The Heat have been quiet about their plans for Meyers Leonard, though Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel notes that if the big man remains on the roster through the start of the season, he’ll likely be the team’s backup center.
Miami acquired Leonard in a four-way trade over the summer that allowed the team to net Jimmy Butler as well. The Heat cannot aggregate Leonard’s salary in a trade until September 6 — two months after the acquisition date. It’s possible that the team hasn’t been vocal about Leonard’s role because they are planning to flip him. However, at this point, any Leonard trade talk is strictly speculation.
Here’s more from Miami:
- Leonard has privately made it known that he would like to make it work with the Heat, Winderman relays in the same piece. The big man has come off the bench for nearly the entirety of his career, so backing up Bam Adebayo at the five shouldn’t be a major issue.
- Don’t expect the Heat to take a load management approach with Butler, Winderman explains in a separate piece. That could change if Miami is able to clinch a playoff berth early. Yet, with the team making the postseason just once over the past three years, the club may not have the luxury of resting players this season.
- Assuming the team doesn’t make any major moves, Winderman (same piece) anticipates coach Erik Spoelstra will stagger the minutes of Butler, Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters. Winderman expects the Heat to have at least two of the three on the court the majority of the time.
Hope Tyler Herro gets good minutes he was great in Summer league.
I still think the Heat should make a trade either for CP3 or just to upgrade the depth. I know they don’t have their first round picks but I think they could be clever.
Dion Waiters for Norman Powell works. This gives Herro more minutes at the back up 2. Heat get a good back up SF who will play good minutes and the Raptors get someone who can start at SG. The raptors also get the better contract. Powell would be good come playoffs tho.
The other one that could be good is Denis Schroder for James Johnson and a second round pick. The money and contracts are basically the same. Schroder gives the Heat a good back up point and Johnson gives the Thunder a good locker room forward as back up. It eases the PG position giving more minutes to SGA and they also get a second rounder.
1. Dragic. Schroder
2. Butler. Herro. Nunn
3. Winslow. Powell. Jones Jr
4. Olynyk. Okpala. (Faried/Thomas/Melo) I
5. Adebayo. Leonard. Haslem
These deals do save the Heat about 2mil this year giving them room to sign a vet min free agent. Think it makes them a little light at PF, maybe they sign someone like Kennith Faried, Lance Thomas or Melo.
Waiters & Winslow can play the 1… I think the FO likes the potential in both cases & wants to play that out.
Waiters at the one sounds terrible. I like Waiters and think he’s got lots to offer still but at the Heat I think they are better off playing Herro as back up SG. Schroder would be a solid addition as a back up, he was in contention for six man of the year for a bit last year.
It does sound bad, but it worked in Cleveland when Irving was out. He played there a lot last year too, according to Bas.Ref. (who prioritizes the defensive assignment in deciding).
When the Rockets play the Heat this season they will only play with two players, Harden and Westbrook, and they will win by at least 137 points
Westbrook is trash Butler will guard harden and Winslow on Russ.
Think they wouldn’t match up that bad