Miami Heat Off-season Thread 9.0 - Dame’s BBW Edition

[CrossOver]

For the 9th in a row, Goran Dragic hosted his training camp in Lasko, Slovenia, and had an opportunity to talk with the local media.

The 37-year-old was asked about his future in the NBA and a team he would like to join. Dragic didn't hide that the Miami Heat would be his favorite landing spot.

"The main desire is to return to Miami," siol.net quotes Dragic. "Now everyone is waiting for Damian Lillard to decide where he will go next, so everyone is off to a low start. When this is known, the movement for the other players will open as well."

"We are in talks with a few clubs, but much more will be known in a few days when the news will be released. You will see," he added.

Dragic also named the main reasons for his wish to return to the Heat.

"My home is in Miami, I have both children who go to school there. It really all works out. I spent the best seven years of my career there, and I think returning to Miami would be the icing on the cake. That would really be something phenomenal. We'll see," Dragic said.

"It is necessary to understand that the NBA is a business, that only the results count in the end. It's really been a phenomenal season for Miami, they reached the finals, and now they've already changed half the team. It's a harsh reality that basketball players in the NBA know well. Today you can be in Miami, tomorrow somewhere in Memphis, that's just the way it is," he added.

https://basketnews.com/news-192028-goran-dragic-wants-to-return-to-miami-heat.html

[MettaWorldPanda]

Want Gogi back without question even if it’s just in a third PG role to bring along Bouyea. If we can stash UD for all those years we can do the same with Gogi

[greg4012]

For the 9th in a row, Goran Dragic hosted his training camp in Lasko, Slovenia, and had an opportunity to talk with the local media.

The 37-year-old was asked about his future in the NBA and a team he would like to join. Dragic didn't hide that the Miami Heat would be his favorite landing spot.

"The main desire is to return to Miami," siol.net quotes Dragic. "Now everyone is waiting for Damian Lillard to decide where he will go next, so everyone is off to a low start. When this is known, the movement for the other players will open as well."

"We are in talks with a few clubs, but much more will be known in a few days when the news will be released. You will see," he added.

Dragic also named the main reasons for his wish to return to the Heat.

"My home is in Miami, I have both children who go to school there. It really all works out. I spent the best seven years of my career there, and I think returning to Miami would be the icing on the cake. That would really be something phenomenal. We'll see," Dragic said.

"It is necessary to understand that the NBA is a business, that only the results count in the end. It's really been a phenomenal season for Miami, they reached the finals, and now they've already changed half the team. It's a harsh reality that basketball players in the NBA know well. Today you can be in Miami, tomorrow somewhere in Memphis, that's just the way it is," he added.

https://basketnews.com/news-192028-goran-dragic-wants-to-return-to-miami-heat.html

Love this.

Bolded is fascinating wording. Is Miami communicating confidence to Goran that a deal is imminent?

Bring him home and keep him here with a role in the organization upon retirement.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Dragic is our Luka plug, get it done. Would love for him to win a championship here

[CrossOver]

For the 9th in a row, Goran Dragic hosted his training camp in Lasko, Slovenia, and had an opportunity to talk with the local media.

The 37-year-old was asked about his future in the NBA and a team he would like to join. Dragic didn't hide that the Miami Heat would be his favorite landing spot.

"The main desire is to return to Miami," siol.net quotes Dragic. "Now everyone is waiting for Damian Lillard to decide where he will go next, so everyone is off to a low start. When this is known, the movement for the other players will open as well."

"We are in talks with a few clubs, but much more will be known in a few days when the news will be released. You will see," he added.

Dragic also named the main reasons for his wish to return to the Heat.

"My home is in Miami, I have both children who go to school there. It really all works out. I spent the best seven years of my career there, and I think returning to Miami would be the icing on the cake. That would really be something phenomenal. We'll see," Dragic said.

"It is necessary to understand that the NBA is a business, that only the results count in the end. It's really been a phenomenal season for Miami, they reached the finals, and now they've already changed half the team. It's a harsh reality that basketball players in the NBA know well. Today you can be in Miami, tomorrow somewhere in Memphis, that's just the way it is," he added.

https://basketnews.com/news-192028-goran-dragic-wants-to-return-to-miami-heat.html

Love this.

Bolded is fascinating wording. Is Miami communicating confidence to Goran that a deal is imminent?

Bring him home and keep him here with a role in the organization upon retirement.

COuld be Miami or it could be his agent getting wind of stuff. Goran's agent also reps Simons from POR so he has relationships with POR FO.

[SoFlaKingReal]

don’t give me hope Goran

[twozeroMM]

I hope our boy Gogi is right.

[SoFlaKingReal]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[MorbidHEAT]

For the 9th in a row, Goran Dragic hosted his training camp in Lasko, Slovenia, and had an opportunity to talk with the local media.

The 37-year-old was asked about his future in the NBA and a team he would like to join. Dragic didn't hide that the Miami Heat would be his favorite landing spot.

"The main desire is to return to Miami," siol.net quotes Dragic. "Now everyone is waiting for Damian Lillard to decide where he will go next, so everyone is off to a low start. When this is known, the movement for the other players will open as well."

"We are in talks with a few clubs, but much more will be known in a few days when the news will be released. You will see," he added.

Dragic also named the main reasons for his wish to return to the Heat.

"My home is in Miami, I have both children who go to school there. It really all works out. I spent the best seven years of my career there, and I think returning to Miami would be the icing on the cake. That would really be something phenomenal. We'll see," Dragic said.

"It is necessary to understand that the NBA is a business, that only the results count in the end. It's really been a phenomenal season for Miami, they reached the finals, and now they've already changed half the team. It's a harsh reality that basketball players in the NBA know well. Today you can be in Miami, tomorrow somewhere in Memphis, that's just the way it is," he added.

https://basketnews.com/news-192028-goran-dragic-wants-to-return-to-miami-heat.html

The possibility of this not happening is completely unacceptable.

[Vertical Limit]

Would be great if goran were to come back and we win a championship with him on the team.. one of the best trades the Heat has ever made..

[greg4012]

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I don't know anything about this dude. But, I do believe Miami should be looking to the OKC leftovers for the next few years for cheap developmental prospects that they can add into the pipeline as future role players. OKC will be dealing with a constant roster crunch and talented young players will be tossed aside.

We might be able to find some more Caleb Martins that way.

[dean456]

You know the answer--Bam and Jimmy are foundational pieces of this team and neither are true 3-point shooters. We need that floor to stay spaced out. Adding Dame would obviously be a perfect fit, but I don't want to put the near full burden of floor spacing on him. Why not have more?

Duncan's a true movement shooter that can get off contested 3s and forces the defense to stick to him beyond the 3 point line. No one else on the hypothetical roster would have that skillset--which Spo is fantastic at utilizing.

I know Duncan has had his stretches of stinking it up, but I'm a believer that his shooting woes have been more mental than anything else. I firmly believe Duncan is one of the best pure shooters in the NBA (esp when accounting for movement shooting and contested shots).

I will not think twice about it if Duncan is shipped off in the deal. But, if the end result is that the deal gets done and we keep Duncan, I firmly believe he will prove to be a useful part of the rotation. Strus is gone. I'm getting hopeful that Drew Peterson has next, but I don't expect him to be ready this season. Give Spo (and Bam) a good movement shooter and it's just another fruitful lever for the offense.

Butler can shoot 3s but since he's turned into a main option and playmaker he's looked for others to do that, if Lillard ends up in Miami, Butler is no longer the main option or playmaker and with that will have to shoot more 3s in a supporting role of Lillard's so I expect that to happen. Bam is a different story, he could start shooting 3s and be good enough if shooting while wide open but I wouldn't bet on him shooting 3s quite yet. Richardson can hit 3s and play defense, I expect if Robinson stays around he's probably no longer starting.

What's going to be interesting is that some player's we're not expecting are going to get the green light to jack some 3s to see if this freedom helps their scoring efficiency. I think Richardson, Cain and Highsmith see a nice uptick in their 3pta rates.

Peterson may be the next guy Miami decides to develop but he's not going to be ready this season. I expect a more rounded 3pt attack this year although some will shoot more than others of course.

Unless Robinson is hitting at a good rate of 3s... say over 38%, he'll be an overall negative for the team. 38% puts him right around league average for scoring and he's still a negative on defense.

Spacing spacing spacing.

None of those dudes are the same quick trigger out deep. It's a different element that Duncan and Strus both provided upon running routes along the floor causing defensive movement and attention. Spo would say the same.

It doesn't have to be Duncan, but I'm unsure of the other guys on our roster doing it (maybe Love minus the half-court route running but I expect his minutes to be very managed). It could even be a vet min add like Terrence Ross. It's just a helpful skillset to keep in the rotation as another form of generating offense--pin downs, DHOs, etc.

It is what it is. It's ok if we see it differently.

I agree with you, I also think with Herro on the way out Robinson has a more solidified role with this group. Once Tyler moved to the starting lineup, it made more sense to roll with Strus off the bench because Robinson generated a lot of his offense running two man game with Bam.

Duncan's shooting got worse because of getting more attention and getting in his head but I also think its also due to who has been controlling the ball the last few seasons. Lowry and Herro just aren't good primary ball handlers to have to generate open looks for guys. I think this is why our shooting looked so much better once Jimmy took over the primary ball handling duties in the playoffs for the most part.

In 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, When Nunn and Dragic were running the point Duncan shot 44% and 40% from 3
Then in 2021-2022 when Lowry took over it dipped to 37% and when Tyler became the starter it dipped to 32%

I think the biggest reason for the decline was the rim pressure, the 2019-2021 teams put way more pressure on the rim which forced defenses to help and allowed us to move the ball much better. With Dame on board we should be able to get back to this level of ball movement again.

Dragic even last season averaging 15mpg playing with MIL and CHI only shot 18 less FGAs at the rim then Lowry did averaging 31mpg for us. Adding Dame, Dragic and Bouye as our PG rotation should have a positive impact on our rim pressure and ball movement if Lowry and Herro are on the move.

[IceColdCubano]

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[AirP.]

Spacing spacing spacing.

None of those dudes are the same quick trigger out deep. It's a different element that Duncan and Strus both provided upon running routes along the floor causing defensive movement and attention. Spo would say the same.

It doesn't have to be Duncan, but I'm unsure of the other guys on our roster doing it (maybe Love minus the half-court route running but I expect his minutes to be very managed). It could even be a vet min add like Terrence Ross. It's just a helpful skillset to keep in the rotation as another form of generating offense--pin downs, DHOs, etc.

It is what it is. It's ok if we see it differently.

Well, his calculated ORTG in the last 3 years shows he's not helping the offense.

Robinson blitzed the league the bubble year because there wasn't much scouting on him at that point and he got the shots how he wanted and, in a groove, that's no longer the case, they're taking some things he liked away which is why he's tried to add to his game the last couple of years and another reason Strus started over him (plus being a better defender).

Here's his calculated ORTG from the Bubble year to now for the regular season, basically it's trying to figure out what his role contributes to the offense in 100 possessions.

season - Robinson's ORTG - NBA average
2020 - 122 - 110.6 (+11.4)
2021 - 113 - 112.3 (+.7)
2022 - 113 - 112.0 (+1)
2023 - 105 - 114.8 (-9.8)

Couple that with his bad defense and it's not a good player for a contender UNLESS you only utilize him here and there in specific roles and with that... vastly overpaid and a bad use of the salary cap. Just look at all the marginal players who have been given scoring roles in Miami and have produced the last 4 years. I expect J.Richardson do way more for Miami next season than Robinson and his great 3pt shot. People need to look around the league, it's changed in the last 10 years, most players can hit 3s, just taking qualified players, 113 players shot 35% or higher from 3pt range last year while taking 3.2 or more 3s per game. Unless you're hitting in 40% or higher, you have to bring something else to the table now.

If Miami wants 3pt specialist, just keep developing them with one of the 3 2-way spots, 1 year on 2-way, first minimum year getting very little play, 2nd minimum year getting a lot more play, 3rd minimum year getting solid production from their role then let him walk and have the next 3pt specialist ready. I'd spend very little money on a 3pt specialist but I would dedicate a development spot for one every single year.

[greg4012]

Spacing spacing spacing.

None of those dudes are the same quick trigger out deep. It's a different element that Duncan and Strus both provided upon running routes along the floor causing defensive movement and attention. Spo would say the same.

It doesn't have to be Duncan, but I'm unsure of the other guys on our roster doing it (maybe Love minus the half-court route running but I expect his minutes to be very managed). It could even be a vet min add like Terrence Ross. It's just a helpful skillset to keep in the rotation as another form of generating offense--pin downs, DHOs, etc.

It is what it is. It's ok if we see it differently.

Well, his calculated ORTG in the last 3 years shows he's not helping the offense.

Robinson blitzed the league the bubble year because there wasn't much scouting on him at that point and he got the shots how he wanted and, in a groove, that's no longer the case, they're taking some things he liked away which is why he's tried to add to his game the last couple of years and another reason Strus started over him (plus being a better defender).

Here's his calculated ORTG from the Bubble year to now for the regular season, basically it's trying to figure out what his role contributes to the offense in 100 possessions.

season - Robinson's ORTG - NBA average
2020 - 122 - 110.6 (+11.4)
2021 - 113 - 112.3 (+.7)
2022 - 113 - 112.0 (+1)
2023 - 105 - 114.8 (-9.8)

Couple that with his bad defense and it's not a good player for a contender UNLESS you only utilize him here and there in specific roles and with that... vastly overpaid and a bad use of the salary cap. Just look at all the marginal players who have been given scoring roles in Miami and have produced the last 4 years. I expect J.Richardson do way more for Miami next season than Robinson and his great 3pt shot. People need to look around the league, it's changed in the last 10 years, most players can hit 3s, just taking qualified players, 113 players shot 35% or higher from 3pt range last year while taking 3.2 or more 3s per game. Unless you're hitting in 40% or higher, you have to bring something else to the table now.

Skillset fit skillset fit skillset fit

Trust me, I'm acutely aware of Duncan's struggles LOL

[greg4012]

Butler can shoot 3s but since he's turned into a main option and playmaker he's looked for others to do that, if Lillard ends up in Miami, Butler is no longer the main option or playmaker and with that will have to shoot more 3s in a supporting role of Lillard's so I expect that to happen. Bam is a different story, he could start shooting 3s and be good enough if shooting while wide open but I wouldn't bet on him shooting 3s quite yet. Richardson can hit 3s and play defense, I expect if Robinson stays around he's probably no longer starting.

What's going to be interesting is that some player's we're not expecting are going to get the green light to jack some 3s to see if this freedom helps their scoring efficiency. I think Richardson, Cain and Highsmith see a nice uptick in their 3pta rates.

Peterson may be the next guy Miami decides to develop but he's not going to be ready this season. I expect a more rounded 3pt attack this year although some will shoot more than others of course.

Unless Robinson is hitting at a good rate of 3s... say over 38%, he'll be an overall negative for the team. 38% puts him right around league average for scoring and he's still a negative on defense.

Spacing spacing spacing.

None of those dudes are the same quick trigger out deep. It's a different element that Duncan and Strus both provided upon running routes along the floor causing defensive movement and attention. Spo would say the same.

It doesn't have to be Duncan, but I'm unsure of the other guys on our roster doing it (maybe Love minus the half-court route running but I expect his minutes to be very managed). It could even be a vet min add like Terrence Ross. It's just a helpful skillset to keep in the rotation as another form of generating offense--pin downs, DHOs, etc.

It is what it is. It's ok if we see it differently.

I agree with you, I also think with Herro on the way out Robinson has a more solidified role with this group. Once Tyler moved to the starting lineup, it made more sense to roll with Strus off the bench because Robinson generated a lot of his offense running two man game with Bam.

Duncan's shooting got worse because of getting more attention and getting in his head but I also think its also due to who has been controlling the ball the last few seasons. Lowry and Herro just aren't good primary ball handlers to have to generate open looks for guys. I think this is why our shooting looked so much better once Jimmy took over the primary ball handling duties in the playoffs for the most part.

In 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, When Nunn and Dragic were running the point Duncan shot 44% and 40% from 3
Then in 2021-2022 when Lowry took over it dipped to 37% and when Tyler became the starter it dipped to 32%

I think the biggest reason for the decline was the rim pressure, the 2019-2021 teams put way more pressure on the rim which forced defenses to help and allowed us to move the ball much better. With Dame on board we should be able to get back to this level of ball movement again.

Dragic even last season averaging 15mpg playing with MIL and CHI only shot 18 less FGAs at the rim then Lowry did averaging 31mpg for us. Adding Dame, Dragic and Bouye as our PG rotation should have a positive impact on our rim pressure and ball movement if Lowry and Herro are on the move.

Great points--I agree. It's all about skillset fits with the role players.

[AirP.]

Spacing spacing spacing.

None of those dudes are the same quick trigger out deep. It's a different element that Duncan and Strus both provided upon running routes along the floor causing defensive movement and attention. Spo would say the same.

It doesn't have to be Duncan, but I'm unsure of the other guys on our roster doing it (maybe Love minus the half-court route running but I expect his minutes to be very managed). It could even be a vet min add like Terrence Ross. It's just a helpful skillset to keep in the rotation as another form of generating offense--pin downs, DHOs, etc.

It is what it is. It's ok if we see it differently.

Well, his calculated ORTG in the last 3 years shows he's not helping the offense.

Robinson blitzed the league the bubble year because there wasn't much scouting on him at that point and he got the shots how he wanted and, in a groove, that's no longer the case, they're taking some things he liked away which is why he's tried to add to his game the last couple of years and another reason Strus started over him (plus being a better defender).

Here's his calculated ORTG from the Bubble year to now for the regular season, basically it's trying to figure out what his role contributes to the offense in 100 possessions.

season - Robinson's ORTG - NBA average
2020 - 122 - 110.6 (+11.4)
2021 - 113 - 112.3 (+.7)
2022 - 113 - 112.0 (+1)
2023 - 105 - 114.8 (-9.8)

Couple that with his bad defense and it's not a good player for a contender UNLESS you only utilize him here and there in specific roles and with that... vastly overpaid and a bad use of the salary cap. Just look at all the marginal players who have been given scoring roles in Miami and have produced the last 4 years. I expect J.Richardson do way more for Miami next season than Robinson and his great 3pt shot. People need to look around the league, it's changed in the last 10 years, most players can hit 3s, just taking qualified players, 113 players shot 35% or higher from 3pt range last year while taking 3.2 or more 3s per game. Unless you're hitting in 40% or higher, you have to bring something else to the table now.

Skillset fit skillset fit skillset fit

Trust me, I'm acutely aware of Duncan's struggles LOL

Go get some vet to do that then for way less money. The issue, Miami is locked in with Robinson because they overpaid him and would have to send him out as a negative asset. I get why he's around, but it doesn't make him a positive player for the roster, he just can help somewhat. Let me utilize his money elsewhere and I'll live with someone like Mychal Mulder in his place (just some 3pt specialist that isn't that good).

[IceColdCubano]

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[dean456]

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God screw all these Boston dweebs man. This dude doesn't even know what the offer is and is making definitive statements on it.

I need this deal to happen with us keeping Caleb and Jaquez just so Heat fans can have a field day with these Boston losers.

[greg4012]

Well, his calculated ORTG in the last 3 years shows he's not helping the offense.

Robinson blitzed the league the bubble year because there wasn't much scouting on him at that point and he got the shots how he wanted and, in a groove, that's no longer the case, they're taking some things he liked away which is why he's tried to add to his game the last couple of years and another reason Strus started over him (plus being a better defender).

Here's his calculated ORTG from the Bubble year to now for the regular season, basically it's trying to figure out what his role contributes to the offense in 100 possessions.

season - Robinson's ORTG - NBA average
2020 - 122 - 110.6 (+11.4)
2021 - 113 - 112.3 (+.7)
2022 - 113 - 112.0 (+1)
2023 - 105 - 114.8 (-9.8)

Couple that with his bad defense and it's not a good player for a contender UNLESS you only utilize him here and there in specific roles and with that... vastly overpaid and a bad use of the salary cap. Just look at all the marginal players who have been given scoring roles in Miami and have produced the last 4 years. I expect J.Richardson do way more for Miami next season than Robinson and his great 3pt shot. People need to look around the league, it's changed in the last 10 years, most players can hit 3s, just taking qualified players, 113 players shot 35% or higher from 3pt range last year while taking 3.2 or more 3s per game. Unless you're hitting in 40% or higher, you have to bring something else to the table now.

Skillset fit skillset fit skillset fit

Trust me, I'm acutely aware of Duncan's struggles LOL

Go get some vet to do that then for way less money. The issue, Miami is locked in with Robinson because they overpaid him and would have to send him out as a negative asset. I get why he's around, but it doesn't make him a positive player for the roster, he just can help somewhat. Let me utilize his money elsewhere and I'll live with someone like Mychal Mulder in his place.

I don't like Duncan's contract either. But, if he stays, I see a better opportunity for him to contribute and be a valued part of the rotation than he has been for the past couple seasons. Mulder doesn't seem to be a NBA player tho. I mentioned Terrence Ross as someone who could potentially serve a similar role.