Miami Heat Regular Season/Speculation Thread 2021 Part 3

[carnageta]

That 6-game losing streak was bs. We should have gone like 3-3 in that stretch.. would have had us well placed into the 4th spot at 29-22, with just a couple games behind Milwaukee for 3rd.

I don't think being a Heat fan is good for your long term health. Too much stress and chest pains you have to deal with for two-thirds of the year.

[Bishop45]

This word comes from the Miami Herald, a highly respected source.

Spoiler:

Find a chair so you don't fall over, Wiltside.

It’s whale season again, and here’s why Miami Heat landing Kawhi Leonard could happen | Opinion

[spoiler]By Greg Cote
April 07, 2021 01:00 PM



Kawhi Leonard to the Miami Heat.

How’s that for getting right to the point?

Kawhi Leonard to Miami demands a question mark at the moment, but that could turn to an exclamation point by this summer if the smoke we’re seeing becomes a fire involving the Heat.

This is what sports has become. How it has evolved through the years for both fans and media. It’s less and less about what is and more and more about what’s next. The result of a given game is seldom as big or important as where your team is headed. In the draft. In trades. In free agency.

What’s next? As players broker increasing power, and more so in the NBA than in other sports, the landscape is in constant flux. Smart teams (or lucky ones) are one seismic move from instant relevance and championship contention.

So: Leonard to the Heat. It exists for now in that murky world where rumor and speculation are in a Petri dish and might or might not grow into eventual truth. But the possibility of it, the plausibility of it, is so tantalizing as to demand a public airing.

It is the whim of one player from happening. From giving Miami a Big 3 era 2.0 with Kawhi, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

It feels like there could be a legit chance this time.

Heat president Pat Riley, at 76, is cast in this drama as Santiago, the fisherman in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” Santiago was obsessed with a giant marlin. Riley prefers whales.

We have seen in recent years his lines cast in expeditions involving Kevin Durant and then James Harden and then (until he signed an extension with Milwaukee) Giannis Antetokounmpo. But Miami landing those whales never seemed likely.

Now feels different.

Leonard is in his second season with the Los Angeles Clippers but has a player-opt allowing him to become a free agent this summer. The Clippers fizzled in the playoffs last season and Leonard’s chemistry with Paul George has not always seemed a great fit. If LAC fails again to make a title run there is talk Kawhi might leave.

Writer Evan Massey of NBA Analysis Network quoted an agent saying Leonard would be “intrigued” by Miami.

“Joining forces with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo is something [Leonard] would absolutely have interest in,” said that source.

On the “Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz” this Tuesday (with me on as guest co-host), ESPN NBA insider Amin Elhassan said of Leonard-to-Miami: “It’s logical that he would explore that option.”

Leonard is a tier-1 superstar in his prime at 29, a 6-7 forward averaging 25.8 points and shooting almost 40 percent on 3’s. A five-time all star. Two-time champion. Twice the Defensive Player of the Year.

He also is a selfless star all about winning, a dovetail fit for Heat Culture. He just watched Butler, Adebayo and a strong supporting cast reach the NBA Finals while his own team, an assembly of B-listers after Leonard and George, fell short.

Leonard has wanted to play with Butler — tried to recruit him for the Clippers in the summer of ‘19. Only when Butler signed with Miami did Leonard turn sights to George.

Miami swung a trade-deadline deal to land Victor Oladipo, a nice, sizable fish but far from the whale Leonard is. And with Oladipo able to leave after this season in free agency, Miami expects to have ample cap space to boat Leonard. Even if Oladipo re-signed there would still be room to sign Leonard and give the Heat a Big 3 1/2.

That, augmented by the likes of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic, would form a roster to make Miami championship-formidable on both ends of the court to a level not seen down here since LeBron James took his talents elsewhere in the summer of 2014.

The Heat hosts the Lakers on Thursday night. No LeBron or Anthony Davis, though; both remain out injured.

Funny enough, LeBron, whose Lakers beat Miami in the 2020 Finals, might have a role in Leonard opting out and maybe joining the Heat. It could happen if Leonard continues to see LeBron and A.D. as a championship roadblock for him and George — but thinks he would have a better title shot with Butler and Bam, et al.

It is far from inconceivable. Anything less than a Clippers championship could set the wheels in motion.

It is out there, that giant whale, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Miami. Can’t see it, yet, but it is out there.

Full Article

I hope you all have enjoyed this article as much as I did. And please, remember to visit the author's site.

Crude game you're playing with Wilt's emotions,

[IggieCC]

you broke the thread bish smdh

[IggieCC]

ok fixed. please proceed with caution when you use a spoiler tag on a post with a spoiler tag, bad things happen

Spoiler:

[IggieCC]

it's interesting that Kawhi's camp leaked a damage control article about how he's widely expected to resign barring dramatic turn of event. dramatic turn of event = less than championship yes?

[carnageta]

it's interesting that Kawhi's camp leaked a damage control article about how he's widely expected to resign barring dramatic turn of event. dramatic turn of event = less than championship yes?

[Wiltside]

This word comes from the Miami Herald, a highly respected source.

Spoiler:

Find a chair so you don't fall over, Wiltside.

It’s whale season again, and here’s why Miami Heat landing Kawhi Leonard could happen | Opinion

[spoiler]By Greg Cote
April 07, 2021 01:00 PM



Kawhi Leonard to the Miami Heat.

How’s that for getting right to the point?

Kawhi Leonard to Miami demands a question mark at the moment, but that could turn to an exclamation point by this summer if the smoke we’re seeing becomes a fire involving the Heat.

This is what sports has become. How it has evolved through the years for both fans and media. It’s less and less about what is and more and more about what’s next. The result of a given game is seldom as big or important as where your team is headed. In the draft. In trades. In free agency.

What’s next? As players broker increasing power, and more so in the NBA than in other sports, the landscape is in constant flux. Smart teams (or lucky ones) are one seismic move from instant relevance and championship contention.

So: Leonard to the Heat. It exists for now in that murky world where rumor and speculation are in a Petri dish and might or might not grow into eventual truth. But the possibility of it, the plausibility of it, is so tantalizing as to demand a public airing.

It is the whim of one player from happening. From giving Miami a Big 3 era 2.0 with Kawhi, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

It feels like there could be a legit chance this time.

Heat president Pat Riley, at 76, is cast in this drama as Santiago, the fisherman in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” Santiago was obsessed with a giant marlin. Riley prefers whales.

We have seen in recent years his lines cast in expeditions involving Kevin Durant and then James Harden and then (until he signed an extension with Milwaukee) Giannis Antetokounmpo. But Miami landing those whales never seemed likely.

Now feels different.

Leonard is in his second season with the Los Angeles Clippers but has a player-opt allowing him to become a free agent this summer. The Clippers fizzled in the playoffs last season and Leonard’s chemistry with Paul George has not always seemed a great fit. If LAC fails again to make a title run there is talk Kawhi might leave.

Writer Evan Massey of NBA Analysis Network quoted an agent saying Leonard would be “intrigued” by Miami.

“Joining forces with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo is something [Leonard] would absolutely have interest in,” said that source.

On the “Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz” this Tuesday (with me on as guest co-host), ESPN NBA insider Amin Elhassan said of Leonard-to-Miami: “It’s logical that he would explore that option.”

Leonard is a tier-1 superstar in his prime at 29, a 6-7 forward averaging 25.8 points and shooting almost 40 percent on 3’s. A five-time all star. Two-time champion. Twice the Defensive Player of the Year.

He also is a selfless star all about winning, a dovetail fit for Heat Culture. He just watched Butler, Adebayo and a strong supporting cast reach the NBA Finals while his own team, an assembly of B-listers after Leonard and George, fell short.

Leonard has wanted to play with Butler — tried to recruit him for the Clippers in the summer of ‘19. Only when Butler signed with Miami did Leonard turn sights to George.

Miami swung a trade-deadline deal to land Victor Oladipo, a nice, sizable fish but far from the whale Leonard is. And with Oladipo able to leave after this season in free agency, Miami expects to have ample cap space to boat Leonard. Even if Oladipo re-signed there would still be room to sign Leonard and give the Heat a Big 3 1/2.

That, augmented by the likes of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic, would form a roster to make Miami championship-formidable on both ends of the court to a level not seen down here since LeBron James took his talents elsewhere in the summer of 2014.

The Heat hosts the Lakers on Thursday night. No LeBron or Anthony Davis, though; both remain out injured.

Funny enough, LeBron, whose Lakers beat Miami in the 2020 Finals, might have a role in Leonard opting out and maybe joining the Heat. It could happen if Leonard continues to see LeBron and A.D. as a championship roadblock for him and George — but thinks he would have a better title shot with Butler and Bam, et al.

It is far from inconceivable. Anything less than a Clippers championship could set the wheels in motion.

It is out there, that giant whale, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Miami. Can’t see it, yet, but it is out there.

Full Article

I hope you all have enjoyed this article as much as I did. And please, remember to visit the author's site.

Crude game you're playing with Wilt's emotions,

Feel like pure chit just want Kawhi in SoBe with YIMMY.

[wadenation305]

I just came to a very scary realization..... When Riley retires Spo will be the GM.... game over, he's going to hire only people 6'3 and shorter

I always assumed that they have been grooming Battier for the role.

And if Elisburg stays on after Riles splits, he'll likely have a bigger role.

I really hope so, I would not like to see spo as gm at all

[JLop]

it's interesting that Kawhi's camp leaked a damage control article about how he's widely expected to resign barring dramatic turn of event. dramatic turn of event = less than championship yes?

It is strange that several hours later an article appears on this website that says: "Kawhi Leonard 'Widely Expected' To Re-Sign With Clippers." I also noticed that it was written by Sam Amick from Northern California, as can be clearly seen on his Twitter account. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Twitter Account




The article says Leonard "has been given considerable leeway by the franchise in terms of his work load and even where he lives." Amick doesn't even mention anything about winning. It almost sounds like an ad paid for by the Clippers and sponsored by the Lakers. One of the best players to ever play basketball and in the midst of his prime is seen by this article as a spoiled player who doesn't mind winning and just wants to live in Los Angeles.

[JLop]

This word comes from the Miami Herald, a highly respected source.

Spoiler:

Find a chair so you don't fall over, Wiltside.

It’s whale season again, and here’s why Miami Heat landing Kawhi Leonard could happen | Opinion

By Greg Cote
April 07, 2021 01:00 PM



Kawhi Leonard to the Miami Heat.

How’s that for getting right to the point?

Kawhi Leonard to Miami demands a question mark at the moment, but that could turn to an exclamation point by this summer if the smoke we’re seeing becomes a fire involving the Heat.

This is what sports has become. How it has evolved through the years for both fans and media. It’s less and less about what is and more and more about what’s next. The result of a given game is seldom as big or important as where your team is headed. In the draft. In trades. In free agency.

What’s next? As players broker increasing power, and more so in the NBA than in other sports, the landscape is in constant flux. Smart teams (or lucky ones) are one seismic move from instant relevance and championship contention.

So: Leonard to the Heat. It exists for now in that murky world where rumor and speculation are in a Petri dish and might or might not grow into eventual truth. But the possibility of it, the plausibility of it, is so tantalizing as to demand a public airing.

It is the whim of one player from happening. From giving Miami a Big 3 era 2.0 with Kawhi, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

It feels like there could be a legit chance this time.

Heat president Pat Riley, at 76, is cast in this drama as Santiago, the fisherman in Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” Santiago was obsessed with a giant marlin. Riley prefers whales.

We have seen in recent years his lines cast in expeditions involving Kevin Durant and then James Harden and then (until he signed an extension with Milwaukee) Giannis Antetokounmpo. But Miami landing those whales never seemed likely.

Now feels different.

Leonard is in his second season with the Los Angeles Clippers but has a player-opt allowing him to become a free agent this summer. The Clippers fizzled in the playoffs last season and Leonard’s chemistry with Paul George has not always seemed a great fit. If LAC fails again to make a title run there is talk Kawhi might leave.

Writer Evan Massey of NBA Analysis Network quoted an agent saying Leonard would be “intrigued” by Miami.

“Joining forces with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo is something [Leonard] would absolutely have interest in,” said that source.

On the “Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz” this Tuesday (with me on as guest co-host), ESPN NBA insider Amin Elhassan said of Leonard-to-Miami: “It’s logical that he would explore that option.”

Leonard is a tier-1 superstar in his prime at 29, a 6-7 forward averaging 25.8 points and shooting almost 40 percent on 3’s. A five-time all star. Two-time champion. Twice the Defensive Player of the Year.

He also is a selfless star all about winning, a dovetail fit for Heat Culture. He just watched Butler, Adebayo and a strong supporting cast reach the NBA Finals while his own team, an assembly of B-listers after Leonard and George, fell short.

Leonard has wanted to play with Butler — tried to recruit him for the Clippers in the summer of ‘19. Only when Butler signed with Miami did Leonard turn sights to George.

Miami swung a trade-deadline deal to land Victor Oladipo, a nice, sizable fish but far from the whale Leonard is. And with Oladipo able to leave after this season in free agency, Miami expects to have ample cap space to boat Leonard. Even if Oladipo re-signed there would still be room to sign Leonard and give the Heat a Big 3 1/2.

That, augmented by the likes of Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic, would form a roster to make Miami championship-formidable on both ends of the court to a level not seen down here since LeBron James took his talents elsewhere in the summer of 2014.

The Heat hosts the Lakers on Thursday night. No LeBron or Anthony Davis, though; both remain out injured.

Funny enough, LeBron, whose Lakers beat Miami in the 2020 Finals, might have a role in Leonard opting out and maybe joining the Heat. It could happen if Leonard continues to see LeBron and A.D. as a championship roadblock for him and George — but thinks he would have a better title shot with Butler and Bam, et al.

It is far from inconceivable. Anything less than a Clippers championship could set the wheels in motion.

It is out there, that giant whale, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Miami. Can’t see it, yet, but it is out there.

Full Article

I hope you all have enjoyed this article as much as I did. And please, remember to visit the author's site.

Crude game you're playing with Wilt's emotions,

It takes a mastermind to know another. While you can see through that veil, luckily neither Wiltside nor IggieCC understand mind games.

Spoiler:

[JLop]

This word comes from the Miami Herald, a highly respected source.

Spoiler:

Find a chair so you don't fall over, Wiltside.

I hope you all have enjoyed this article as much as I did. And please, remember to visit the author's site.

Crude game you're playing with Wilt's emotions,

Feel like pure chit just want Kawhi in SoBe with YIMMY.

Even the most conservative Miami Heat fans want to see Leonard on our team. Believe me when I tell you that you are not alone in this.

[JLop]

Like I been saying over and over , we are not going anywhere unless we start catching WHALES. We are wasting prime Jimmy B by catching sardines and sardines on steroids. There I said it.

I have always shared that same belief. The only thing missing from our team that we really want is a whale, not just any whale, and Pat Riley is never shy when those rare opportunities come.

[dubasilva]

Like I been saying over and over , we are not going anywhere unless we start catching WHALES. We are wasting prime Jimmy B by catching sardines and sardines on steroids. There I said it.

I have always shared that same belief. The only thing missing from our team that we really want is a whale, not just any whale, and Pat Riley is never shy when those rare opportunities come.

I agree. I love Bam and his defensive skills, but without a second Whale, it is not going to happen. I actually doubt we get to the East Conference Finals.

[rate_]

Hope Bam begins working on his threes in the offseason. He has a pretty good form, I think he can hit those with regularity. This would allow the Heat to explore more big lineups and not have to worry about lack of spacing as much. Since he is on the books for another 5 seasons, it would make sense to do it right away.

[3ballbomber]

It's seriously too early for this sh*t. I'm still putting my heart together after the entire Giannis anticipation.

Not holding my breath. I'll wish Khawi success in LA & hope we're blessed w/ a big signing in the offseason.

This word comes from the Miami Herald, a highly respected source.

It’s whale season again, and here’s why Miami Heat landing Kawhi Leonard could happen | Opinion

By Greg Cote
April 07, 2021 01:00 PM

[SA37]

Spoiler:

Don't disagree. Everything positive I implied about what Dedmon could bring this year is just me being overly/unrealistically optimistic. I just wanted to clarify that before last year he was not the player HerroBalls was implying he was. But trust me, I'm aware Dedmon's role will almost certainly be as an emergency big like you are saying.

I think we have fallen in love with small ball too much. I agree w the poster that didn't think Olynyk was easily dispensable w our current roster.

That poster was me I don't remember anyone else really sharing that sentiment.

I completely agree on the small ball; I forget the exact stats, but Miami is ~top-10 in 3pt attempts and in the bottom 3rd in percentage.

I'm definitely not a fan of Olynyk. He was frustratingly inconsistent and I don't care what stats he's putting up on Houston's garbage team. Dipo was averaging 20, 5, 5 there. But it seems we had no backup plan to add a big that could play next to Bam besides hoping Aldridge picked us over LA and Brooklyn.

We had a 7.5 mill trade exception from the Memphis trade we simply let expire. I get we wanted Ariza bc he "fits our system," but it seems it could have been used to make sure we secured Aldridge instead (by combining it w Leonard's contract).

Or I don't know if it's possible if we could have used Leonard's contract instead of Maple D's to facilitate the Dipo trade. Regardless of how i feel about Kelly, he at least brought some size and was one of the somewhat limited number of bigs that could play next to Bam.

Olynyk is an inconsistent player; had he been a more consistent player, he'd basically be another Davis Bertans and would command a lot more than 150% or so of the MLE.

My understanding is Bjelica was acquired with the TPE you mentioned. Unfortunately, you cannot combine other players with a TPE to make a trade (this is why Miami couldn't acquire PJ Tucker, who was making ~$600k too much).

I am not an Oladipo fan. I know a lot of people are really high on him, but I just don't think he is a difference maker. That said, he is an asset that could eventually help facilitate a trade if he doesn't ever become the player people thought he might become pre-injury.

Miami made good trades and is better for it. I still think Miami is betting it can sign K Lowry and combine Iguodala and Dragic's contracts next season and add Bradley Beal or Karl Anthony Towns, with Beal being the most likely to be available.

And if you have ever seen my posts on Dipo pre-trade you'd know I was not high on him. A torn quad is actually a worse injury than a torn ACL. He has said his quad muscles in that leg are still somewhat atrophied, but that's one of the serious complications of that injury. It is not not easy to restrengthen the muscle, and recovery is far from guarenteed.

That's an interesting take on his quad. I have no idea what kind of long-term issues one might have from that kind of injury, but it is curious that you say it is not easy to restrengthen the muscle when it is such a large muscle and it would seem like an easy muscle to strengthen through squats and deadlifts + quad-specific exercises on machines. Can you explain a bit more why that is such an issue?

[RexBoyWonder]

Dipo has been very inefficient for 2 years since that injury, so I don't know why people were expecting that would change.

I was down on Dipo the entire year, but 2 factors made me excited about his potntial addition :

1) The priced we paid was laughable. Kelly is a nice player but he's a non factor for Spo in the playoffs.

2) Dipo did show signs of life lately. looking at his splits, In march in particular, he averaged :

37 minutes per game
25.5 points per game

55.3 TS%

Not a huge sample size, and not prime Harden efficiency, BUT - that's a very respectable offensive production considering the team he played for.

He can score a lot, and on a good team you have to hope he can up his efficiency some while lowering his usage.

The potential is there, he just showed it a month ago.

[Bishop45]

Hope Bam begins working on his threes in the offseason. He has a pretty good form, I think he can hit those with regularity. This would allow the Heat to explore more big lineups and not have to worry about lack of spacing as much. Since he is on the books for another 5 seasons, it would make sense to do it right away.

I don't care about having another big on the floor; Bam's size and mobility is what makes him great at the 5.

Bam needs to shoot to higher his ceiling as an offensive/max player

[twix2500]

Curious if the Heat give Dedmon some burn today? Lakers are an inferior team that has bigs that he can matchup with.

[twix2500]

I think we need to give Herro some Props for his play lately. Since the trade deadline Tyler Herro been averaging 18 pts, 3.6 ast, 40% 3pt%, 48% FG%, 62% TS%