An ESPN report on Friday morning suggested that the Jazz view the Heat as a serious threat in this summer’s Gordon Hayward sweepstakes, and according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, that fear isn’t unfounded. Jackson hears from a source connected to Hayward that the Utah forward has “legitimate interest” in Miami.
Within Jackson’s latest dispatch on the Heat, there’s also word that the team will bring in former Wake Forest power forward John Collins for a pre-draft workout next Wednesday. Collins ranks 20th on DraftExpress’ big board, but has a chance to be selected in the lottery, meaning he could be an option for Miami at No. 14.
Here are a few more Heat-related items worth passing along:
- The Heat are expected to be one of the teams with interest in Euroleague star Milos Teodosic this offseason, according to a report out of Russia (passed along by NetsDaily.com). The report also identifies Brooklyn and Sacramento as probable suitors for the CSKA Moscow point guard, though those teams have been mentioned previously — Miami’s potential interest is new.
- Joe Beguiristain of Heat.com provides an update on Justise Winslow‘s recovery from shoulder surgery today, passing along recent comments made by Winslow: “The shoulder is doing well. Five months down, one more to go as far as the six-month process. But I feel great. I got all my range of motion. We’re just trying to get it strong enough that it can endure contact and falls.”
- While some teams may stretch out their rebuilds in order to avoid battling the Warriors head-on within the next year or two, don’t expect Pat Riley to take that approach with the Heat, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. Winderman’s recent Ask Ira series for The Sun Sentinel also includes a discussion on whether it makes sense for Miami to pay big bucks for both Dion Waiters and Tyler Johnson.
I don’t see why the Heat would be interested in teodosic. Probably due diligence. They have plenty of guards.
That quote from Winslow is from a week o 2 ago, so hopefully, he’ll be back on the court in a couple of weeks. I’d like to see him get a game or 2 in summer league
I don’t know what to think yet about the Heat’s spot in the draft. The guys I’m most interested in probably go ahead of 14, especially with teams like Charlotte, Detroit, and Denver in front of them…
OG would be an interesting grab for them, since they don’t really need too much from their pick this year and/or it could also allow them to explore moving 1 or 2 guys, if necessary. Heat have McGruder, but could always use another defensive wing/small ball 4, and if his offense develops, that’s a really good asset. But i think he could go to Demver at 13, as they cohld really use the help defensively on the wing…Justin Jackson, Donovan Mitchell (I expect both to go 10-12 with Luke Kennard possibly there as well), Justin Patton, TJ Leaf, Bam Adebayo, Ike Anigbogu, Isaiah Hartenstein, and I guess Harry Giles also hold my interest, although I’m not enthused by what I’ve seen from Giles in games or at the combine, especially in consideration with his injuries. Obviously, trades ahead of them could change some things, but it’s a wide range of guys that could end up at 14. I actually like a few guys at the end of the 1st round and into the 2nd, like Semi Ojelye and Jordan Bell…I could also see the Heat making the pick, and then trading it
I would like to know more info on Zach Collins though. He is the one guy I don’t really know much about in the top half of the draft. Can anyone tell me how he is on defense? What’s his athleticism like? Can he defend pick and roll, and protect the rim? Offensively, is he a ball stopper, or can he make quick decisions? Does he play above the rim?