The Heat have a number of free agents and may need to make some tough choices this summer, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Veteran starters Goran Dragic, 34, and Jae Crowder, 30, will be free agents this offseason. Bench big man Kelly Olynyk has a $12.2MM player option for 2020/21 that could clog up the team’s cap this summer.
The Heat will look to build on an exciting 2019/20 campaign that sees them currently up 1-0 on the top Eastern Conference seed, the Bucks, in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
There’s more out of South Beach:
- Heat wing sniper Duncan Robinson has risen through the ranks, from an undistinguished high school basketball career to a little-noticed college tenure with Division III school Williams College to becoming a starter on an upstart playoff Miami squad in his second NBA season. Ramone Shelbourne of ESPN details the forward’s rise. “It’s my job to make shots,” Robinson said. “But the big shift is that I understand it’s actually my job to take these shots.”
- The Heat have given assistant coach Dan Craig permission to interview for the Bulls‘ open head coaching position, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a separate story. The 38-year-old Craig has worked with the Heat organization in various capacities for 17 years. He has been an assistant coach for the past four years.
- Five-time Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler, coming off a playoff career-high 40-point night against the Bucks, feels “welcomed” in Miami after his oft-discussed exits from several prior NBA stops, as we detailed in a previous story.
Seems to me it’s a pretty easy decision to let Dragic and Crowder go, at least at those prices.
They really don’t fit the timeline with the rest of the roster.
They may be champions Dragic & Crowder, and their prices lower. Dragic will probably allow a hometown discount. He always sounds so Florida! A lot to work out, like if he even starts there.
Dragic 100% won’t be leaving, he’s great friends with Jimmy Butler and is a leader on this team
Why is everyone under the impression that all components of a championship team must be within the same age range? Most contenders feature a healthy mix of vested veterans and promising youth. For instance, the Nationals needed both Soto and Kendrick to earn their World Series victory despite an age difference of 16.
If Miami can retain role players like Dragic and Crowder at reasonable prices, I don’t see how that wouldn’t work
What’s reasonable? Tazza said $12mil for Dragic. He backed up this season and I thought was not always efficient. If he doesn’t want to leave Miami his offer could be greatly affected even for Miami. $2/22 to stay, or an incentive-laden $2/29 to go. I am assuming he makes the round of 4.
Olynyk takes & makes 3s at 41% but had an unusual negative on/off… he may not prefer a fast pace… I would predict he leaves with a 3/$39, 13 per, except that there may only be 5 teams that can go over the MLE!
Olynyk is getting paid too much for sure but what REALLY is going to clog them up is the 15 million dollars they paid to the ghost of Igoudala.
Dragic is probably on last contract here. But they don’t win without him. I guess he’s healthy cause he’s playing well. At 35 he’s not getting a big contract. He could sign ME for a contender. Why wouldn’t Sixers sign him for 2 yrs. Heat are gonna push Bucks. If you watched last 3 mins. Bucks came down and missed two layups. Still down 8. Then still down 8 Ran a play for Covington. No shot and nobody wanted to take shot. Lopez put up a wild shot with clock down. Not a good sign. Playoffs are more a half court gm. Bucks are not adjusting well.
I don’t understand why people are trying to predict bad things for the Heat with retaining players.
They have
Goran Dargic (19mil)
Solomon Hill (13mil)
Meyers Leonard (11mil)
Kelly Olynyk (12mil) PO
Jae Crowder (8mil)
What will happen:
Dragic at 34 will definitely take less money probably around 12mil. Hill will leave which frees up money. Olynyk will opt it. The heat will want to keep Crowder but want cap space next season so what I’ve heard is a big 1 year deal which probably means Meyers Leonard walks.
No idea what happens with Derrick Jone Jr or what his value is but they have enough money to keep him if they want probably.
So in all reality Dragic takes a pay cut, Crowder says, and Olynyk stays with Hill and Leonard leaving plus the Heat probably have a little extra to spend which could go to DJJ or elsewhere.
I’d suggest letting DJJ leave and getting in a PF, maybe Paul Millsap on a cheap 1 year deal, or otherwise Montrez Harrell, don’t know if he wants to find money or full time starting role or just a place he’s happy? Another could be Danilo Gallinari, they were interested in him before but he won’t be cheap. Maybe Serge Ibaka, he would be a great fit with Jimmy and Bam. On the court he can shoot threes and block shots and has playoff experience
Agreed. Neither Hill nor Leonard are in the playoff rotation and they make 24 million between them. Both are gone, freeing up that money.
The Heat before getting Butler. We’re about next yrs FA class. Signing Butler would give them an attraction to come to Miami. And it’s working well. To cap space for a max player. And a team he’d want to come to.