FEBRUARY 20: The Heat have officially signed Zeller, the team tweets.
FEBRUARY 19: In addition to reaching an agreement to sign Kevin Love, the Heat plan to fortify their frontcourt depth by adding Cody Zeller to their 15-man roster, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press first reported (via Twitter) that Zeller was “targeting” signing with the Heat, after Michael Scotto of HoopsHype stated on Saturday that the veteran center had worked out for Miami.
The fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft, Zeller spent his first eight NBA seasons in Charlotte, then played for Portland in 2021/22. He had a limited role for the Blazers last season, averaging 5.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG in a career-low 13.1 minutes off the bench in 27 games before a right patellar avulsion fracture ended his season.
Zeller signed a non-guaranteed training camp deal with Utah this past September, but failed to earn a spot on the Jazz’s regular season roster and was waived at the end of the preseason. He has been seeking a new NBA home since then, having also worked out for the Lakers earlier in the season.
The Heat’s salary-dump trade of center Dewayne Dedmon prior to the deadline created some extra breathing room below the luxury tax for the organization, putting Miami in position to fill its 14th and 15th roster spots without becoming a taxpayer. The deal also thinned out the team’s frontcourt depth, so when the Heat went shopping on the buyout market following the deadline, they were said to be focusing on frontcourt players rather than guards.
Zeller will give Miami an experienced veteran option on the depth chart behind All-Star center Bam Adebayo. Omer Yurtseven, Orlando Robinson, and Udonis Haslem are also in the mix at the five, but Yurtseven is coming off ankle surgery and hasn’t played at all this season, Robinson is on a two-way contract and is nearing his games-played limit, and Haslem hasn’t played regular minutes for the last few years.
Assuming Love and Zeller both officially sign, as expected, the Heat would have a full 15-man roster, leaving no room for Robinson to get a promotion or Jamaree Bouyea to get another 10-day deal unless another player is waived.
We’ll see how that situation plays out, but if Robinson isn’t in the franchise’s plans going forward, Miami could cut him when he reaches his games-played limit, then bring back Bouyea to a two-way contract.
Kevin Love and Cody Zeller is two really good pickups. Kevin Love can backup Caleb Martin at the four and Cody Zeller can backup Bam Adebayo at the five. The Miami Heat needs front court depth and they got it. The Miami Heat been hit hard with injuries and I would love to see them fully healthy. If they get fully healthy they can play with anybody. Then Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo have chemistry from when they played at Indiana University together.
How do you play Zeller & Love at the same time?
Answer: you don’t
And nobody is asking that question except you.
Did that comment come straight out of your namesake?
Straight out of Giza
As I said previously, I like Cody Zeller, but I dont get that roster count wise, unless maybe they dont expect Yurtseven back, but then, they just moved off Dedmon to open the spot, so I would have liked to have seen them use it on a 4, or especially someone that can play smallball 5 for them.
I also think Zeller is more for situational matchups, and will have the same issues guarding in smallball lineups they’ve had, and I assume Bam or Love will play the 5 most of the time for now
situational matchups definitely. bucks playoff series.
Not when Brook Lopez is off the floor and using Giannis or Portis at the 5. Celtics with Grant William’s and Horford
Picking up Zeller and Love. At this time of year. Is a big plus for Heat. Assuming they are good to go. Zeller is more for insurance. Love will get mins. Gives Heat decent depth. Don’t want to burn out Adebayo. Heat got better imo.
Good idea cause bam and butler definitely needs some help to help close out games. Been losing by only 2 pts. Caleb Martin and max struss gets to many files on them which leads to extra points for the other team which adds to there lead. Cut dwn on the files and continue to play well.
Martin is their pf. Worst in the NBA. 6’8 bam at center lol. What a joke
Not anymore. Should be a little bit better with these two guys.
Can see them using KLove as a starter and have him playing as their 5 a lot on defence and Bam the 4. Mainly cause KLove is slower in the pick and roll and can’t switch but also because Kevin is a much better rebounder.
Then offensively Kevin will help space the floor which is a huge bonus for the Heat.
Martin suits that back up role and Zeller is another big body they can throw in situationally.
Good moves by the heat
Wonder if this means no more Orlando Robinson time ?
Damn shame if they lose Orlando Robinson, the kid was showing good progress – he knows his place in the half-court, active on the boards, putbacks.
He has shown enough. It’s inevitable that some other team will pick him up.
I think it was always going to be between Yurtseven and Robinson. They’re not the same, but they’re ideally similar in terms of how they would be used. Robonson is obviously still more raw, but he took steps forward this year. I agree. He was impressive in his role, and was theoretically a fit, if they had the roster space. I’m interested to see how he develops as his body continues to change. Again, I think his future here depends on Yurtseven, but I could see them circling back in the offseason, either with some sort of deal they make where they send someone out, or of they flat out lose Yurtseven in FA somehow
That being said, the Heat had/have other young guys I would prefer to keep as well, and for me, over him. If they werent going to sign someone else for that roster spot at the 4/5, I would have rather seen the spot go to 1 of those guys
Nothing against Zeller though
Would have thought Favors over Zeller
The heat were talking to both Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.. they passed on both… wonder what that says that Cody Zeller is on the roster and they aren’t…
btw.. if you want to know how the Heat “passed” on them.. Westbrook announced the Clippers hours after Cody Zeller was announced for the Heat… and Serge Ibaka openly said he was interested in signing with the Heat
That pic of Zeller is classic. Birdman.
With Love and Zeller, it was about time that they finally added some big guys to help protect Bam.
At least a year overdue for moves like this. Dedmon should’ve not been on the roster this season or last season.