still seems to be some discussion if Tyler Herro is indeed untouchable. Obviously he is above most of the trades that have been discussed in the past, such as Jrue Holiday or Victor Oladipo, but what if an even bigger name gets thrown Pat Riley’s way?

Something that stood out to me about what Pat Riley said when discussing Tyler Herro over other players was that he raved about his future. He even said, “He will go to another level when he gets older.” And if Pat Riley is saying that about a cheap and productive 20 year old rookie, I can guarantee he’ not going anywhere.

Bradley Beal is the name that continually seems to get thrown into the mix when asking if Tyler would still be considered untouchable.

For starters, Bradley Beal is not going anywhere, since he seems like he wants to stay in Washington, at least for now. But if he does end up forcing his way out of Washington in the near future for some reason, I believe it’ll be too late, since Tyler will officially be off of the table.

Something else that stood out when he talked about Tyler Herro was the fact that he loved the mentorship he got from the veterans on the team. He said, “All these veterans took him under their wing because they saw something special in him.”

And Pat Riley does not give up special players. He gives up assets.

The two things that stood out the most to me from what Pat Riley said was his talk about Tyler Herro and “The Next Thing.”

Those two things don’t always need to be connected, because ultimately they are not.

The next thing can be acquired pretty easy without Tyler Herro, since there are plenty of options in both this free agency and 2021 free agency.

Pat Riley and this Heat organization know, Tyler Herro isn’t going anywhere.

 

 

Who Are the Two Back-Up Point Guards Miami Could Consider?

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I’ve been discussing some possible back-up centers quite a lot lately, but what about some possible back-up point guard options?

Obviously the plan for Miami will be to resign Goran Dragic, but if that’s not the case for some reason, these will be some options.

Miami will be looking for a guard who can defend, since they’ve had troubles with the point of attack. And there are two guys that I believe fit their needs for a good price as well.

The first guy is De’Anthony Melton, since he seems to fit the needs of Miami perfectly.

He’s the type of guy that Miami can gamble on over others, since his inability to really shoot the ball gives teams some uncertainty. Miami, on the other hand, is not worried about the shooting aspect of things, since they seem to have that locked up already.

He is a guy that Miami truly could trust against opposing point guards, since he’s proven he can go toe to toe with just about anybody on the defensive end. His competitive spirit and energy also screams Miami Heat guy, which is why Miami will definitely give De’Anthony a look.

He is a restricted free agent though, which means that Memphis will have the ability to bring him back. But it just comes down to how much they truly value him.

Another intriguing pick-up would be Jordan McLaughlin, who Miami Heat fans are very aware of. Jordan seemed to be another one of those unknown players who seem to kill the Heat, when he scored a very efficient 13 points against Miami in late February and hit the go ahead layup on Bam Adebayo with 8 seconds left to eventually win the game.

The reason he’s intriguing is because he’s another one of those two-way players. When he was playing in the Summer League, all people would say when discussing McLaughlin was how defensive minded he was, since he would pick up opposing point guards full court.

Not only would he give Miami exactly what they want and need defensively, but he is also a very solid offensive player. He has the ability to both attack the rim and shoot the three ball, which he can do by creating his own shot.

The fact that not many people know his name tells you Miami will give him a look alone.

He is also a restricted free agent, which means Minnesota will have the option to bring him back as well.

Once again though, it does seem very likely that Miami will resign Goran Dragic, so they won’t need to worry about this position. But if that’s not the case, I believe De’Anthony Melton and Jordan McLaughlin would definitely be at the top of their list.

Miami’s Hunt for a Big Man Isn’t Predicated Around A Fit for Bam Adebayo

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The big talk of both free agency and the NBA draft for the Miami Heat is just trying to fill some holes in their roster.

One of the most important holes that needs to be filled is a big man who can grab them some rebounds and protect the rim a bit.

Something I have noticed though, is that people are getting too hung up on finding a perfect fit to play with Bam Adebayo, and I just don’t believe that’s a worry in the Miami Heat’s eyes.

For one, if Miami grabs a big man in this draft, they’re getting him to sub in for Bam to bring a spark to their center position. They’re not going to be starting this draft selection next to him right away.

Of course the hope is that the selection turns into the starting center of this team, but that is not the direction this team is going. They’re trying to win now.

I understand finding a fit for Bam when discussing free agency, since that starting position can be plugged in immediately. Obviously guys like Serge Ibaka and Danilo Gallinari would be starting right away. But if they grabbed someone such as Aron Baynes or Tristan Thompson, it does not mean they have to play together, since that type of pick-up would be used as a bench role.

And not many should worry about players fitting in with Bam anyways, since Bam makes everybody on the floor better. Jae Crowder, Meyers Leonard, and Kelly Olynyk all shined in their minutes this year when they played next to Bam Adebayo, and not to discredit any of these talented players, but that’s what I like to call the Bam effect.

If Miami was to look at Vernon Carey Jr in this draft, which I believe is very possible, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad pick because he’s not a great shooter from distance and can’t play next to Bam. That would actually just further prove that they’re going to get that extra piece for this team, such as a Jrue Holiday, which means all they need is a trusted back-up center to give them a boost without Bam.

The Miami Heat are finding pieces to compete for an NBA title once again next season, not build for the future.

The time is now and they know it, which is why this “fitting” topic doesn’t mean much to them.

Pat Riley Getting His Words Twisted From Presser

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It’s honestly not surprising that national media and others feel the need to make up fake stories about what Pat Riley had to say in Friday’s presser.

As I mentioned in my recap of Pat Riley’s press conference, the most intriguing points he made was how highly he talked of his player and Erik Spoelstra, and also some talk about acquiring the “Next Thing” by going whale hunting.

Well, that’s not what ESPN took away from what he said, since this is what they thought this meant…

Well, that’s not the only thing that got twisted, since this was another headline this weekend…

And if you actually watched or listened to what Pat Riley had to say on this specific topic, this is very out of context. When asked about what could’ve happened if they had Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic 100% in the finals, he responded with “It’s an excuse.” He also gave the utmost respect to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, since he credited them by saying “The Lakers were great…And they have the greatest player in the game today.”

Pat Riley made sure to clear up his twisted comments today, since people decided to put out false information…

So, before you go listen to this week’s ESPN programs where they will discuss “Pat Riley discrediting the NBA champions,” instead listen to this week’s episodes of Five on the Floor, where they will discuss five different Pat Riley quotes that actually came out of his mouth.