Tag Archive for: Miami Heat

Can DeMarcus Cousins Have His Comeback Season in Miami?

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DeMarcus Cousins to Miami. That’s interesting on many levels.

Obviously Cousins didn’t get to play all of last season after he tore his ACL back in August. And before that, he had torn his Achilles in 2018 and suffered a torn quadricep in the playoffs. It’s pretty clear, he’s had a rough time over this long stretch.

When he returned from the Achilles injury, he shot 27% from three through 30 games to finish off the season.

It’s clear that people can sit here and guess what his injuries could limit him to, but ultimately he is still DeMarcus Cousins.

He’s a tough player who has an incredible offensive package for his size. He can hurt you from beyond the arc, but also has the ability to put the ball on the deck and take it up strong. With these offensive attributes, it seems as if he’d be the perfect Bam Adebayo complement, if healthy.

DeMarcus also isn’t afraid to get on the block and back opposing bigs down, which will give Bam plenty of space to continue to run the offense. And with Cousins’ passing skills out of the post, it’d make an intriguing big man duo.

He definitely isn’t the defensive big they may hope for, but that may not be a worry in the Heat’s eyes if they’re getting a healthy DeMarcus Cousins.

If Miami was to acquire him, I believe they would work him in off of the bench, unless he begins to show some flashbacks.

And by the way, there’s not many teams that DeMarcus would totally buy into a bench role, but I can tell you Miami is one of them.

Obviously it’s clear about the organizational structure, but what stands out more is his friendship and respect for Jimmy Butler. First of all, Miami has a selling point with Jimmy alone, but since Jimmy always seems to speak so highly of Cousins, I believe he could fit the Heat culture well.

And many always talk about DeMarcus Cousins being a locker room issue, but that’s what Jimmy Butler was considered upon arrival. If Miami was to make this move, you must trust that they know this guy’s character.

Once again though, this all falls on his health. He’s had two major injuries in the past two years, which ultimately can hurt a guy’s mobility at that size.

If Miami does believe that he can be impactful on this current Heat team, it’ll make for an interesting 2021 season.

Tristan Thompson Could Get A Look From Miami, As a Last Resort

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There are so many intriguing power forwards and centers in this current free agency, that a guy like Tristan Thompson may not get discussed. But it’s definitely a possibility.

If Miami can’t find that starting stretch four to put next to Bam, such as a Danilo Gallinari, they may go the route of searching for a back-up big.

Tristan Thompson would be the type of back-up big you’d look for, since he’s such a great rebounder, which was what Miami’s issues were this season.

He’s also a guy that knows how to play his own role, which is what the Heat did so well this season since everybody on the roster bought in. His consistency is also one of his best attributes, since you know what you will get from him every single night.

Obviously he won’t do close to the amount of things that these other free agents would bring. He has offensive limitations and he’s not the best defensive big, but he can grab you some offensive rebounds and protect the rim a bit.

This definitely would only happen in a situation where Miami has no other option, but it’s still very possible.

Tristan could still possibly return to the Cleveland Cavaliers next season, but it would be surprising since they brought in Andre Drummond this past season.

Many people believe he will be looking to jump onto a contending roster, which is exactly what Miami is right now.

He also would bring a bit of toughness and grit that Miami likes, but once again this would likely be a last resort pick-up.

Miami was interested in Tristan Thompson back in February when there were talks of him being bought out, so we will see if that interest still stands.

Who Else is on the Miami Heat’s Draft Radar?

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The Miami Heat have the 20th pick in this year’s NBA draft, but there’s a very good chance that this pick won’t be in their possession for long, due to possible trades.

I’ve mentioned before that if they do elect to keep the pick, they will go after a defensive guard or a true big, which I believe would be Tyrese Maxey or Vernon Carey Jr.

But who else could they take a look at?

Greg Sylvander reported yesterday that he has heard the Miami Heat are intrigued by Malachi Flynn from San Diego State.

This makes some sense for a couple reasons.

For one, he has the ability to be the defensive guard they’re looking for. And he also has a polished offensive game. He’s a good shooter, and many rave about his pick and roll abilities.

But what really makes him stand out as a Miami Heat type player is that he has continued to fly under the radar. And it’s pretty clear, that Miami tends to lean towards those types of players.

And by the way, some people have mentioned his downfall is his “short arms,” which is pretty similar to their draft pick last year, in Tyler Herro.

Another name that came up yesterday was Jalen Smith out of Maryland, since it was reported that Miami requested a zoom meeting with him. He’s a 6’10 power forward with a 7’2 wingspan who has an incredible three ball.

This definitely entices Heat fans, since he seems as the perfect fit next to Bam Adebayo. He can score just about everywhere on the floor as well, and is a very active player around the rim, which leads to many put-backs.

And that’s basically what Miami is looking for in a big. It just comes down to their free agency decision. There’s a plethora of bigs available this off-season, which could change Miami’s entire draft board.

Another player that I believe Miami may have their eyes on if he falls in this draft is Theo Maledon.

He’s an interesting fit for Miami, since he was a solid guard defender this past season, while doing it Internationally for France. He’s a very good play-maker as well, since he has a great feel and vision for the game.

His only issue is that he’s not the best shooter, but is that a big deal for this current Heat team?

Obviously you want as much shooting on your roster as possible, but this could form a back-court for the future.

Tyler Herro’s outstanding scoring abilities were on display in his rookie season, which means that these two could possibly be an intriguing fit.

Theo taking the hardest defensive assignments, while being the point guard play-maker on offense. And Tyler utilizing his impressive offensive package. He just seems to be the type of guy that Miami would love to develop.

As mentioned previously as well, there’s a good chance they don’t keep this pick, but if they do, they have plenty of options.

Is Jerami Grant a Good Fit For Miami?

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Well, what else is new. Another free agent that is expressing interest in the Miami Heat.

This one is definitely intriguing for Miami, since Jerami Grant is a young and emerging player right now.

For starters, he will most likely be opting out of the last year of his deal, which is $9 million. Miami currently has a $9.3 Million Mid-Level Exception that they can offer as well. He may have some interest in Miami, but does Miami express the same interest?

I actually believe not. For one, if Miami will be going after a free agent power forward or big, it will not be to the likes of a Derrick Jones Jr type player.

Miami wasn’t even giving DJJ any run during this bubble run, so what makes you think they make a big push to throw a bunch of money at him.

He does bring some positive aspects to this team, such as his defensive abilities. He is labeled as a guy that can guard almost every position, but once again, so was Derrick Jones Jr this season.

And this is not to keep reiterating that these two are equivalent, but just to point out that this may not be the guy Miami will go all in for.

Jerami has made some huge strides in his game though this season on the offensive side of the ball. He now has a respectable three ball and takes initiative to put the ball down and attack the rim. These attributes definitely mean that he will have a bunch of teams taking a long look at him this off-season, but I’m just not so sure it will be Miami.

He is also very capable of making more money than a $9 Million Mid-Level Exception. And when he gets that offer, he will most likely take it.

There will be many young teams with cap space, such as the Phoenix Suns, who would love to bring in an evolving player like Jerami Grant.

Miami, on the other hand, has their eyes on a prize much bigger.

A Montrezl Harrell Miami Heat Signing Seems Unlikely, But Not Impossible

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If you were asked to build a picture perfect Miami Heat big, he’d probably look a lot like Montrezl Harrell.

Montrezl is now heading into free agency this offseason with Miami looking for a similar big.

The reason I believe this is unlikely is because he’s 26 with an immense amount of upside. He should be looking for a 4 year deal since this is about that time for him to do that, but a one year deal with Miami is not out of the question.

Many believe that if he was to go the route of a one year deal, it would for sure be the Miami Heat.

Now, how would this fit be for this upcoming season?

For starters, the reason he’s a picture perfect Heat player is because he brings the type of intensity and physicality that Miami usually likes. And he’s had that motor since he played for Louisville in college. Being selected 32nd overall also proves he’s been doubted much like these Miami Heat players were.

Miami has struggled on the boards, which is why there’s been so much discussion about possible bigs, but Montrezl is the physical rebounder Miami may need. He’s only 6’7 but obviously rebounds and plays much bigger.

He’s also a force on the block, which may be good for Miami to have that big man activity down low, and allow Bam to dictate the offense. If he would be able to work the post a lot, that would open up Miami’s shooting even more.

His defensive versatilities are obvious as well, but his shot blocking abilities and strength against bigs could once again allow Bam to roam around the perimeter.

This Bam and Montrezl duo would truly be an exciting one, since they’re both emerging bigs with totally opposite skill-sets.

Obviously though, this signing would not be likely as mentioned previously, since there’s a good chance somebody will offer him a 4 year deal. I believe a lower tiered team will throw a huge deal at him this off-season, that he just wouldn’t be able to deny.

But once again, due to the crafty front office of the Miami Heat, anything is possible.

 

Who Is the Better Power Forward Fit for Miami: Paul Millsap or Danilo Gallinari?

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Paul Millsap and Danilo Gallinari are two guys that many have talked about possibly signing with Miami. Obviously both have their own strengths with what they could bring to this current Heat team. But who would be more effective?

For starters, I think it’s pretty obvious what Paul Millsap would bring to this team. He’s a veteran guy that knows how to play a role wherever he arrives.

He’s fairly capable of knocking down the three ball, and has the ability to go on big scoring spurts. That’s what he did in the third quarter of game five against the Los Angeles Clippers, when he scored 14 points in the third.

He also brings a good defensive presence at that position. Since Bam Adebayo is the quick and lengthy big, it’s clear that Paul can take some bigger match-ups with his wide frame.

Paul was asked to play a different type of role in Denver this season. He was a guy who was supposed to do the dirty work for them in a decreased amount of minutes. This obviously didn’t work out bad for them, but it’s just something to take note of.

As much of a presence that I think he could bring to this team, it just doesn’t compare to that of Danilo Gallinari, especially since Paul will be turning 36 years old in a couple months.

Before going into how Gallinari could help this Heat team, the only downfall with him over Paul is that he’s not as good of a defender. He can still hold his own against guys his size, but he struggles on switches.

But when you are sharing the floor with Bam Adebayo that shouldn’t be an issue.

The first thing that should be recognized with Danilo is his outstanding shooting abilities. He shot 40% from beyond the arc this season attempting 7 threes a game. But he won’t be getting targeted as much as a shooter if he’s sharing the court with one of the best shooters in the league, Duncan Robinson. And this duo of Danilo and Duncan could be something to watch, since Danilo has shown to be pretty good at dribble hand-offs.

He also plays much better when he’s not the number one scoring option on the floor, and with the weapons that Miami has on this roster, that shouldn’t be an issue.

Shooting isn’t his only elite attribute, since it’s known he is an efficient scorer at all three levels. He’s very capable of putting the ball on the floor to try and make a play.

It would be interesting to see Bam and him navigating the offense, since both of them are such craft play-makers.

There are so many aspects to Danilo’s game that fits Miami’s system, that I truly believe it’s a perfect match.

Although Miami needs a true big who can grab boards and protect the rim, it’ll be hard to say no to a guy like Danilo.

Paul Millsap, on the other hand, will be interesting to see how Miami perceives him at 36.

But either way, it just further proves that Miami has a lot of options.

Could Miami Still Be Eyeing DeMar DeRozan?

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There have been many talks in the past about DeMar DeRozan possibly taking his talents to South Beach. But is there still a possibility?

DeMar has a player option for the last year of his deal, which means he will stay with San Antonio since he will not be passing up on $27.7 Million.

But there’s still a chance Miami could be eyeing him in a trade package. There’s been talks about Miami packaging Kendrick Nunn and Kelly Olynyk to try and get a guy like Victor Oladipo, but what if they did the same with DeMar?

This could be a one year rental before he hits free agency in 2021, which Miami will be going hard at Giannis Antetokounmpo. But why not try to make another run at the NBA finals, with as much talent as possible.

Obviously there are cons to doing this. For one, you’re giving up a young project in Kendrick Nunn for DeMar for only one year. It’s very possible though since Pat Riley is constantly in win now mode.

Another con is that they’re not bringing in the same defensive specialist as they would with Victor Oladipo, but DeMar is so talented it may not matter.

Three-point shooting would not be ideal as well, since Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and DeMar DeRozan would be sharing the floor. But it may not matter since they have Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro, who can keep the shooting afloat alone.

There are also a bunch of pros to this as well. Adding a natural scorer like DeMar may not be the worst thing in the world. He averaged 22 points a game this past season, and is absolutely deadly from the mid-range. And since Miami’s three point shooting last season was off the charts, adding some offensive flavor may work out well.

Another reason that these talks have occurred this season is that Jimmy Butler is close with DeMar. And after watching what Jimmy had to do with the offense in the NBA finals, it would’ve been nice for DeMar to take some weight off of him.

Obviously, once again, this is all speculation and it may not be the best overall fit for this team, but there’s always a chance for Pat Riley to make a win now move since Jimmy Butler isn’t getting any younger.

Would a big three of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and DeMar DeRozan make some noise in this upcoming season?

I believe so.

Is Serge Ibaka the Best Big Man Option For This Heat Team?

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There are a bunch of possible options for Miami to take a look at in free agency, when discussing possible big men to pair with Bam Adebayo. And the more you look into it, the more Serge Ibaka makes sense.

It truly seems as if all of Serge’s strengths are the things that can help Bam out. For one, Serge has a very respectable three ball, which gives Bam the spacing that he needs. He’s also a great offensive rebounder and shot blocker, which are two things that would be great to take a bit of weight off of Bam’s shoulders. And third, he’s a player that thrives with his back to the basket, which is obviously the opposite of what Bam likes to do.

Bam also fills a bunch of holes in Ibaka’s game, most importantly the play-making side of things. He hasn’t been the best play-maker throughout his career, and it’s clear with Bam that’s not an issue.

Serge Ibaka ran most of his offense through the pick and roll in Toronto this season, but he had some of his most inefficient numbers through that. And since Bam is one of the league’s best screen setters, that’s also not an issue.

Either way, let’s take a deeper look at how he helps Miami right now.

Spacing

The spacing on the floor is what stands out most when discussing Serge, since he can stretch the floor and allow Bam to run the offense from the elbow. One of the main reasons the starting lineup with Meyers Leonard worked so well was that the offense ran so fluid due to spacing. So imagine replacing Meyers Leonard with the same type of floor spacer, but who can rebound and defend.

The spacing does not just improve because Serge can shoot the three ball, it’s also because he has a great feel for the game. He knows how to find dead-spots in the offense, usually right outside of the paint on the baseline. This spacing once again means that Bam can continue to utilize his spots at the free thow line, with the option of dishing it low to Ibaka for a layup.

His touch around the rim allows him to utilize his floater in the paint area, which is something he usually goes to off of the pick and roll. All of these things just show that he can really help their offensive flow, which isn’t even the reason for adding him to the team.

Offensive Rebounding

Serge definitely brings rebounding on the defensive end as well, but the offensive rebounds stand out more. He’s one of the best bigs in the league with put-backs and activity around the rim. That’s also a game changer when thinking about the Los Angeles Lakers match-up in the finals when offensive rebounding was an issue. If you had Serge on the floor, that might’ve forced Dwight Howard to play more minutes, which would’ve been beneficiary for Miami.

One of the major keys as well when discussing rebounders is giving their team extra possessions. One way to do that is by being able to utilize tap outs. Serge is very crafty with doing that, which consequently allowed Toronto many extra possessions.

And most of the time when he would grab an offensive rebound or attempt a put-back, he’d end up at the free throw line. Getting opposing bigs in foul trouble could become crucial, due to the fact that Miami would have a major height advantage with these two talented bigs.

Post-Ups

As mentioned before, Bam does not feel comfortable with his back to the basket. And well, Serge Ibaka is a terrific post-player who likes to play physical. And it’s clear that Miami likes players who play physical. I believe Miami could run a lot of things through him in the post when Bam Adebayo is on the bench.

And as mentioned previously, he wasn’t great this year off the pick and roll. But something I noticed down the stretch of the season, is that he would dribble the ball once and get into post position every time after rolling to the basket. That’s because he has the ability to get to his spots that he feels comfortable. This led to the pick and roll becoming much more efficient.

This gives Miami’s play-makers a bunch of options between their bigs on pick and rolls. Bam can be the threat above the rim, while Serge can be the outside threat who can also get to his spot on the box.

Rim Protection

Serge may not be the same rim protector that he once was, but he’d still be a huge factor. Sometimes a rim protector shouldn’t be labeled as a guy who gets blocks, but instead a guy who forces misses around the rim. And that’s exactly what he does, since he’s very comfortable when defending around the rim. This also allows Bam to play even more perimeter defense, which is another positive aspect.

It would also be interesting to see how the zone defense would work with these two, because I believe that would be an absolute problem for opposing offenses. Bam continuing to run across the floor per usual when in the zone, but not having to worry about the paint as much. Serge also has the ability to be mobile when in the zone, which is something that could definitely be useful.

All of these things are just extra proponents of why this Serge Ibaka signing would be so great for Miami. Although there are a bunch of options, none of them seem to have the ability to fit in immediately on both sides of the floor. He’s clearly a Miami Heat type player, who knows what it takes to win.

If Miami could pull off this signing, this Heat team would be an absolute problem for opposing teams in the East this upcoming season.

Two Possible Miami Heat Draft Selections

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The NBA Draft process is clearly going to be different this year due to the unique circumstances, but it may benefit the Miami Heat.

Since Free Agency opens up before the draft, this allows them to try and make their moves, and they can fill holes in the draft afterward. And this is also predicated on Miami keeping the 20th pick in the draft, since it’s very possible that they trade it.

But if they do elect to keep their pick, it seems as if their two options are a defensive guard and a true big man.

If Miami grabs a big man in free agency, that means that they will go for the defensive guard, which I believe Tyrese Maxey will be at the top of that list.

He’s a great on-ball defender with a ton of speed and great at attacking the basket. It’s very clear that Miami could use a speedy defender to take on some of these guard match-ups, and he’s shown that he can be that guy. He also brings intensity on that end of the floor, which I’m sure has caught the eye of some people in the Miami Heat organization.

He’s also a very clever play-maker, especially when gets out onto the open floor. Usually when speedy guys at his age get onto the open floor, they’re not good decision makers. But, Tyrese has shown that he is, which is pretty impressive for a guy at his age.

And he’s just a natural scorer. He has shown throughout this past season that he’s very comfortable with the ball in his hands when trying to make a play. He can score at all three levels as well, which makes him very intriguing.

But, the only issue I see with this pick is that he’s not a true point guard. And since Miami has their future 2 guard in Tyler Herro, that position isn’t available. I do believe though that he has the ability to become a point guard if he came to Miami, since he already has the play-making down.

Another issue that people mention is that he’s a streaky scorer. While that may be partly true, that was what people said about Tyler Herro when he entered the draft, which is why I don’t believe that to be important. And he has very fluid shot mechanics, which is another reason this is not a huge issue.

And by the way, he’s a Kentucky Wildcat. That should tell you automatically that he will be a guy they’re looking at.

I do believe that if Tyrese Maxey is still on the board among the rest of the guards, Miami will take him. But what about if they need a big man?

There are a ton of big men in this draft class, especially late, but the only issue is that most of them are all undersized. And that’s exactly what Miami doesn’t need.

That is why I believe that Miami could make another unexpected pick and take Vernon Carey Jr.

And even Vernon Carey Jr is undersized for the center position, but his big frame allows him to play much bigger than 6’10.

He has a lot of the things that Miami needs in a big man. He plays very physical and thrives when he puts his back to the basket, due to his solid footwork in the post. Miami definitely needs a true big, which is why I believe he’s the guy that can absolutely develop in Miami’s system.

He’s a solid rebounder as well, mostly because he’s very crafty at boxing out opponents and getting position. This is another thing Miami could use, since they need a big that can rebound. He may not be the most elite rim protector, but his outstanding anticipation allows him to get blocks at the rim.

When people discuss Vernon Carey Jr’s downfall, it usually has something to do with his weight, since there’s questions about durability. Well, what better place to come to when trying to fix that, since they will get him in Miami Heat shape in no time.

He also has a bunch of ties to South Florida since that’s where he grew up and went to high school, which is another reason I know Miami has eyes on him.

Obviously there’s still uncertainty if Miami will elect to keep this 20th pick, but if they do, I believe that these two will be at the top of their list based off need.

A Kentucky Wildcat and a Duke Blue Devil at the top of Pat Riley’s list.

Well, that’s interesting.

A Possible Miami Heat Reunion: The Perfect Fit

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There are many guys on the Heat’s off-season radar right now, since they’re trying to find the right guy to add to this team to try and get this team back to the finals.

When discussing some possible trades, there’s been some big names that have come up including Victor Oladipo. But with that, you are probably going to have to give something up that you don’t want to, and there is uncertainty with his health. There’s also some concern about his actions in the playoffs when he lost to the Miami Heat.

Is he a Miami Heat type guy?

Well, there’s another guy that has proven he’s a Miami Heat type guy.

Josh Richardson was obviously included in a package to get Jimmy Butler last year, but it’s definitely not out of the question of a possible return.

I’ve mentioned before that Miami may not need a home-run pick-up this off-season, but instead the perfect fit. Josh is the perfect fit, since he fills the holes on this current team.

He’s a defensive first guard, who also is very capable of scoring the ball. If Miami could use a Josh Richardson to guard a Kemba Walker in a playoff series, that takes such a weight off of Jimmy Butler and others.

He also would not have to play the same role that he played while in Miami before. Instead of running the offense, he would be a facilitator on the wing who can hit the occasional three and attack the rim.

In Philadelphia, he was playing a role that doesn’t fit him well. For one, he was the only shooter on the floor with the starting lineup, which means that he had to carry the load of a role that he’s not extremely comfortable with.

But what would it take to get him to Miami?

Well, that’s not very clear, but it’s expected that it would include Kendrick Nunn, Kelly Olynyk, and the 20th pick. This is the trade that has been discussed with the other big names, but there’s no uncertainty in the player you are receiving when discussing Josh Richardson.

He also has a relationship with a bunch of guys on the roster still, especially Bam Adebayo.

The organization definitely hasn’t forgotten about Josh as well, since he was their second round steal in 2015.

Obviously this is all speculation, but it just seems there’s no better player to add to this team this off-season than Josh Richardson. Having Josh Richardson and Tyler Herro as your starting back-court seems pretty ideal, since Tyler can take the scoring reigns and Josh can take the biggest defensive assignment.

This pick-up makes the most sense for Miami, and also would be great for the individual success of Josh. If Miami could pull this trade off, it would basically mean that they traded Kendrick Nunn and Kelly Olynyk for Josh Richardson and Jimmy Butler, which would once again prove the genius front office of the Miami Heat.