Miami’s surprising postseason success may change the long-term plan for the franchise, writes John Hollinger of The Athletic. The Heat have been focused on maximizing cap room for the free agent class of 2021, but their run to the Finals may alter their thinking, not only regarding free agent such as Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder, but for a possible extension for Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo will be eligible for a maximum extension during the offseason, and the team had been expected to delay a new deal with the 23-year-old until next summer. His cap hold will be just $15MM, preserving enough room to chase an elite free agent. However, Hollinger thinks Adebayo’s All-Star season may make it too risky to let him get to restricted free agency.
Even a “low” max deal that starts at 25% of the cap would take the Heat out of the 2021 free agent sweepstakes. But Hollinger notes that the front office didn’t have cap room when it acquired Jimmy Butler on a max salary last summer and suggests that Pat Riley might pursue a similar strategy next year, hoping the team’s young talent will enable another sign-and-trade for a top free agent.
There’s more on the Heat:
- In the same piece, Hollinger offers a suggestion for Miami’s offseason that would allow the team to compete for a title again next year without altering its road map for the future. The Heat are about $45MM below the projected tax line for 2020/21 with a mid-level exception that could be used to add a power forward such as Paul Millsap on a one-year contract with an option. Crowder could be offered a similar deal to stay, while Dragic might get a longer-term contract with manageable yearly salaries. Hollinger adds that with Butler, Dragic and Crowder all age 30 or older, Miami’s focus should be on the present rather than the future.
- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra believes rebuilding teams should focus on finding a player like Butler, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. “The draft is coming up in … a month, they should study Jimmy Butler as a two-way player,” Spoelstra told reporters after Friday’s game. “He’s the ultimate competitor, and when you’re facing the ultimate competition, that’s what happens.”
- Two controversial calls that benefited the Heat in Game 5 were both deemed correct in the league’s last-two minute report, although two others were missed that proved to be inconsequential, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
There are always some missed calls in 48 minutes
Please do not complain about this
Rockets have figured out 9 missed calls against Warriors In one game
but they don’t care how many missed calls against Rockets on the same game
They care Chis Paul miss two games they don’t care Iguodala miss 5 games
Been saying Jimmy n Kawhi are best 2way players in NBA. 2way players are the real stars of gms. Heat have big decisions to make. Who cares let the gms play. Gallinari was a target early in season. He would mix well here. They also need a rim protector. Not let Bam have to do it all on D. Whiteside could fit the bill. Imagine that.
Whiteside is certainly not coming back to the Heat… and he is not much of a rim protector either. Yes, he gets some blocks each game, but that’s about it. Portland defense was awful and Whiteside didn’t improve it a bit when he was on the court. The conditions are there, but his attitude is terrible.
Let’s see he avg 14.2 reb, 3.07 blk, in 31.3 mins a gm. He led L in offensive reb. Was third in defensive reb. Only cause Rudy played way more mins. He led L in Blocks. He’s a F A is not getting a big salary.
This is definition of Rim Protector. Why don’t you research before you post. Or I will do it for you
Impressive numbers. Good luck finding someone in Portland that wants him back.
I’d say AD & Giannis are by far better 2 way players than Kawhi or Butler… actually I would say even Embiid is better!
Need to preserve cap for Giannis at all costs.
Yesterday the question was asked about Miami’s FAs, and assuming Riley has the same plan continuing, I said they can do without them, and afford Gallinari instead, since they almost got him last year, and go for smaller fish in the 2021 market.
Then Hollinger wrote his piece challenging how the plan of 2021 should be turned into the plan of running the same team back next year. Gallinari would be “toast” if he had to guard players that Crowder has been checking. This is not wrong and I’m not a big fan of Gallo. Soooo…
In the interests of going hard one way or the other, I pull that back, and say Riley should take advantage of opportunities to make moderate 1+1 re-signings of his current FAs, roll out the red carpet for Adebayo, and still don’t rely on Giannis. For this era, Bam and Butler are the big two, like AD & LJ, and defense and depth will win playoff games.
I would consider trading Bam. He was shown up in the finals with his poor size, rebounding and lack of shooting range
Dude, Bam is a top 5 defender and can guard wing players being 6’10. Second of all, he’s only like 23. Idk what you were watching, but he played good. Still room for improvement in terms of shooting but he’s still young and will turn the corner in terms of scoring.
I consider him injured during the Laker series. Also, he was repurposed to defense for their version of the 2-3 zone and told not to ramble freely like usual, due to playoff basketball. But he looked like Giannis sometimes earlier on.