Heat players recently cleaned out their lockers, having failed to make the playoffs, and many of them will have an opportunity to go elsewhere this summer. James Johnson, Udonis Haslem, and Luke Babbitt will be free agents. Willie Reed, Josh McRoberts, and Dion Waiters all hold player options and Wayne Ellington could join the free agent market if the franchise declines his $6.27MM team option.
Coach Erik Spoelstra wants his players to feel comfortable returning to Miami, as Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes. “This is clean-up day, not clean-out day,” the coach said.
Spoelstra added that his goal is to move forward with the team’s current group and compete for a championship. “Our organization is not going to change. We’re hard-wired to play and compete for championships,” he said. “Hopefully this is dot-dot-dot continued and we can build on this.”
Here’s more from Miami:
- The Heat are thrilled with Hassan Whiteside‘s growth this season, as Winderman relays in the same piece. “I think his growth has been staggering,” Spoelstra said of the big man. “You can define it how you want. He can become one of the greats.” Whiteside signed a four-year, $98.4MM contract with Miami last offseason.
- Johnson may consider taking a discount to stay with the Heat if it means keeping this year’s group together, Winderman passes along (Twitter links). “I’m home. That’s what it feels like. I love it here,” Johnson said of Miami.
- Justise Winslow is recovering from shoulder surgery and is “way ahead of schedule,” according to Spoelstra, as Winderman relays via Twitter.
- Prior to the injury, the Heat strongly believed Winslow would become a quality starter due to the work he put in last summer to improve his shooting, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. Winslow admits that being sidelined hindered his ability to get comfortable with his new shooting mechanics, but added that he’ll continue to work on that part of his game.
- Spoelstra feels Winslow would have helped Miami this season because of his efficient play, as Jackson passes along in the same piece. “He can generate threes for you offensively because he puts a lot of pressure in the paint, off the dribble, in transition. He’s an aggressive, bruising, physical type of player and he sees the floor. That helps create your three-point game,” the coach said.
- In his latest mailbag, Winderman explains why it’ll be hard for the Heat to add a major free agent, such as Paul Millsap, and bring back the core of this year’s squad. The team can feasibly carve out approximately $37MM in cap space this summer and that may not be enough for Miami to add a max player in addition to own free agents.
Winslow will be a great player I got that feeling, Miami would be better off trying to sign Redick in free agency and letting Waiters go. They should draft Ivan Rabb, he will be another Labissiere story, drafted late due to slow improvement in college and blow up in the NBA.
PG-Dragic
SG-Redick
SF-Winslow
PF-Rabb
C-Whiteside
Rabb is older though, the heat would be better off drafting hartenstien. Waiters has proven to be a valuable asset and he loves it in Miami. Honestly the Heat have a chance on bringing Wade back if the bulls flop in the playoffs.
Rabb has potential to be an all-star forward, he has the skillset. Waiters has proven to be valuable but does he really elevate Miami anywhere? Highly doubt it
Aa much as I love wade, at this time I want Waiters over Wade, Wade is old already and misses as much games as Waiters. Waiters has more years than Wade and also has more trade value in the next years. He’s only going to improve. The question is, Johnson, Richardson, Waiters, Ellington; too many guards and only 1 true point guard.
As much as I love wade, at this time I want Waiters over Wade, Wade is old already and misses as much games as Waiters. Waiters has more years than Wade and also has more trade value in the next years. He’s only going to improve. The question is, Johnson, Richardson, Waiters, Ellington; too many guards and only 1 true point guard.
They actually didn’t “clean out their lockers”. The heat asked the players to leave their stuff intact so they could continue working on their game together this off season. It was the first time the heat have requested this of their players.