Kendrick Nunn has reestablished himself as a starter and that’s a big reason for the Heat‘s resurgence, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. During the Heat’s 10-3 stretch, Nunn has averaged 17.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.2 APG and 1.3 SPG. Nunn will be headed to restricted free agency after the season.
“Defensively, he has really helped us,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “This has been a year and a half process of really learning our system, being held accountable to that, growing comfortable and being able to defend different ways.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Nate McMillan, who was named interim head coach of the Hawks on Monday, confirmed that Lloyd Pierce talked him into being his replacement, according to Charles Odum of The Associated Press. McMillan initially rebuffed GM Travis Schlenk’s offer to take the reins. “We had a conversation about the team and the move … and he just felt he didn’t think this would happen but he felt I could step in and do a good job with the team,” McMillan said. “He basically felt I should take this opportunity.”
- Heat swingman Jimmy Butler will miss his second straight game on Tuesday due to right knee inflammation, Chiang tweets. Miami has one more game remaining prior to the All-Star break — a road matchup with the Pelicans on Thursday.
- The Hornets are the latest team to receive approval to have fans in the stands. According to a team press release, they will host crowds at 15% capacity, or approximately 3,000 fans, beginning on March 13.
Whay is the deal with Nunn. Up, down, up, down, and so on… rollercoaster ride… is he causing this, or is Riley, and Nunn just mopes when jerked around.
Herro is not a good PG prospect and Dragic has to go solo to be high-scoring.
He had a tough time recovering from covid. Not sure about the moping comment. Never saw that from him.
Who would have thought that he would be doing this defensively for this type of stretch. If his improvements in that area continue moving forward, his value is significantly higher
Think Pat keeps Nunn or deals him? I think hes going to get one of those Tyler Johnson or Allen Crabbe bad contract offers.
Originally I would have said he would get moved, but he is substantially better than Herro as of now
Might have something to do with the age difference and experience. Nunn is 25, Herro is 21. And Nunn played 4 yrs in college.
His play makes it hard to move him. They’d have to land someone substantial. I don’t know that they would view Dipo as a huge upgrade at this point either.
Either way, I expect at least one of Nunn or Herro, plus salary to get moved for something legit that can help defensively, either at the 4, on the wing, or at guard, preferably in at least 2 of those areas
Nunn is a nice story, but not quite nice enough to make up for Herro’s meh season
For all their youth Miami is still built around Butler who I think is 32 this year? They don’t have a lot of time to waste, and this team as constructed seems like winning a round is probably their ceiling, unless they make a move or two (or Herro’s play improves substantially)
I think they stay hot with Nunn and he is their best option. I had no problem with his benching last playoffs but now there is is an off-and-on trend to worry a predictor about. When on, he can more or less create a team offense pretty much on his own.
formerlyz IDK if he’s mopey or not… if you say he’s not, one should go with that. I bet he can be grumpy though, like Iguodala. Other choices: sleepy sneezy happy doc dopey bashful :)
Nunn smiles all the time, but he plays with that fierce look b/c Miami Heat basketball is about business
Last year, he literally got covid like a week before the bubble, and he just started coming out of that recently
Always thought Nunn was their starting PG. Dragic the solid vet. I think losing Crowder hurt their chemistry. To me he was worth 28 mill 3yrs he got from Suns. Seems with injuries and missing players Heat have been trying to find themselves all yr. Heat in playoffs last yr. Probably played best 2way ball of any team.
They needed to keep at least 1 of Crowder and Derrick Jones jr, and lost both of them. They offered Crowder $14 million, so they didnt lose him b/c of money. They should have been more willing to go to 2 or 3 years b/c those guys would have been movable. That’s why they kept Meyers Leonard, and signed Bradley to the 1+1 deals. Heat like to mess around with their rotation earlier on in the season. Last year, they didnt go to their real lineups until the bubble/playoffs. This year they kind of used the early part of the season as a summer league for their young players, amid the injuries and health protocols…
Crowder was a big part of their team chemistry on offense and defense. That’s not easily replaced. Suns offered 3yrs 30 mill. Heat offered 1 yr 14 mill guaranteed. They lost him cause of money. They didn’t show him the loyalty Crowder showed the Heat team.
“Background on Crowder situation, per source: Heat offered two-year deal with $14 M this season & team option for 2021-22. He instead took 3 years, $30 M from Suns. Heat told him they would love to have him but have a master plan for 2021-22 and sticking to it.They wished him well”
2:20 PM · Nov 21, 2020
Heat could of easily given him 32 mill for 3 yrs. He was a starter and major part of team. 10 mill a yr is a bargain to me
You literally repeated what I said. Its years, not money
They lost him bc of the Giannis dream
Agree, and the Heat also showed no interest in Solomon Hill, a similar type who could do similar things but not that well. Now, for some reason he has 689 minutes in ATL, despite still not being very good statistically. But he must be doing something right!— His guaranteed contract days are over.
Harden has really been cooking with BK. I wonder if the heat regret not trading for him?