Introduced on Tuesday as a newly-signed member of the Heat, guard Avery Bradley cited the oft-lauded “Heat culture” as one of the key reasons why he wanted to join the team, as Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald write.
“I always felt like if I ever got an an opportunity to play here, I would fit in perfect,” Bradley said. “Once the opportunity presented itself, I knew I would take advantage of it. I’m excited because I do feel like I’m a perfect fit. We all know what it means to be a Miami Heat player — the passion, the dedication it takes to be a part of this culture. I think our team is going to be really good. I’m excited to be part of Miami and part of a great culture like this. I felt wanted.”
Maurice Harkless, who also officially signed with Miami this week, said talking to former Portland teammate Meyers Leonard helped convince him to join the Heat.
“The big thing that Meyers said and he talked about all the time was just the people in the organization and how everyone carried themselves and how everyone came to work every day,” Harkless said. “It’s just what everybody else talks about, the culture. He really embraced it and he spoke highly of everything that goes on in this organization. Hearing that from him, it made my decision a lot easier.”
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- After reaching an agreement with the Heat on a maximum-salary extension on Tuesday, Bam Adebayo told reporters – including Chiang and Jackson – that he never really had a conversation with the team about waiting until next year to sign his new deal. “Me and (Heat president Pat Riley) met one on one, and we kind of talked through it,” Adebayo said. “We both thought it was the right decision.”
- The third year on Danilo Gallinari‘s new $61.5MM contract with the Hawks will only be partially guaranteed, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, who tweets that the forward will be assured of $5MM of his $21.4MM salary in that final year (2022/23).
- The Wizards and big man Anzejs Pasecniks have agreed to push back his salary guarantee deadline from this week to February 1, reports ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). Pasecniks, who currently has a $350K guarantee on his $1.5MM salary, may have been waived if Washington had been forced to make an immediate decision.
- Michael Carter-Williams‘ new two-year deal with the Magic features two fully guaranteed seasons worth $3.3MM apiece, according to Marks (Twitter link).
He’s so passionate about basketball he decided to not even play it over the summer.
Nothing wrong with putting health or family first but that doesn’t mean it isn’t contradictory to make this statement.
Not to mention that he’s been pretty useless for the past few years. No clue why the heat would want him.
You can have passion for something and also know other things take a higher priority, come on man.
OP is potentially confusing passion with illogical and/or biased decision-making.
From starting on the best WC team, to… 3rd string on a contender (?)
Last offseason, Lebron shocked teammates by saying he was going to be the PG. It was important for Bradley to be in the lineup, actually being one. He had 44 starts, the 5th starter. (Bas.Ref. does not show a SF on the Laker depth charts!) But that role is less necessary now, anyway it’s debatable if he’s very good with a PER of 9.
And the Lakers got Schroder and should make room for Caruso.
So the crucial convo between Adebayo & Riley was made by Bam’s agent. All he had to do for the max was sign.
Always been an Avery Bradley fan, but he hasnt been himself the last 3 years or so, with the exception of half of a season. Better options still currently available, as well as at the time of the signing. Not saying they cant use help guarding PGs, but not sure this was as necessary as addressing the 4/5 spots, and now that they lost Crowder and DJJ, arguably should be addressing the wing…
Keeping Leonard and signing Bradley makes me think a trade involving Olynyk and/or Nunn could be potentially in play down the line
As I said on the thread about the signing, super happy for Bam. Well deserved