MIAMI HEAT Offseason Thread 2021 Vol.5 - What Time Is It?

[MettaWorldPanda]

Tucker is going to have a Jae Crowder like impact on this team along side Bam. We just need him to stay healthy. He looked great next to Bam and hitting the corner 3. Not only that we will be less susceptible from 3 point barrages we suffered from last year with PJ able to easily switch to the wings and lock them down.

[MettaWorldPanda]

All I know is this team is light years better then it was last year at this time. Just having size at all times on the court puts us in a much better position. Markieff next to Bam looked imposing. At least I felt we wouldn't get bullied. Crazy we had Iguodala and Ariza at the 4 last year. Playing at such a crazy disadvantage in so many key parts of the game like rebounding both offensively and defensively and interior D. Kieff and Tucker are like brick walls down low.

[MettaWorldPanda]

Kyle Lowry clearly makes the game so much easier for everyone. He reminded me so much of what Tim Hardaway looked like with us.

[eddieheatfan]

Kyle Lowry clearly makes the game so much easier for everyone. He reminded me so much of what Tim Hardaway looked like with us.

yes

[Bishop45]

Tucker is going to have a Jae Crowder like impact on this team along side Bam. We just need him to stay healthy. He looked great next to Bam and hitting the corner 3. Not only that we will be less susceptible from 3 point barrages we suffered from last year with PJ able to easily switch to the wings and lock them down.

Bam playing next to a Crowder type 4>>>>> Him playing next to a Rex type 4

About the M.Turner trade idea -

I'm not sure he's the type of player we need next to Bam. I think we need a John Collins type - meaning a PF mobile enough to play defense on switches but also trigger happy enough to really jack up a lot of 3's and outside shots.

Gallinari is fat SOB but if he was ever healthy he would be a fit too.

We need a second big next to Bam that is big enough to take some pressure off Bam with rim protection and rebounding, but also with a good enough outside shot to really stretch the defenses.

Tucker is just too old and his shot in unreliable.
Morris is just meh, very inconsistent with everything.
KZ too raw still it looks like.

Christian Wood would be great here but probably costs too much to trade.

I'm sure they're a strong PF with a 3 point shot out there somewhere........

I'm hating myself for thinking it - but Kyle Kuzma intrigues me.

He can't cost much, he's young, improving defender, can kinds score as a stretchy PF.

Yea it's too gross.

Save me KZ.

[Wiltside]

Kyle Lowry clearly makes the game so much easier for everyone. He reminded me so much of what Tim Hardaway looked like with us.

I said earlier in the offseason that I think Heat fans have been underestimating the impact Lowry will have on this team. No, he's not a Superstar or Top 5-10 player, but he's still an exceptional PG at this stage of his career. His ability to be a floor general on the ball, but equally as adept off ball when Jimmy is out there in the PnR, is going to be huge.

He averaged 2.8 treys per game on 40% last season. He's a deep ball threat in the way that Goran, as much as he improved his 3pt range significantly over his Heat tenure, just isn't. He's also a more proven shooter than K-Nunn (who was solid at 2.2 per on 38% last year). Adding him to Robinson's 3ball firepower is going to make that first unit have more punch.

I think its also clear we prioritised size and toughness in the offseason. Having a full year of DedGOAT at the backup 5, plus Tucker/Morris at the 4, should help alleviate some of the stress we felt having beanpole's like Iggy and Ariza trying to battle with bigger players.

I also think the physical development of Tyler Herro is going to be huge. He is noticeably bigger and stronger, which hopefully helps him compete defensively and get to his spots on offense. Max Strus is also going to have an important role - he's had a really good summer, and he should be looked at as a solid weapon off the bench to help space the floor and provide some decent minutes at the wing.

[puppa bear]

Jerami Grant would be a pretty ideal fit at that 4 spot, as you say oreon. Not sure we’d like what it would cost to get him, I’m assuming Herro and pieces. You only make that move if Dipo looks ready on returning.

Lowry / Vincent
Robinson / Oladipo
Butler / Strus
Grant / Tucker
Adebayo / Dedmon

Would be a tough out. I’d like an upgrade on Gabe though.

Financially, we’d need to be dealing Herro/Robinson. Money just doesn’t work without both going out.

When we start looking at more expensive players (eg Beal) then we quickly need to add PJ and more.

Creating one hole to better equip another doesn’t seem like the smartest path, unless we’re getting a clear upgrade.

[RexBoyWonder]

I'm hating myself for thinking it - but Kyle Kuzma intrigues me.

He can't cost much, he's young, improving defender, can kinds score as a stretchy PF.

Yea it's too gross.

Save me KZ.

Cmon Rex, Kuzma really??? Especially with the history between Herro's girl. Not realistic

I'm desperate here.

Our PF situation is a glaring red alarm - we have no real starter, we have backups playing as starters. None of them is reilable or consistent in any way.

The PF spot will us cost us games until we find a real solution. Tucker isn't getting younger, and Morris isn't becoming consistent at age 32.

It's KZ making a jump or big trouble for us.

So yea..even a Kuzma could actually be a big get.

[BenoUdrihFTL]

I think the PF concerns are overblown. You'd obviously love to have a star player at every position, but if you can't (no one can), PF seems like the most passable position to get by with simply a role player who can switch defensively and ideally spread the floor. Just look around the league at the top teams from last season and their starting PFs:

52 win Jazz: Royce O'Neal
51 win Suns: Bae Crowder
49 win Sixers: Tobias Harris
48 win Nets: KD ***superstar***
47 win Nuggets: Aaron Gordon
47 win Clippers: Marcus Morris

Then you have the Bucks who started our own PJ Tucker at SF alongside their uniquely huge PF/C rotation of ***superstar*** Giannis and Bropez. Tucker did play 78% of his RS mins and 37% of his PS mins at PF/C according to bball-ref

42 win Mavs: Maxi Kleber
42 win Blazers: Robert Covington
42 win Lakers: AD ***superstar***

Of the top 10 teams you have 3 superstars and 7 role players at the PF position. I think Tucker -- essentially the prototypical role player in today's NBA -- is a sufficient piece to Miami's rotation puzzle when you consider that PF is our 5th most prioritized position in the SL. Reality is that we have a modest "Big 3" at other positions; we're one of only 5 teams in the NBA (along with Nets, Lakers, Bucks, Suns) to have 3 players ranked top 40 in SI's recent top 100 list, plus we have a 4th guy at #85. That's a very nice core to work with, and those 4 guys are all paid accordingly (it's almost scary how closely their SI ranking corresponds to their league salary rank). So at the end of the day there's only so much money to go around and that's where our money is invested, not at PF, and that's okay

If we ultimately disappoint this season, it won't be because our 5th best starter isn't a star PF. It'll be because of either injuries and/or our Big 3 not meeting expectations

[twix2500]

This forum has had always had fetish for the 4 position

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[twix2500]

Just watch the 1st preseason game in it's entirety. Game is moving a little too fast for Yurt at this moment. I see chemistry between Yurt and Strus. Strus is comfortable working off Yurt and you can see he knows how to communicate with him.

It looks like Vincent is playing smarter and staying within himself. Vincent is ahead of Strus on depth chart as far as minutes.

Garrett is not a point guard. With the addition of Martin, there is no mins for Garrett.

I would like to see Vincent get mins with Yurt and Strus. They need a point guard and like to see if summer league chemistry can leak over.

Strus needs to establish his game, it appears he likes to use rollers. Need another scorer off the bench besides Herro. Strus is in position to be that guy. Hopes he figures it out.

Dedmon,Tucker and Morris have have been a excellent impact on defense, blocking out and setting screens. Much need in this offense that uses a lot of screens. Once Morris start knocking down shots the power position is solid.

KZ boy he is still playing with butterflies in his stomach. He needs shake that ish off or will be not here next season. I was hoping he learned from watching Ariza. That is who he needs to pattern hs game after. Ariza was an excellent cutter and Okpala needs to learn how to cut. Okpala is not a natural shooter so he sould not soley rely on his 3 pt shot. He needs to learn how to move within the offense and use his lengthto get easy backdoor points.

[Hallstar]

Just watch the 1st preseason game in it's entirety. Game is moving a little too fast for Yurt at this moment. I see chemistry between Yurt and Strus. Strus is comfortable working off Yurt and you can see he knows how to communicate with him. It looks like Vincent is playing smarter and staying within himself. Vincent is ahead of Strus on depth chart as far as minutes. Garrett is not a point guard. With the addition of Martin, there is no mins for Garrett. I would like to see Vincent get mins with Yurt and Strus. They need a point guard and like to see if summer league chemistry can leak over.

Strus needs to establish his game, it appears he likes to use rollers. Need another scorer off the bench besides Herro. Strus is in position to be that guy. Hopes he figures it out.

Dedmon,Tucker and Morris have have been a excellent impact on defense, blocking out and setting screens. Much need in this offense that uses a lot of screens. Once Morris start knocking down shots the power position is solid.

KZ boy he is still playing ith butterflies in his stomach. He needs shake it off or will be not here next season. I was hoping he learn from watching Ariza. That is who he needs to pattern hs game after. Ariza was an excellent cutter and Okpala needs to learn how to cut. Okpala is not a natural shooter sohesould soley rely on his 3 pt shot. He needs to learn how to move within the offense and use his lengthto get easy backdoor points.

I think the Strus /Yurt connection carried over from Summer League. If guys like Boban can get mins...YUrt should be fine once he works

[AirP.]

This forum has had always had fetish for the 4 position

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It's not a fetish for a 4, it's just wanting a starting level player for a good team, at least this year I think Tucker meets the minimum of a valid starter for a Spoelstra coached team.

For the last 2 years, the issue was not having a valid starting big opposite of Bam. The first season Spoelstra tried using Leonard who had only started 42 games in 7 seasons in Portland then starts 49 games his first year in Miami and only 2 starts in that finals run. The 2nd year he starts 2 games. Last season it was basically Olynyk and Ariza. I'm not sure any of those players are the level of a starting 4 you want on a good team. Now, Crowder was a starting level player at the 4, maybe not a great starter but someone I'd consider a legit starting 4 compared to the others.

Take any of those guys who started at the 4(outside of Crowder) and put them on another contender, people would have questions about having that level of a player being a starter.

I feel better about older PF Tucker starting for Miami then with Leonard, Olynyk or Harkless. Although a limited player Spoelstra knows what he's going to get with him and for the first time in years, has a very good idea what he can expect from every starter on the court and with that, able to scheme more efficiently.

[AirP.]

Some NBA.com reading...
https://www.nba.com/news/2021-22-season-preview-mia

SEASON PREDICTION
The Heat have had a top-10 defense in nine of Erik Spoelstra’s 13 seasons as coach. With Lowry, Butler, Tucker and Adebayo in the fold, they should certainly make it 11 of 14 this year. They’ll be a pain to play against and they’ll figure out some things offensively as the season goes on. But they’ve lost some depth and they still may be a piece or two away from competing on the same level as the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. Predicted finish: 48-34.

[harlem_ball]

The PF concerns are sound. Heat will rely on Morris heavily if Tucker needs time off which, at his age, should be expected. Then you have a platoon of KZ Okpala (not ready for the NBA), Yurtseven (also not ready) and perhaps big lineups of Dedmon/Bam combos to get you through the game. I don't think it's a situation where you need to bring in a big name but it's something to look at going forward if Morris struggles and Tucker misses extended time.

[greg4012]

I'm honestly more concerned about PG depth behind Lowry than I am the PF rotation. Vincent ain't it. Ideal scenario has Oladipo coming back better than before surgery.

[SA37]

This forum has had always had fetish for the 4 position

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[Rodrizzle]

A dream scenario is Thad Young gets bought out and signs with up. Perfect player to start for us at the 4.

[MettaWorldPanda]

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[MettaWorldPanda]

I'm honestly more concerned about PG depth behind Lowry than I am the PF rotation. Vincent ain't it. Ideal scenario has Oladipo coming back better than before surgery.

Totally agree especially looking at the instant impact a pure PG like Lowry has brought. Sure Butler can handle the ball but he’s not really a push pace PG. He’s a half court ball handler. Vincent is a tweener. I think we could survive this year considering we are playing much bigger in the front court but would have liked to have signed another veteran PG who can get players into easy offense. Rondo would have been a nice get but something along those lines will suffice.