2024-25 Regular Season Thread Vol. 3

[3ammy3uck3ts]

We are trying to incorporate Bam more offensively, but hes just not that guy. His ball handling under pressure is pretty bad. To be able to operate at a high level, you got to have that ball on a string. The awkward turnovers under any type of pressure arent goinng to improve at this point.

Now, imagine Butler seeing that and having the ball taken out of his hands for that result. I think his ego cant handle watching inefficient plays in others when hes proven he can handle that load well.

We are going to tank/treadmill until guys are being played in their best roles. Unfortunately, we dont have that alpha scorer who eases others burdens. Its still a stars league.

This is why I think Bam ultimately gets traded here. The run and dunk man thing doesn’t play well in your 30s when you have no bag. Bam has looked like a fish out of water in the new offense. Struggling to really do anything well, and looks extremely uncomfortable on offense. I’m not opposed to Miami legitimately trying to tank the rest of the season, and moving Bam over the summer.

If that’s the goal we need to go ahead and trade him to somewhere like OKC or SA for a plethora of picks, we tank while he wins a championship and turns those teams into dynasties. Over the years he’s been one of the few players that actually impacts winning, the other one just asked for a trade. The team defense will plummet and we don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with that so we’ll tank pretty quick

[HeatIn5]

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Great, this is just going to drag on if so. Pat probably wants an all star 2 young prospects and 5 1sts and teams are probably offering salary filler

It’s an easy fix just don’t trade him. Any serious team that Jimmy would like to sign with will have to acquire him via SNT anyways if he opts out. Miami isn’t competing this year or the next despite what they may say publicly about that. There is no rush to move Jimmy. Just keep suspending him if he wants to behave like a clown while under contract.

The WORST THING that Miami can do is take on more salary past 26 in any deal involving Jimmy. They would be better off just letting him hang out at home. If the NBA gets upset because one of their most marketable stars on one of their most marketable teams isn’t playing basketball, just remind them that this issue likely doesn’t exist if the NBA didn’t decide to selectively get involved with the Lillard situation because they didn’t want to see Miami get their way.

Your second paragraph x100000000000000

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

Great, this is just going to drag on if so. Pat probably wants an all star 2 young prospects and 5 1sts and teams are probably offering salary filler

It’s an easy fix just don’t trade him. Any serious team that Jimmy would like to sign with will have to acquire him via SNT anyways if he opts out. Miami isn’t competing this year or the next despite what they may say publicly about that. There is no rush to move Jimmy. Just keep suspending him if he wants to behave like a clown while under contract.

The WORST THING that Miami can do is take on more salary past 26 in any deal involving Jimmy. They would be better off just letting him hang out at home. If the NBA gets upset because one of their most marketable stars on one of their most marketable teams isn’t playing basketball, just remind them that this issue likely doesn’t exist if the NBA didn’t decide to selectively get involved with the Lillard situation because they didn’t want to see Miami get their way.

Their goal is to win, can’t do that with $50M in dead weight. They need to accumulate assets for Fox and get a solid starter in the same deal

[3ammy3uck3ts]

You all think we’re going to be able to attract players in 2026 if we play the Jimmy thing wrong AND send out Bam? Who are guys going to want to come play with? The young guys are decent but they all cap out at role player ceilings, none of them will be all stars. Herro hasn’t shown he can impact winning and in the playoffs he’s been hurt or stinking it up, I don’t think guys will be flocking to play with him. We’ve had guys who want to play with Bam (Dame, Mitchell, KD, Kyrie, Fox, etc) but that goes out the window when you trade him

[AirP.]

If Jimmy wants to be mad at another person, perhaps it should be his buddy Kyle Lowry. Lowry was 35 when he signed his Heat deal, and proceeded to fall off a cliff essentially from the second he signed it. Is it any wonder that Heat management may be second guessing a 4/200 extension?

I would’ve thought opting in for 50m next season and negotiating a 2/80 extension or something would’ve been a pretty fair outcome. Hell, look at Paul George this season after signing his deal - he has been trash too.

There's some context to that Lowry signing.

1. The reasons for some cap space in 2021 was because of the FO's plan to go after Giannis, they said no to CP3 the summer of 2019 because he wouldn't turn down his player option that summer (which he did because he played so well), the FO let Crowder who just started in the Finals for Miami to walk because he wanted a multi-year deal (which also went into the Giannis free agency) which is what I think is happening with Butler with a 2026 plan for a ton of space to go hunting. Yes, they did placate to Butler because honestly, there weren't really any other options that free agent class which is in #2.

2. Who else were they going to get? If you remember, there wasn't much in that FA class which included Lonzo Ball which people did like but were worried because New Orleans had no issue letting him walk when it looked like his 3ball was getting better, some info came out they were worried about his health which ended up being right.

3. Miami got in a bidding war for Lowry with New Orleans who just let Ball walk for nothing. After having to add a 3rd year Miami and the price kept going up they probably should have just bowed out or had been 100% in with we're utilizing his last year as an expiring contract (whiche ended up happening, just not for a good player).

I'll say this again, the FO may think Butler is worth that extension because of his work habbits and his type of game but 2026 is set up to be a reset for Miami, without Butler's contract they can have tons of cap space and may have just good value contracts to make a huge pivot to the next real build. Where Miami screwed up was thinking Butler would be good playing out these last 2 seasons to keep Miami competitive to this pivot, if I can see this pivot based on contracts, I'm sure his agent saw it to, not sure the players care too much about that.

[Beenie]

Offseason trade (shell)

Bam
Jovic
Duncan

To Sac for

Sabonis
Devin Carter
Murray

Bam reunited with his Kentucky buds and keeps Fox happy and content

Mia gets Anthony Carters son who happens to be a perfect defensive fit next to Herro

They also get Murray who can positionally replace Jimmy, and Sabonis who they could either keep or flip for draft comp. If they keep, I could actually see Spo playing him with Ware.

[MettaWorldPanda]

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[AirP.]

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Great, this is just going to drag on if so. Pat probably wants an all star 2 young prospects and 5 1sts and teams are probably offering salary filler

Of course, Miami has to not pull the trigger quick, let the offers go up. Once they decided they weren't going to extend them they should have decided to trade him for future pieces and more importantly, don't tell him to shut his mouth through the media, do that in person privately... but then move him.

Miami needs draft assets and salaries that either end the summer of 2026 or players on rookie contracts who will have low cap holds like Jovic for that summer. Miami can make a strong pivot in the summer of 2026.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Read on Twitter

Great, this is just going to drag on if so. Pat probably wants an all star 2 young prospects and 5 1sts and teams are probably offering salary filler

It’s an easy fix just don’t trade him. Any serious team that Jimmy would like to sign with will have to acquire him via SNT anyways if he opts out. Miami isn’t competing this year or the next despite what they may say publicly about that. There is no rush to move Jimmy. Just keep suspending him if he wants to behave like a clown while under contract.

The WORST THING that Miami can do is take on more salary past 26 in any deal involving Jimmy. They would be better off just letting him hang out at home. If the NBA gets upset because one of their most marketable stars on one of their most marketable teams isn’t playing basketball, just remind them that this issue likely doesn’t exist if the NBA didn’t decide to selectively get involved with the Lillard situation because they didn’t want to see Miami get their way.

Their goal is to win, can’t do that with $50M in dead weight. They need to accumulate assets for Fox and get a solid starter in the same deal

It would be almost 100 million in dead weight adding Rozier and Duncan. How can any team operate like this?

[MettaWorldPanda]

Spo was honestly better off staring Love again. He’s washed but allows Bam to play more comfortable. Ware and Jovic are just a better mix.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

I was one of the few in here who was arguing against what Dame was doing despite still wanting him here obviously. Its bush league and I'm tired of players pulling this kind of crap. So personally I'd be thrilled if the Heat finally set a precedent of teams saying "**** YOU" to this sort of behavior, and **** them over right back. Keep him suspended, all we need is the expiring, we don't care about a couple second round picks or whatever he'd bring back.

Then, let it spread to the rest of the league, and end this insufferable era of player entitlement. No other professional league has the players routinely demanding teams to trade them to their preferred destinations, or even making trade demands period. I'm getting sick of how player centric the NBA has become, its a league now where the player fans have more to root for than the team fans do in many cases.

[AirP.]

Read on Twitter

Memphis...
Smart - contract runs out 2026.
Kennard - expiring.
Clarke - Only 12.5 mil in 2026, hurts the pivot in 2026 but not too much, they might be able to move that contract for an expiring.
Konchar - Only 6.1 mil in 2026, same as Clarke, could be moved for more cap space in 2026.

I think a package of these guys, plus some type of draft asset(s) is acceptable to Miami currently but will wait to see if they can get a better offer. You have your point of attack defender in Smart, a solid versatile big in Clark, a 3pt shooter in Kennard which they could give a 1+1 (team option they can decline in 2026) and maybe a decent rotation guy in Konchar.

[RexBoyWonder]

This has the look of a team that just misses the playoffs and finishes with the 13th pick that then coughs up the 2026 and 2028 unprotected. Keep that 48 million wasted at home and don’t get any type of reinforcements and this will be the end result.

I wouldn't stress about our situation half as much if we didn't own those 2 picks.

I'd be down for playin g the kids, missing the playoffs for a couple of years and adding 2-3 high lottery picks and build the next great Heat team.

But our pick debt can basically become my worst nightmare - having a subpar team missing the playoffs and then losing a high pick in 2026 to OKC and to Hornets in 2028. We have to get into the playoffs this year, by all means. If we don't - I chit you not - we'll be in the worst situation we have ever been as an organization.

Giving up an UNPROTECTED pick for Terry Rozier was beyond stupid, it really is a fireable offense for any GM in the league.

[greg4012]

Offseason trade (shell)

Bam
Jovic
Duncan

To Sac for

Sabonis
Devin Carter
Murray

Bam reunited with his Kentucky buds and keeps Fox happy and content

Mia gets Anthony Carters son who happens to be a perfect defensive fit next to Herro

They also get Murray who can positionally replace Jimmy, and Sabonis who they could either keep or flip for draft comp. If they keep, I could actually see Spo playing him with Ware.

Pairing 2 bigs that can't defend in space and can only run with slow-footed centers. What could go wrong?

[contract]

Read on Twitter

Great, this is just going to drag on if so. Pat probably wants an all star 2 young prospects and 5 1sts and teams are probably offering salary filler

Of course, Miami has to not pull the trigger quick, let the offers go up. Once they decided they weren't going to extend them they should have decided to trade him for future pieces and more importantly, don't tell him to shut his mouth through the media, do that in person privately... but then move him.

Miami needs draft assets and salaries that either end the summer of 2026 or players on rookie contracts who will have low cap holds like Jovic for that summer. Miami can make a strong pivot in the summer of 2026.

Setting your house on fire and then trying to get a good price for it usually doesn't work. Letting it burn for a while isn't likely to produce better results. Everyone already knows what they are willing to give up for Jimmy. Making him available for fewer games isn't going to increase his value. The blood is in the water. Everyone knows our situation.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Read on Twitter

Memphis...
Smart - contract runs out 2026.
Kennard - expiring.
Clarke - Only 12.5 mil in 2026, hurts the pivot in 2026 but not too much, they might be able to move that contract for an expiring.
Konchar - Only 6.1 mil in 2026, same as Clarke, could be moved for more cap space in 2026.

I think a package of these guys, plus some type of draft asset(s) is acceptable to Miami currently but will wait to see if they can get a better offer. You have your point of attack defender in Smart, a solid versatile big in Clark, a 3pt shooter in Kennard which they could give a 1+1 (team option they can decline in 2026) and maybe a decent rotation guy in Konchar.

This was the deal i had pegged a few days ago until the Konchar jokes started flying around lol. For matching purposes this is what lines up. I think it’s possible to flip Clarke and Konchar or even Kennard to another team. Maybe get a Bruce Brown expiring but ideally Brandon Ingram comes in

[AirP.]

Then, let it spread to the rest of the league, and end this insufferable era of player entitlement. No other professional league has the players routinely demanding teams to trade them to their preferred destinations, or even making trade demands period. I'm getting sick of how player centric the NBA has become, its a league now where the player fans have more to root for than the team fans do in many cases.

I think it's purely financial right now. As Butler continues to get older it's going to be harder for him to maximize his pay before he can't play anymore which is why he wanted an extension this last season, it would have been removing his PO and adding 2 seasons at big money, basically just 1 extra year then he could have now BUT this would have that money on Miami's books in 2026 which is set up for a great pivot which he obviously doesn't care about but Miami does, so he asks to be traded to someone who will give him the money, they said no which may cost him millions because it's much easier to get an extra year or 2 at 34 (which he was this summer) vs 36 (after he played out his option), so he said he's going to opt out in hopes he can still get the most money he can make.

So basically, Miami wanted to just pay Butler well until their pivot point which is 100% what they should do but once Butler said he wanted to be traded to try to get more money past 2026 they should have moved him. Miami, Riley thought hey, he has to play great to get another contract, but every year that goes by that potential drops.

So when Ethan says it's about money, it is, he's just not saying Miami wanted to use him up (which costs Butler money long-term because he'll get less the older he gets to signing his next contract) and then let him hit the open market much older. It's a good idea for the FO, not so good to do with someone who has options, the same options Miami utilizes to get players to force their way to Miami.... THIS is why it's different for Miami vs basically everyone else and why Paul Pierce is right. The highest level players who can go basically anywhere will take this in consideration, everyone else probably not, money talks. When people talk about contracts and how much money max players get... they get the max, even though they may be worth more, but there's a ceiling of what they can get, the max is to help TEAMS out, not the players.

[Beenie]

I was one of the few in here who was arguing against what Dame was doing despite still wanting him here obviously. Its bush league and I'm tired of players pulling this kind of crap. So personally I'd be thrilled if the Heat finally set a precedent of teams saying "**** YOU" to this sort of behavior, and **** them over right back. Keep him suspended, all we need is the expiring, we don't care about a couple second round picks or whatever he'd bring back.

Then, let it spread to the rest of the league, and end this insufferable era of player entitlement. No other professional league has the players routinely demanding teams to trade them to their preferred destinations, or even making trade demands period. I'm getting sick of how player centric the NBA has become, its a league now where the player fans have more to root for than the team fans do in many cases.

Port lied time and again to Dame about the direction of the team and allegedly told him when they negotiated his last contract with them that they would do right by him in sending him to the destination that he’d be happy with if things didn’t work out.

Mia allegedly told Jimmy that the vision was to add another star to the team when they initially courted him.

I don’t blame the player who eventually crashes out on the team when the team failed to deliver on promises made to the player

[MettaWorldPanda]

This team is so soft. Talk chit about Marcus Smart all you want but he brings back a dog element this team is so sorely lacking. Also think he’ll do alot of non box score chit here to bring back life to this group.

[RexBoyWonder]

Since when 2026 became 2010?

What great free agents are you expecting us to sign into cap space?

Name names