Nine Heat players spoke to reporters today as part of the team’s end-of-season media availability, and many of those players intend to represent their countries in international play this summer, as Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald details.
Nigeria, one of the eight countries to have already clinched its spot in the men’s basketball event at the Tokyo Olympics, has talked to Precious Achiuwa about playing this summer, but he has yet to make a final decision. Teammate Gabe Vincent will train with Nigeria and hopes to make the Olympic roster.
Nemanja Bjelica, meanwhile, plans to play for Serbia at the Tokyo Olympics, while Omer Yurtseven – who signed with the Heat at the end of the season – intends to be part of the Turkish team as the club looks to secure an Olympic berth in next month’s qualifying tournament.
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Veteran center Dewayne Dedmon said that he’d like to return to the Heat next season, but added, “That’s up to the people upstairs.” While Miami’s front office would probably reciprocate Dedmon’s interest, given how he played down the stretch, he’ll only have Non-Bird rights, limiting the team’s ability to give him much of a raise beyond the veteran’s minimum, as Jackson notes.
- Asked about his priorities in free agency, Duncan Robinson offered the following response: “First and foremost, a fit, a place I can really feel comfortable. Winning is a priority for me. And also a business and there’s an opportunity to take care of people that I love.” Robinson will be a restricted free agent, so the Heat will have the ability to match if he signs an offer sheet.
- Udonis Haslem remains undecided on whether he’ll retire or return to the Heat for 2021/22, but he made it clear he doesn’t take his spot on the roster for granted, as Jackson writes. “I don’t have an offseason. I’m 40 years old. If I have an offseason, I might as well retire,” Haslem said. “Straight from the season to back in the gym. I’m calling Bam (Adebayo); his (butt) is coming with me. I’m calling Precious. He’s coming with me.” Haslem added that he doesn’t have interest in coaching, but suggested he wants to eventually own part of a franchise, according to Jackson.
Harlem is a great leader. Rockets can treat John Wall like Harlem, provide the leadership, no need to play because it’s not efficient, and can’t win
His job title would be “tank commander”.
Hope to win lottery in 2022.
Ah yes, my favorite player Udonis Harlem
Once his NBA days are over he’s in great enough shape to head right to the Big3…
or the Haslem Globetrotters!
UD needs to play more in certain matchups. I’ve said it for 4 years. I dont care what anyone says to take away from that. He defines Miami Heat more than anyone. We still need him, and also, we as fans deserve to give him the sendoff he really deserves, with a packed building
Haven’t seen you comment in awhile Z, hopefully you’re doing well through this pandemic. You have the best Heat takes I have seen on here and its so refreshing
I’ve had some stuff with my eyes the last couple of months…actually pretty much I was literally going in for surgery when the Oladipo trade went down lol, but I’m starting to kind of get a little better, after a much longer recovery than usual. Lights and screens are tough. Otherwise doing relatively decently. I appreciate it.
Definitely an interesting scenario for them right now. Kind of wish we saw different rotations in that series, but it’s hard to argue with some of the looks they missed, and saying you should go away from that, when if those shots go in, it’s a completely different series. Only other time I remember similarly questioning Spo rotation decisions in the playoffs is not playing Shane Battier against the Spurs the 2nd time, so I’ll give him a pass on this one…
I really hope they dont lose Duncan Robinson. He is extremely important. You can probably find a way to either spread out that shooting, or maybe develop other pieces, but I feel like he is very valuable, and I wouldn’t want to trade him for anything but specific valuable pieces. Hopefully they can offer him enough to take away the risk of someone giving him a wonky deal, outside of just money, that makes it tough to match. The Heat has Max Strus on a 2 way deal, and he is interesting to potentially fill some of that spot, but I think it’s worth keeping Duncan Robinson barring a really significant roster change.