RealGM

By Ira Winderman
South Florida Sun Sentinel | Mar 27, 2021 at 11:40 AM


Pat Riley’s trades at the NBA deadline have received the formal seal of approval from Jimmy Butler.

But that doesn’t mean the Miami Heat’s leading man also did not have some regrets.

As the Heat moved on to New York in advance of Monday night’s game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Butler offered his perspectives on the deals that delivered Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets and Nemanja Bjelica from the Sacramento Kings.

“I think both of those help us in diversified ways,” Butler said. “Obviously, putting the ball into the basket, spacing the floor, they’re able to get their own shot. And we’ll [be] able to do a lot of switching [defensively] with both of those guys.

“Can’t wait for them to get here, to introduce them to the squad, the culture, and get this team back on track, because we’ve got a lot more basketball to play.”

The Heat are expected to practice for the first time with the newcomers on Sunday.

While Butler views Oladipo as an upgrade, he also spoke of the Heat moving on from Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, Moe Harkless and Chris Silva.

“I mean, he’s a hell of a player in this league. We know that,” Butler said of Oladipo. “And I respect those guys that went out a lot, as well. Been in the trenches with those guys, KO and AB, Chris, those guys.

“I’m definitely staying in touch with those guys, because I got a lot of respect, because I was in the trenches with ‘em, went through the season together. Now we’re bringing in two other guys, it’s going to be the same way.”

While Riley compared Bjelica’s ability to space the floor from the power rotation to what Olynyk had achieved, Butler urged perspective, after developing a strong bond with Olynyk’s playing style.

“I don’t like the comparison between individuals,” he said. “I like Belly, I do. I get to work on my Serbian speaking with him. And I did play with him in Minny, obviously. And he spaces the floor. He can create his own shot. He does a lot of things well. He definitely does.

“I think that JB-KO connection is a thing of the past. I’d tell Kelly all the time, I said to him yesterday, how much I respect him and how much I appreciate him.”

When the Heat integrated Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder into their playoff rotation after their additions at the 2020 trade deadline, there was the four-month pandemic break to allow for acclimation. This time, it will have to happen in the midst of a highly compacted scheduled.

“We will,” Butler said. ’'Basketball is basketball. Everybody runs the same sets, plays, spacing, pace. Whatever you want to call it. They’ll get in there, they’ll fit right away, move the ball, guard, get out in transition. That’s basketball.”

Heat center Bam Adebayo said what Oladipo delivers can be quickly assimilated.

“[It] makes another playmaker, another shot creator, so that’s good for us,” he said. “And Belly’s another spacer.

“I feel like they have the mentality, the attitude where they’re not going to skip a beat. They’re going to come right in and contribute.”

With Goran Dragic having missed the past four games due to back spasms, and with Kendrick Nunn now dealing with a sprained right ankle, there may be no option but for Oladipo and Bjelica to hit the ground running.

“They’re going to find their flow,” Adebayo said. “We’re going to look for ‘em, to get ‘em going.”