The recent play of 10-day contract signee Okaro White has the Heat reconsidering their roster. Originally added as a 16th man via a league hardship provision, White has had so much of an impact on the team that the franchise is reluctant to see him go now that Josh Richardson has returned to health.
That means it could be somebody like Derrick Williams who the Heat release instead, says Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
“I can assure you that White has made himself a keeper,” he writes in a Heat mailbag.
In five games with the Heat, White has proven an ability to contribute across the board. More importantly, with White in the rotation, the team hasn’t lost a game. Though they remain 14th in the Eastern Conference with their 17-30 record, the six-game win streak has given the team momentum.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Since starting the year 3-9, the Wizards have emerged as a contender in the East. At the center of it all has been John Wall, finally getting the opportunity to play at full health, writes Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press. “This charge, the last seven or eight weeks,” head coach Scott Brooks said Thursday, “is because of [Wall’s] ability to lead us and get to the paint and give us a lot of open shots.”
- Citing Friday’s loss to their former teammate Courtney Lee and the Knicks, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes that the Hornets need to make a trade. “It doesn’t have to be splashy,” he says, just something that will “infuse some energy and scoring into the rotation.”
- The Wizards have no intention of adding a big man if Ian Mahinmi will be deemed healthy enough to play during the final stretch of the season, writes J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic. With regard to Mahinmi’s health, however, they’ll have to wait and see. During the summer, Mahinmi was signed to a four-year, $60MM deal. He’s played just one game of action with the team in 2016/17.
- Like any star that returns to their hometown, Stephen Curry was asked about the possibility of him signing with the Hornets via free agency, writes Anthony Slater of The Mercury News. “I’ve gotten that since I’ve been in the league,” the Warriors guard said. “This is my home. So there’s obviously going to be an attachment to the city and that kind of chatter is something I’ve been asked about and dealt with since the first time I came back my rookie year. It’s fun. You know you have that support here. It just kind of is what it is.”
Have to give props to Okaro White for that effort the other night. He was all over the floor. Guarded multiple positions, played great pick and roll defense, covering a lot of ground, helping the helper, and getting back and protecting the rim. Got deflections, got to loose balls, rebounded very well on both ends of the floor, with his hustle on offensive rebounds getting us extra possessions, and he also boxed out well for his teammates to get rebounds. Then he made 2 big 3s. Just real amazing effort and passion to make winning plays and bring energy. That’s why Spo left him out there for so long, as well as Willie Reed. And while that went on, we got another no show from Whiteside….
With that being said, this is why I wanted to keep Okaro after training camp and get rid of Babbit and Derrick Williams. Something is going to give soon. Some sort of roster move will have to be made during this 10 day stint. Good for him on the 2nd 10 day. He absolutely deserves it. Hope we can keep him when it’s up. This isn’t a revelation to me
He is a 3/4 that is better off at the 4 in today’s NBA, but his defense allows him to guard multiple positions, and even play small ball 5 for stretches. Heat used him at all 3 positions in moments the other night, likely b/c of the injuries that leave us somewhat short at the 3 position. He playedd mostly 4 in the D-league, I’m pretty sure, and the heat have had a massive hole there, with the exception of James Johnson, who has been unbelievable. So Okaro will likely mostly play the 4
Frank Kaminsky has been bad, Spencer Hawes shouldn’t be playing, and Ramon sessions has been terrible…the hornets at least need a backup guard, and need Kaminsky to play better.
We need someone who can play defense. The game last night was hard to Watch because of easy layups the Knicks got every possession
That’s what I’m saying…you need a big that can provide pick and roll defense and rim protection, and a guard/wing off the bench…would help if Jeremy Lamb comes back healthy