Miami Heat Speculation Thread - 2020 and beyond...

[Miami590]

Time for us to think realistically. Guys like Ibaka, Grant, Gallo, Woods are highly unlikely to settle for the MLE. They are the top free agents in this weak class. Time to start looking at players like Morris, Baynes, Millsap, etc...

We were interested in Morris before he was traded to the Clippers so he could be a legit option if Crowder walks. If he decides to come back then I wouldn’t mind splitting the MLE between Baynes and Millsap.

[puppa bear]

For the vet min I'd roll the dice on pretty much anyone, Boggie included.

But the chance of him becoming a difference maker here at this stage are non existence. You don't become healthier as you get older, and even healthy boogie was never a winning player TBH. He's slow as ****, very inconsistent with his shot, I don't see it.

We need an efficient, healthy, stable, shooting big. Not a broken former "star" that never won trying to reestablish his value.

We really only need him to be a RS upgrade on Leonard and then more playable during the PO. He won’t be good enough to play irrespective of match-ups. But he may be able to give Bam some mins at PF, or be a better reserve than KO for the 6 mins a game Bam isn’t on the floor. That gives him 10-20 mins max in the PO, assuming he’s up for it.

[AirP.]

I agree w/ the impact Embiid cld have here but I'd prefer us to stay patient w/ the development of Bam. Being so young, only 3yrs in the league & has already elevated his game in that time. I anticipate improvements in his jump shot, which wld further be a game changer & may even develop a 3pt shot. We'd nvr know if we decide to let him go. The plan is building around Bam & having players who further compliments his game. He is absolutely the hub & centerpiece of our team.

I get the plan because it's the logical plan with the current roster but if you look back through history, you basically see the winners having the best 1 or 2 players on the court which Bam more than likely will never be that in a Finals. Embiid could be, Butler could be that also.

I do get the questions on Embiid, I think those questions get fixed on certain teams because of how they operate and to me Miami is one of those teams. Also, Embiid is only 3 years older than Bam.

[DayofMourning]

I've said it before that a locked in Embiid might just be the best in the league. I agree with AirP that he wasn't utilized to the best of his abilities in Philly. He really is a dominant force.

However, Bams my boy. Live and die with him.

[MiamiSun]

Was listening to 5 on the Floor podcast today, They were discussing an interesting trade idea:

Kelly O + Nunn for Josh Richardson who is not happy in Philly

One of the main reasons I liked was that he will be able to lock up Kimba, Kyrie and other elite PG's which we had real trouble with in the playoffs.


Thoughts?

[RexBoyWonder]

Was listening to 5 on the Floor podcast today, They were discussing an interesting trade idea:

Kelly O + Nunn for Josh Richardson who is not happy in Philly

One of the main reasons I liked was that he will be able to lock up Kimba, Kyrie and other elite PG's which we had real trouble with in the playoffs.


Thoughts?

I like Rich, good guy and player.

But I'm not sure how he fits :

Herro,
Jimmy
Duncan
Bam

Those 4 should all be starters, I'm not sure Rich should be the 5th guy to put in this lineup. He can probably guard PG's, but he's not a creator, and we'll be really small if we don't add a big next to Bam.

Also Nunn could be kept if we add a max player next year, when Rich would have to be moved. (Nunn a much lower cap hold).

[lastb1ckman]

Was listening to 5 on the Floor podcast today, They were discussing an interesting trade idea:

Kelly O + Nunn for Josh Richardson who is not happy in Philly

One of the main reasons I liked was that he will be able to lock up Kimba, Kyrie and other elite PG's which we had real trouble with in the playoffs.


Thoughts?

To be honest, I love the idea of him coming back. He's still bleeds Heat Culture, would address our point of attack D woes, and we wouldn't be forced to fit him into a number 1 option role. Plus, as opposed to DJJ, he brings some shooting when on the floor.

[Beenie]

Richardson is a better player than Nunn (present tense) but I'm not sure that the team would be better off with him over Nunn.

Nunn is the better ball handler which is an area that the team overall lacks in and for that reason, I favor Nunn over J-Rich.

[RonaldSeikaly]

Was listening to 5 on the Floor podcast today, They were discussing an interesting trade idea:

Kelly O + Nunn for Josh Richardson who is not happy in Philly

One of the main reasons I liked was that he will be able to lock up Kimba, Kyrie and other elite PG's which we had real trouble with in the playoffs.


Thoughts?

I listened to the same podcast. Love the idea of bringing Richardson back but where I’ll disagree with them is i only see him as a starter if we start with a traditional big lineup. We need two good wing defenders, so if our 4 is a wing (say crowder or okapala) then JRich comes off the bench. If we have a traditional center power forward (like when we were starting meyers and bam) then Richardson makes sense over Herro.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AirP.]

He seems to be moving fine, doubt there are any worries for next season.

[3ballbomber]

I agree w/ the impact Embiid cld have here but I'd prefer us to stay patient w/ the development of Bam. Being so young, only 3yrs in the league & has already elevated his game in that time. I anticipate improvements in his jump shot, which wld further be a game changer & may even develop a 3pt shot. We'd nvr know if we decide to let him go. The plan is building around Bam & having players who further compliments his game. He is absolutely the hub & centerpiece of our team.

I get the plan because it's the logical plan with the current roster but if you look back through history, you basically see the winners having the best 1 or 2 players on the court which Bam more than likely will never be that in a Finals. Embiid could be, Butler could be that also.

I do get the questions on Embiid, I think those questions get fixed on certain teams because of how they operate and to me Miami is one of those teams. Also, Embiid is only 3 years older than Bam.

I agree for the most part but not necessarily every winner. If that was the case Miami should have won vs Mav in 2011. Miami should have won against Spurs in 2014 (who knows what happens if Ray Allen missis that 3 in gm6 the yr prior). Cavs shld have beaten GSW in 2015. La should've won vs Celts in 2008. Several other examples.

We were also 2 gm's away frm winning vs Lakers. Depleted & banged up, we took LA to 6gm's. Who knows what results cld have been if Goran & Bam were 100%. Sometimes it's the best teams that wins. We currently have that winning, team oriented formula that can potentially beat the best 1-2 punch. Imagine we had Ibaka & Gallo for the finals, even w/out Goran & a less than 100% Bam i think we cld have won against LA who have the best 2 players in the series in Lebron & AD.

You can buck trends, but it takes something extraordinary....i believe we possess that special quality. Evident in the way we were able to beat the 1st (w/ the league MVP) & 3rd seed to advance to the finals & then compete vs West top team as a depleted unit.

I also wouldn't count out Bam being 1 of the best 2 players if we reach the finals. Who knows what level he takes his game in the next few seasons. Remember he was our 2nd leading scorer going into the finals. Pair him with a solid big & consider improvements in his jumpshot & it could help to elevate his game further...

[3ballbomber]

It's confirmed he wants a change. If he truly wants a ship over money we have a great shot.

Read on Twitter

https://www.hothothoops.com/2020/10/21/21527514/miami-heat-free-agency-danilo-gallinari-jae-crowder

Do the Heat even view Gallinari as a target anymore, instead hoping that Crowder can become a more consistent 3-point shooter and offer the defensive versatility to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo? Or will Miami try to sell Gallinari on a short contract — either a one-year deal or a two-year contract with the second year as a team option — just months after he turned down the same extension Andre Iguodala took?

Miami’s run to the NBA Finals could work in their favor. The 32-year-old said in a recent interview that playing for a championship is more important than a contract.

[3ballbomber]

this podcast doesn't really reveal too much & he's quite vague.

Read on Twitter

When you get towards free agency, what are you looking for from whichever team you end up signing with? What’s on your checklist as a free agent?

DG: I think the best thing about free agency is that, especially in my situation, you have to look at everything. The part I love is that I have the chance to look at everything. Honestly, I don’t have one direction or one thing that I’m looking at. In your career, you can’t be a free agent every year. When it happens, for me, it’s this summer, I want to take my time and look at everything.

This is a chance for you in your early 30s to get a big contract, whether it’s long- or short-term. Are you looking to lock up something long-term coming off the past two healthiest seasons in your career?

DG: That’s definitely a thought. At the same time, because we don’t know and nobody knows the dates, how it’s going to look, and what’s going to happen next season, the long-term is an option, but everything is an option. Of course, the long-term is very good, but at the same time, because of the uncertainty we’re living in, I want to see everything that’s going on.

In an earlier interview on 12th Oct:

Danilo Gallinari talked about his future during the “Festival dello Sport” in Italy:

«Is playing for the NBA Championship more important than a contract?

Yes. At this time, yes. I’m not twenty anymore».

[AirP.]

I agree for the most part but not necessarily every winner. If that was the case Miami should have won vs Mav in 2011. Miami should have won against Spurs in 2014 (who knows what happens if Ray Allen missis that 3 in gm6 the yr prior). Cavs shld have beaten GSW in 2015. La should've won vs Celts in 2008. Several other examples.

Yes, the lesser teams can win from time to time if they get breaks but the majority of the time it doesn't happen.

We were also 2 gm's away frm winning vs Lakers. Depleted & banged up, we took LA to 6gm's. Who knows what results cld have been if Goran & Bam were 100%. Sometimes it's the best teams that wins. We currently have that winning, team oriented formula that can potentially beat the best 1-2 punch. Imagine we had Ibaka & Gallo for the finals, even w/out Goran & a less than 100% Bam i think we cld have won against LA who have the best 2 players in the series in Lebron & AD.

You can buck trends, but it takes something extraordinary....i believe we possess that special quality. Evident in the way we were able to beat the 1st (w/ the league MVP) & 3rd seed to advance to the finals & then compete vs West top team as a depleted unit.

Butler can be one of the best players on the court, it's why I've hated the idea of punting 2 seasons(not being as good as Miami could be) to get to the summer of 2021. Not agreeing with Gallo to a 3 year contract to trade for him may have actually cost Miami a title this year to maintain that cap space. Also if you go back to the game 2 thread in the finals I was disappointed in Butler's performance because I knew he had way more in him and then 2 of the next 4 games he showed that. Anyone that can drop 40 points in one half of an NBA game(which Butler has done) can become one of the best players on the court of a finals as long as he's in his prime. I just wish Butler would keep that scorer's mentality but he normally doesn't.

This finals was one of those finals unique situations, LA had the 2 best players, Miami had probably the next 3-5 best players which really evened the odds. LA should be better next year by having more options to put better teammates around LeBron and A, also LeBron probably has another 2-4 great years left with the amount of money he puts into resting his body after games.

Read on Twitter

I also wouldn't count out Bam being 1 of the best 2 players if we reach the finals. Who knows what level he takes his game in the next few seasons. Remember he was our 2nd leading scorer going into the finals. Pair him with a solid big & consider improvements in his jumpshot & it could help to elevate his game further...

I think Bam can be really good, especially on the defensive end, but he's always going to have a ceiling on the offensive end, he's just not dynamic enough as a scorer at that level. He may add a decent outside shot but I'm pretty sure he'll never be someone you can go to late in the game and expect to win that way because you'll need to improvise some of your offense, possibly Herro gives Miami that in the long term. For Bam to be one of the 2 best players on the court he'd have to face a team with a problem at the center position like Boston had.

[MiamiSun]

Bam has proven that he is the type of player that can win for you at the end of the game on the defensive side. That counts too.

[RexBoyWonder]

It's true - top end talent almost always wins the ship. The teams that has the best player or two best.

An underdog can always have a shot to upset the favorite, but What you want to create when building a team IS TO BECOME THE FAVORITE. So it won't always be an uphill battle like it was this year. When you're lacking in top-end talent, everything is much harder and everyone else needs to play at 110% for you to have a real shot at winning big.

Which means, for this team -

Jimmy - Should ideally be the SECOND best scorer on the team. He's a superstar, but scoring isn't his biggest skill. He's an all around great player, but pure scoring isn't really his mentality, and his skillset requires him to spend a ton of energy to score against good defenses.

Bam - Keeps improving, but realistically should be your THIRD option on championship team. Again, he's not a natural scorer, he'll have a much easier time and could beast if we'll have 2 guys (Jimmy + _____) to take most of the scoring load, then Bam could really pick his spots.

Duncan - is a role player, so he'll feed off the main weapons whoever they are. the more top scorers (willing passers) you have, the better he'll look.

Herro - Still too young, for the next couple of years it's really unfair to expect him to become a consistent 20+PPG playoffs scorer. At this stage he's more of a very dangerous 3rd/4th option on a great team.

Basically going forward to me we really need a guy that can consistently give you 25PPG, so everyone else can settle down to their ideal offensive roles, become as efficient as they could and grow without the pressure to play above their current skillsets.

For example, I know some aren't as high on him as I am, But a Bradley Beal type scorer, who can get you efficient 28 PPG while creating for others (5.8 assists per game last 2 seasons) would make us an offensive juggernaut.

In that scenario I see Jimmy scoring a very efficient 19 PPG, focusing on everything else needed (defense, rebounding, hustling, drawing fouls), Bam feasting when the defenses focus on Beal and Jimmy and start taking a lot of open mid range jumpers, Duncan Getting better looks and draining them, and Herro, while still maturing, becomes a super dangerous ace/6th man/leading bench guy/closer.

Jimmy
Beal
Duncan
Bam

That's the ideal core IMO, in term of fitting skillsets. the 5th guy can either be a KZ type (super long versatile wing/big to help Bam inside) or a versatile guard to help with ballhandling and perimeter defense (Like a J-rich, but we might be too small for those lineups to play heavy minutes).

We probably can't get Beal, but the same principles should work with most elite scorers.

[3ballbomber]

Isn't that what made us such a good team, the fact that on any given night you cld have a different lead scorer. So if we were to add a Bradley Beal type player he won't necessarily be dropping 28ppg on a team like this & nor wld he need to. Would certainly help esp. in those times when we have scoring droughts but we shouldn't depend on that. The way we play & share the ball is what makes us lethal. Having 4-5 players averaging in double digits can be as strong, if not stronger than having a 1-2 punch. It's easier to shut down 2 players than it is 5. Adding another elite player simply compliments the strength we already have.....

Last season wasn't really our true season to contend anyway. We're missing parts & had holes in need of addressing. Yet every round, apart from the 1st, we never had the best talent - but we were able to go deep & then compete against LA. Why? System. We get everybody involved, everybody touches the ball, the ball moves. Teamwork!

...So it's not necessarily about putting a dominating roster together that can be a clear favorite, but building a unit that compliments one another, in a team oriented system that we have established.

I wouldn't necessarily want Giannis coming here doing what he has been doing in Milwaukee, putting up MVP type numbers & depending on that while others just play their role. If he can do that while playing within our system that would be fantastic. But that's not how we're building this team.

It's about being competitive rather than build a team you know is going to just dominate - that's Lebron's territory, cos he's a coward. There's no challenge & fun in that. We're the antithesis of that, which is why we've gained so much respect. We're building & playing the right way. That's the competitive nature the NBA has been missing since the buddy league & superteams. We earn our wins & makes every victory the sweeter. That's what made us so endearing to our fans & outsiders.....we fought as a team, showed what trust in one another cld achieve. No we don't want to be a dog every time but there's nothing wrong w/earning wins by everybody stepping up every night & fighting hard every game. That's what develops toughness overtime. That's what makes Greatness.

This is what excites me about the potential for this team. The additions will compliment what we already have. We come in having 1--5 punch & give teams migraines.

[Bishop45]

Supportive Yimmy, is supportive

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/jfepky/upon_arriving_in_rio_for_2016_olympics_jimmy/

[RexBoyWonder]

Isn't that what made us such a good team, the fact that on any given night you cld have a different lead scorer. So if we were to add a Bradley Beal type player he won't necessarily be dropping 28ppg on a team like this & nor wld he need to. Would certainly help esp. in those times when we have scoring droughts but we shouldn't depend on that. The way we play & share the ball is what makes us lethal. Having 4-5 players averaging in double digits can be as strong, if not stronger than having a 1-2 punch. It's easier to shut down 2 players than it is 5. Adding another elite player simply compliments the strength we already have.....

Last season wasn't really our true season to contend anyway. We're missing parts & had holes in need of addressing. Yet every round, apart from the 1st, we never had the best talent - but we were able to go deep & then compete against LA. Why? System. We get everybody involved, everybody touches the ball, the ball moves. Teamwork!

...So it's not necessarily about putting a dominating roster together that can be a clear favorite, but building a unit that compliments one another, in a team oriented system that we have established.

I wouldn't necessarily want Giannis coming here doing what he has been doing in Milwaukee, putting up MVP type numbers & depending on that while others just play their role. If he can do that while playing within our system that would be fantastic. But that's not how we're building this team.

It's about being competitive rather than build a team you know is going to just dominate - that's Lebron's territory, cos he's a coward. There's no challenge & fun in that. We're the antithesis of that, which is why we've gained so much respect. We're building & playing the right way. That's the competitive nature the NBA has been missing since the buddy league & superteams. We earn our wins & makes every victory the sweeter. That's what made us so endearing to our fans & outsiders.....we fought as a team, showed what trust in one another cld achieve. No we don't want to be a dog every time but there's nothing wrong w/earning wins by everybody stepping up every night & fighting hard every game. That's what develops toughness overtime. That's what makes Greatness.

This is what excites me about the potential for this team. The additions will compliment what we already have. We come in having 1--5 punch & give teams migraines.

I get your point and somewhat agree, but at the end of the day, history (and the eye test) indicated we're currently lakcing on top end talent.

Sure team work is great (and important) and I agree our ball movement and balanced attack was not only a joy to watch but also very effective. BUT, you can't count on those long term to mask a talent deficiency.

Your statement is the Reason I don't want to add a Harden type player, because his style goes against ours despite his talent.

But we shouldn't over-hype ourselfs, we're not the second best team in the league right now, despite the heroics of this postseason.

What we need to really contend without being a constant underdog is a top end talent (top 20 player) that can also FIT our style of ball movement, unselfishness, high IQ BB.

If you add that type of talent, you could end up seeing a Beal/Giannis/whoever score LESS they they did on their previous team, but they'll become more efficient, play better D, assist more, and impact winning in a bigger way.

We don't want a 30 PPG no defense chucker, we want a player talented enough that with our system can give you 20-25 efficient points, high assist/turnover ratio, be smart enough to know when to take over and when to let the kids room to grow, and play on both ends.

[3ballbomber]

I think we’re on the same page for the most part.

I’d like us to be competitive & successful for decades like Spurs were able to. I believe we’re kinda taking pages frm their book. I see us currently building that sort of roster w/ system & culture to support it. I think this is what Pat wld like to leave when he decides to walk off into the sunset.