If the Heat opt to insert center Meyers Leonard back into their starting lineup – where he spent most of last season – alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, it would leave just two slots in the starting five available for Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, and Avery Bradley, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
Dragic did well coming off the bench last season before joining the starters in the playoffs. However, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said he hasn’t talked to the veteran point guard yet about whether or not he’ll start. Spoelstra, who pointed out that the opening night lineup wouldn’t necessarily be permanent, is confident that Dragic would be willing to accept any role.
“We’ve been in this a long time together,” the Heat coach said. “It’s great to have guys who are all about winning.”
For his part, Dragic recently said that if Spoelstra asks himself to come off the bench again, it’ll be easier to adjust to this time around, since he now has a year of experience as a Heat reserve under his belt.
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- The Magic have until December 29 to exercise Mohamed Bamba‘s $7.57MM option for the 2021/22 season. Bamba’s development has been slowed by health issues and he has yet to be cleared for full contact, but according to Roy Parry of The Orlando Sentinel, “all indications are that the team values Bamba and remains committed to him.” That bodes well for his fourth-year option.
- The new-look Hawks have been practicing together for less than a week, but John Collins (the team’s longest-tenured player) is already noticing the effect the new veterans are having on team communication, writes Sarah K. Spencer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The gym is a lot louder … I feel like our older guys are sort of leading,” Collins said, citing Rajon Rondo, Kris Dunn, and Solomon Hill as the players who have been most vocal.
- Steve Hummer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a closer look at the exceptional basketball IQ that Rondo brings to the Hawks and the impact the veteran point guard can have on his young teammates.
I think Leonard should come off the bench. Start Bam, Robinson, Butler, Bradley, Nunn with Leonard, Olynyk, Herro, Dragic, Precious and Harkless as the reserves.
If Robinson doesn’t work out in this case as the starting 4 in theory, Bradley should come off the bench and Harkless should start (more a true PF).
So Iggy will be a $15M bench warmer for them?
Forgot to include his name. Iggy will play over Harkless and Precious at least to begin the season.
I agree that Leonard should back up Bam since they’re both really centers, with Olynyk as a backup at the 4/5.
Butler and Robinson will join Bam in the front court as starters and Iggy as the main backup along with Harkless. Bradley is a good defender so he should start with Herro as his backup.
IMO starters: herro, Duncan, Butler, Bam and Leonard
Bench: Nunn, precious, iggy, Dragon, Harkless, Bradley Oly, UD
Continue to develop and showcase Herro and Duncan as starters and conserve Dragon for the deep playoff push.
Either way Dragon is getting 25-35 a night.
Ehhh, I think it depends on the matchup honestly, so it should change from opponent to opponent.
Thays why it’s good that they’re so versatile, they can adjust by playing big or small. As a result, they can dictate the pace of the game accordingly, to however they feel is based to defeat that night’s matchup..
Besides, starting is overrated, it’s really about mpg and who finishes out games that’s most important. That, also, should vary based on who they’re playing against and that game’s strategy and adjustments Spoelstra implements…
But, I’ll play along I suppose..lol..Finishing games, I want Dragic, Herro, Butler, Iggy, and Bam…However, possibly by the end of the season, it could be Dragic, Herro, Butler, Precious, and Bam..
Does anybody think Tyler Herro has a decent chance to start?
Heat are a much better team 76ers
4th man to 12th man
Heat 10th man Nunn and Nets 10th man Jeff Green are better than 76ers 4th man Danny Green
76ers did not use full 5.7m MLE. They need to trade for Harden
Bamba is in the doghouse with Orlando…
Orlando should’ve made some more moves. If Vucevic is your best player, you’re not going anywhere. Should’ve traded him
Why? If anything magic should have traded bamba before he lost value. Now you have to pay him 8 million next season.
Bamba is still a very solid, young player, he just has to stay healthy is all..
Give him another full year, healthy, and then watch him ball out the following season..
So the magic have to wait another year ? Its crazy how bagley is getting labeled as a bust yet dude averages 15pts per game. But everybody must be patient when it comes to bamba.
Not a reason to trade Vucevic, that he is their best player. To follow that logic, everyone but Vooch should have been traded. Which actually, looking at their roster, may be so! Start with Bamba as soon as someone wants him.
Start
Bradley Herro Butler Iggy Bam
Bench
Dragic Robinson Harkless Precious Leonard
Reserves
Nunn Okynyk
Bradley Butler Iggy and Bam provide the defence and set the tone for the team in intensity. Butler runs the offence with Bam and Herro.
Off the bench Dragic leads the unit with Robinson the sniper, Harkless a versatile defender, Leonard stretch big and Precious for some impact on both ends. Beyond that you have Nunn who is continue to learn and earn minutes and Okynyk as a back up big.
Would love to see a Oladipo trade, Aaron Gordon trade or something.