Miami Heat 2023/2024 Training Camp and Regular Season Thread

[gom]

Any Miami 2-way contract can become a regular season contract 2 days before the end of the season without going over the second apron: 1,981,953/174 = 11390 per day. The Heat have $28,840 of space beneath the 2nd apron.

Miami's tax bill is $28,677,903.
Miami's total salary bill is over $209m

Miami's revenue should be about $380m

[twix2500]

Scary to say, but it wouldn’t shock me if Smith is starting opening night if Richardson is out. I’m fairly confident Spo wants Kyle to be part of that second unit, so Dru by default might get the call up.

If he’s legitimately going to stick, he’s going to have to be Gabe like from downtown. Needs to be threat, ideally able to knock it at a better % than Gabe at 33% too.

My issue with Smith is that from what I see, he doesn’t know his limitations at times and displays iffy decision making. Forces it into traffic and gets swatted or throws up a prayer, turnover prone and has an unreliable jumper.

I guess we’ll see. Clearly the team sees something the fans don’t, cause I don’t get it. Would rather see Jaime or Jovic getting reps, even though they’re not fighting for the same positional minutes really.

Observing Dru Smith he does not have to shooting talent. He is not gonna be a guy who stretches the floor. Smith is the Anthony Carter type if you are old enough to remember him. Riley was very found of Carter. Ball handling and hopefully defense is his best potential talent that I can visibly see. He appears to be a better dribbler than Gabe but thats about it

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Kobewade11]

I guess we’ll see. Clearly the team sees something the fans don’t, cause I don’t get it. Would rather see Jaime or Jovic getting reps, even though they’re not fighting for the same positional minutes really. Observing Dru Smith he does not have to shooting talent. He is not gonna be a guy who stretches the floor. Smith is the Anthony Carter type if you are old enough to remember him. Riley was very found of Carter. Ball handling and hopefully defense is his best potential talent that I can visibly see. He appears to be a better dribbler than Gabe but thats about it

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Andre miller

[IceColdCubano]

I guess we’ll see. Clearly the team sees something the fans don’t, cause I don’t get it. Would rather see Jaime or Jovic getting reps, even though they’re not fighting for the same positional minutes really. Observing Dru Smith he does not have to shooting talent. He is not gonna be a guy who stretches the floor. Smith is the Anthony Carter type if you are old enough to remember him. Riley was very found of Carter. Ball handling and hopefully defense is his best potential talent that I can visibly see. He appears to be a better dribbler than Gabe but thats about it

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Andre miller

I wish he was Andre Miller type, he lacks size and body of Andre who was a beast posting up other point guards. Andre Miller had amazing court vision made some great plays off the elbow. He killed point guards on the elbow, forced double often. Yeah Dru is not that.

[MartyConlonJr]

Andre Miller led the league in assists one year, averaging 16.5 ppg, 10.9 apg, getting All-NBA and All-Defensive votes (not making the team though) and was often at the top 20 of the league in steals per game, while getting to the free frow line a lot for a PG. If the comparison of Dru Smith is Andre Miller I would sign him too - or are you only comparing the negative part of Andre Miller (anaemic shooting)?

[eddieheatfan]

Andre Miller led the league in assists one year, averaging 16.5 ppg, 10.9 apg, getting All-NBA and All-Defensive votes (not making the team though) and was often at the top 20 of the league in steals per game, while getting to the free frow line a lot for a PG. If the comparison of Dru Smith is Andre Miller I would sign him too - or are you only comparing the negative part of Andre Miller (anaemic shooting)?

yeah i dont see conclusive evidence that dru is an andre miller type of player

[AirP.]

The last 20 games of the season last year Butler scored just under 26 ppg and his current season high ppg average is 23.9. He's healthier then he was last year at the beginning of the year, shouldn't have to coast while monitoring the knee like he did last year. What would the FO do with the roster before the deadline if Butler is having the best or arguably the season of his career? Would it push the FO to go all in?

[3ammy3uck3ts]

It’s honestly very underrated what Jimmy and Bam have been able to do over the last 4 years with the MASSIVE holes in this roster due to sleepy Pat not being able to get anything done. Like this should be a much bigger topic than it is, it’s baffling they’ve had the team in the positions it’s been in and have had the success they’ve had as a team surrounded by scrubs.

[eddieheatfan]

It’s honestly very underrated what Jimmy and Bam have been able to do over the last 4 years with the MASSIVE holes in this roster due to sleepy Pat not being able to get anything done. Like this should be a much bigger topic than it is, it’s baffling they’ve had the team in the positions it’s been in and have had the success they’ve had as a team surrounded by scrubs.

i agree but bam should do more this year. he has to be more consistent around the midrange and rim and defend much better but that also depends on how spo uses him. would be interesting to see him play when paired with bryant

[dean456]

Can already see it now, Love and Lowry going to start the season while JRich and Highsmith are out and we are going to start the season 8-7 or something and then we going to make a lineup adjustment that we should have made from the start.

Rotation to start the season will be.

Lowry/Smith/JRich (inj)/Hampton
Herro/Robinson/Swider
Butler/Jaquez/Cain
Love/Martin/Jovic/Highsmith(Inj)
Bam/Bryant/Robinson

By the end of the year the rotation needs to be.

JRich/Lowry/Hampton/Smith
Herro/Jaquez/Robinson
Butler/Martin/Cain
Highsmith/Jovic/Swider/Love
Bam/Bryant/Robinson

Surround Herro with defensive players and allow Bam and Jimmy to not be forced to do everything to cover for guys in the starting lineup then have Lowry organise the bench unit and prepare guys like Jaquez and Jovic to play the right way so they can be relied on come playoff time.

Close games with Herro, Jaquez, Butler, Martin, Bam

[MartyConlonJr]

Kyle Lowry and Kevin Loves stats as reserves vs starters last year were significant in terms of how much better they were as reserves, whether from a team record, +/- or individual player stats perspective. I really thought I'd see the numbers refute it but they don't. I expected Love's shooting, ability to sink into the background and outlet passes would suit the starters, but no.

[Kobewade11]

Andre Miller led the league in assists one year, averaging 16.5 ppg, 10.9 apg, getting All-NBA and All-Defensive votes (not making the team though) and was often at the top 20 of the league in steals per game, while getting to the free frow line a lot for a PG. If the comparison of Dru Smith is Andre Miller I would sign him too - or are you only comparing the negative part of Andre Miller (anaemic shooting)?

The comparison was more about his style and pace, he has an old man game. I didn’t mean to make ICC or anyone else jump out the window thinking he had the same ceiling.

[dean456]

It’s honestly very underrated what Jimmy and Bam have been able to do over the last 4 years with the MASSIVE holes in this roster due to sleepy Pat not being able to get anything done. Like this should be a much bigger topic than it is, it’s baffling they’ve had the team in the positions it’s been in and have had the success they’ve had as a team surrounded by scrubs.

It honestly feels like since the Waiters, J.Johnson, Whiteside era Pat and Co. just has a hard stance against journeyman and won't sign or trade for anyone unless they are a superstar difference maker (which has been impossible with our assets) or a veteran who has a reputation for being a high character guy. Lowry, Iggy, Tucker, Love, Dipo but everyone of those players are also one foot into retirement whenever we get them.

We just won't make a move for any complimentary guys unless they fit that mould. I really hope we can make a move with Lowry's salary at the deadline to get guys that are considered vets but also are able bodied that can help this team win games.

[dolphinatik]

Head Scratcher on signing Dru Smith. Does not look like he would make any NBA roster tbh. Bouyea id trust in a game. RJ Hampton whats the status on that? He looks more like a guy who belongs and someone worth developing and pushing the limits of. Swider I like . Cain we can pass on.


They are trying to hold onto his for a shot next year. Next year is too late.

[iamoti]

I will not jump into conclusions regarding Dru Smith. I trust the organization. We can always wave him if it doesn't work out.

[AirP.]

Head Scratcher on signing Dru Smith. Does not look like he would make any NBA roster tbh. Bouyea id trust in a game. RJ Hampton whats the status on that? He looks more like a guy who belongs and someone worth developing and pushing the limits of. Swider I like . Cain we can pass on.


They are trying to hold onto his for a shot next year. Next year is too late.

Dru Smith was signed because the roster is lopsided with only a soon to be 38-year-old Lowry being the other PG on the roster which is a failure of the FO not having or just not executing a plan B if they didn't get Lillard.

Dru Smith is seen as a PG who Spoelstra can trust running the offense, upside there's not a whole lot there but he's there not make mistakes, not to make plays. He has a contract where they could cut him with a minimal impact to the tax, so if they can make a trade where they get 1 or 2 more players back then sending out which I would expect this FO would do to even out the roster.

[twix2500]

It’s honestly very underrated what Jimmy and Bam have been able to do over the last 4 years with the MASSIVE holes in this roster due to sleepy Pat not being able to get anything done. Like this should be a much bigger topic than it is, it’s baffling they’ve had the team in the positions it’s been in and have had the success they’ve had as a team surrounded by scrubs.

It honestly feels like since the Waiters, J.Johnson, Whiteside era Pat and Co. just has a hard stance against journeyman and won't sign or trade for anyone unless they are a superstar difference maker (which has been impossible with our assets) or a veteran who has a reputation for being a high character guy. Lowry, Iggy, Tucker, Love, Dipo but everyone of those players are also one foot into retirement whenever we get them.

We just won't make a move for any complimentary guys unless they fit that mould. I really hope we can make a move with Lowry's salary at the deadline to get guys that are considered vets but also are able bodied that can help this team win games.

Been saying it for years. The Heat do not give up assets (picks) for role players.

This is a team that traded Eddie Jones expiring contract for Antoine Walker, James Posey and White Chocolate. Likely hoping to do the same with Lowry

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[AirP.]

Just looking around the league at higher level players that could become available this season one situation and trade seems to stand out which is Dallas with Kyrie Irving who is a proven playoffs scorer. With all the teams that should be better than Dallas this year, they need to turn Irving into a younger scorer to go with Doncic, basically resetting their future. If Miami could make a trade package somewhat like Herro and Robinson for Kyrie and another player (possibly Miami can get more assets), Miami could get some cap savings, get the proven playoff scoring PG they desperately need and move Richarson to starting SG to help strengthen the starter's defense while moving Lowry to a backup role, allow his contract to expire and resign/extend Martin.

Basically, going from...
Starters: Lowry, Herro, Butler, Love and Bam.
Bench: Martin, Richardson, Jaquez Jr, Bryant, Highsmith, Robinson, Smith and Jovic.

To
Starters: Irving, Richardson, Butler, Love and Bam.
Bench: Lowry, Martin, Jaquez Jr, Bryant, Highsmith and Jovic and possibly another player.

Basically, Miami would be getting say 90% Lillard's scoring talent, a proven playoff scorer and with him being a couple years younger on a much cheaper trade package.

It's possible that if Herro takes a leap and is efficient enough that Miami keeps him off the table or Kyrie looks to be dropping off at age 31 that it doesn't makes sense for Miami, but Kyrie has been hovering around a scoring efficiency of 60% TS% for the last 6 seasons while scoring around 26 points per game.

Wouldn't mind seeing Philly get desperate enough to do a Lowry + a couple of assets for Harden swap to let Miami keep Herro.

Read on Twitter

[IceColdCubano]

Just looking around the league at higher level players that could become available this season one situation and trade seems to stand out which is Dallas with Kyrie Irving who is a proven playoffs scorer. With all the teams that should be better than Dallas this year, they need to turn Irving into a younger scorer to go with Doncic, basically resetting their future. If Miami could make a trade package somewhat like Herro and Robinson for Kyrie and another player (possibly Miami can get more assets), Miami could get some cap savings, get the proven playoff scoring PG they desperately need and move Richarson to starting SG to help strengthen the starter's defense while moving Lowry to a backup role, allow his contract to expire and resign/extend Martin.

Basically, going from...
Starters: Lowry, Herro, Butler, Love and Bam.
Bench: Martin, Richardson, Jaquez Jr, Bryant, Highsmith, Robinson, Smith and Jovic.

To
Starters: Irving, Richardson, Butler, Love and Bam.
Bench: Lowry, Martin, Jaquez Jr, Bryant, Highsmith and Jovic and possibly another player.

Basically, Miami would be getting say 90% Lillard's scoring talent, a proven playoff scorer and with him being a couple years younger on a much cheaper trade package.

It's possible that if Herro takes a leap and is efficient enough that Miami keeps him off the table or Kyrie looks to be dropping off at age 31 that it doesn't makes sense for Miami, but Kyrie has been hovering around a scoring efficiency of 60% TS% for the last 6 seasons while scoring around 26 points per game.

Wouldn't mind seeing Philly get desperate enough to do a Lowry + a couple of assets for Harden swap to let Miami keep Herro.

Read on Twitter

I don't believe Miami would trade Herro for Irvin at this point in time, their looking at problably restarting their timeline using Herro and Bam after Jimmy expires. Their best bet is either using Duncan and couple assets or Lowry and Assets those are the things to get moved if at all. My guess is they want some salary relief so theyll hold on to Lowry and let him expire.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

It’s honestly very underrated what Jimmy and Bam have been able to do over the last 4 years with the MASSIVE holes in this roster due to sleepy Pat not being able to get anything done. Like this should be a much bigger topic than it is, it’s baffling they’ve had the team in the positions it’s been in and have had the success they’ve had as a team surrounded by scrubs.

i agree but bam should do more this year. he has to be more consistent around the midrange and rim and defend much better but that also depends on how spo uses him. would be interesting to see him play when paired with bryant

I think we’ll see an increase in scoring efficiency in the areas you pointed out, as for the best defender in the world needing to be much better defensively, I don’t know about that lol