Miami Heat Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bradley Beal Praised Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

February 5th, 2021 at 2:19pm CST by JD Shaw

Wizards guard Bradley Beal is committed to sticking with the team this season, but that didn’t stop the 27-year-old from giving high praise to Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo earlier this week, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes.

Beal led Washington to a 103-100 win over Miami on Wednesday, with the teams set to play again on Friday night. Both he and the Heat have been linked to each other in the past, as Miami has long been rumored to be eyeing the veteran in case he becomes available before the March 25 deadline.

Beal also complimented Adebayo, singling out the 23-year-old’s unique ability to guard positions one-through-five. Winderman notes that Miami’s reported interest even caused some Heat fans to cheer for Beal, who finished with a game-high 32 points and eight rebounds in Wednesday’s game.

How The Heat Could Bolster Their Bench

February 4th, 2021 at 10:00pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel speculates about how the Heat can improve their bench depth with potential minimum salary roster additions, especially given the team’s recent rash of short- and long-term player injuries and coronavirus-related player absences.

Avery Bradley Strains Calf, Out 3-4 Weeks

February 4th, 2021 at 7:51pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

A strained right calf will sideline Heat guard Avery Bradley for three to four weeks, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter).

The 6’3″ veteran combo guard has only appeared in 10 games with his new club, having been limited as a result of his recent contraction of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Bradley boasts a slash line of 8.5 PPG/1.8 RPG/1.4 APG, and is shooting a solid 47% from the field and 42.1% from the three-point line.

The Heat inked Bradley to a two-year, $11.6MM contract during the 2020 offseason. The second year is a team option.

As Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald notes (Twitter link), an extended absence for Bradley will likely open up more extended run for second-year guard Kendrick Nunn in the Miami rotation.

The news about Bradley marks the second recent major injury for a 2020 Heat free agent signing. Center Meyers Leonard, re-signed to a two-year deal worth up to $20MM in the off-season (the second season is a team option), suffered a season-ending left shoulder injury that required a Tuesday surgery.

Coronavirus-related absences and key injuries have combined to create a sluggish start to the Heat’s season. After a 2020 Finals run, Miami is the No. 13 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 7-14 record for 2020/21.

Potential PF Upgrades For Heat

February 3rd, 2021 at 10:27pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald considers whether the Heat, losers of seven of their last eight games, should pursue an upgrade at the power forward position, and which players could be available. Miami, who made an exciting Finals run in 2020, are currently the No. 13 seed with an 8-13 record. All-Star Jimmy Butler was absent for 10 of those games, however, wherein the club went 2-8. Veteran Spurs forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay, Rockets forward P.J. Tucker, and 2017 draftees John Collins and Lauri Markkanen all merit mention.

Heat Notes: Leonard, Nunn, Cap Exceptions, Herro

February 3rd, 2021 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Heat will be without Meyers Leonard for the rest of the season following the season-ending procedure he underwent on his shoulder on Tuesday. While the veteran big man hasn’t been a regular part of Miami’s rotation since last February, his teammates will miss his presence in the locker room, according to Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve had, as far as his leadership and his voice,” Tyler Herro said of Leonard. “When he steps into a room or a locker room, he’s always heard and he’s always preaching the right thing.”

“He was always encouraging guys,” Goran Dragic added. “He was the most vocal guy on our team. We’re definitely going to miss him.”

It’s possible Leonard has played his last game for the Heat, since the team is unlikely to pick up his $10.2MM team option for 2021/22.

Here’s more out of Miami:

After starting two games for the Heat last week, Kendrick Nunn has fallen out of the team’s rotation for the last two games. Still, even with Miami’s roster closer to full strength, that likely won’t be permanent. “He’s right there. We are finally at a point in the season where we have to make some tough decisions and that’s not an easy decision for the head coach,” Erik Spoelstra said, per Chiang and Jackson. “Guys just need to continue to stay ready and do whatever is necessary to help us get on track and play more consistently.” Nunn would meet the starter criteria and increase the value of his qualifying offer if he starts five more games this season.
The Heat have no shortage of salary cap exceptions available, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel, who expects the team will be approved for a $4.7MM disabled player exception following Leonard’s surgery. That DPE would supplement Miami’s $7.5MM trade exception and its $3.6MM bi-annual exception. If the club wants to use any of those exceptions, it would mean trading or releasing a player currently on the roster, since the 17-man squad is full.
Tyler Herro, who briefly entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols over the weekend before being cleared, explained on Tuesday that his girlfriend recorded a false positive COVID-19 test (Twitter link via Winderman). Once she recorded two negatives, Herro was cleared to rejoin the Heat without missing any games.

Heat Expected To Apply For DPE

February 2nd, 2021 at 9:17pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Heat are expected to apply for a disabled player exception in the aftermath of Meyers Leonard‘s season-ending shoulder surgery, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets. The DPE would be worth $4.7MM. A DPE gives a team the opportunity to add an injury replacement by either signing a player to a one-year contract, trading for a player in the final year of his contract, or placing a waiver claim on a player in the final year of his contract.

Heat’s Leonard Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Out For Season

February 2nd, 2021 at 5:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

5:57pm: Leonard underwent surgery on Tuesday, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press tweets.

4:33pm: Heat center Meyers Leonard will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.

Leonard has only appeared in three games this season, most recently on January 9. He strained his left shoulder in that game against the Wizards.

Injuries have dogged Leonard since he entered the league in 2012/13. He’s never played in more than 74 regular-season games. In his first season with the Heat last year, he started 49 of 51 regular-season contests and averaged 6.1 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 2o.3 MPG. He only saw action in three games during Miami’s postseason run to the Finals.

Leonard re-signed with the Heat on a two-year deal in November. He’s making $9.4MM this season but the team holds an option for 2021/22 worth $10.152MM. Leonard’s season-ending injury makes it even more unlikely the organization will exercise that option.

Miami has a full roster but could apply for a disabled player exception with Leonard sidelined for the season. It’d be worth $4.7MM if granted.

Windhorst’s Latest: Tucker, House, Shumpert, Oubre, Ball, Butler, Lowry

February 1st, 2021 at 9:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Rockets are seeking a first-round pick or three second-rounders for P.J. Tucker, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his latest Hoop Collective podcast. Houston was unable to reach an extension agreement with Tucker prior to the season and he has been the subject of trade rumors. He’s making a reasonable $8MM this season and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Rockets’ desire to accumulate multiple second-rounders for Tucker has previously been reported but Windhorst indicates they’d want a first-rounder as an alternative. Houston already has a stockpile of first-rounders from the James Harden blockbuster.

Windhorst also divulged a number of other tidbits during his podcast:

Speaking of the Rockets, forward Danuel House has attracted some trade interest around the league. House is signed through next season but he has a team-friendly contract — $3.72MM this season and $3.89MM next season.
Iman Shumpert’s new contract with the Nets is non-guaranteed. Brooklyn filled a roster spot by signing the veteran guard over the weekend.
There are rumors circulating about a potential Warriors–Pelicans trade involving Kelly Oubre and Lonzo Ball. The Bulls, who continue to look for a long-term solution at point guard, might also be interested in Ball, who will have a qualifying offer in excess of $14MM this offseason.
Heat star wing Jimmy Butler lost more than 10 pounds during his recent bout with COVID-19, something that Ethan J. Skolnick also noted last week on the Five on the Floor podcast (hat tip to Radio.com).
The Raptors could be in the market for a player who could jolt their offense. If Toronto doesn’t turn things around, the team might consider offers for Kyle Lowry, who could become an “interesting” rental for a contender. Lowry is headed to unrestricted free agency but his $30.5MM contract would complicate the process of moving him.

Tyler Herro Avoids Being Sidelined By COVID-19 Protocols

February 1st, 2021 at 5:01pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

FEBRUARY 1: Herro is available to play on Monday night, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets.

JANUARY 31: Starting Heat point guard Tyler Herro has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols for the novel coronavirus, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). We relayed earlier today that Herro discovered that his roommate tested positive for COVID-19 during halftime of the Heat’s 105-104 victory over the Kings last night.

Herro is missing practice with the team today and is questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Hornets.

No other Heat players have entered league COVID-19 protocols, Winderman notes, which would suggest that contact tracing has not pointed to teammates needing to quarantine at this juncture. If a contact tracing investigation determines that a player was in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, he is typically required to isolate and test negative for a week before returning to his club.

The Heat have been beset by a number of coronavirus-related absences in recent weeks. Herro’s All-Star teammate Jimmy Butler finally returned to the club last night after missing 10 games due to COVID-19 protocols. He scored 30 points in the win.

Southeast Notes: Butler, Heat, Ball, Isaac

January 31st, 2021 at 5:29pm CST by JD Shaw

The Heat are looking to “right the ship” and improve on bad habits created during the absence of Jimmy Butler and others this month, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel writes.

Butler, who returned on Saturday after missing ten straight games due to the league’s health and safety protocols, poured in 30 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in the contest. It was Miami’s first victory in over a week, snapping a five-game losing streak.

“It’s a start,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We just have to continue to forge ahead. Our spirit has been lifted. It feels different than it did two weeks ago.”

Miami has battled COVID-19 and a series of injuries thus far, opening the 2020/21 season with a 7-12 record. The team has upcoming games scheduled against the Hornets on Monday and the Wizards on Wednesday and Friday.

There’s more from the Southeast Division tonight:

The Heat and Butler mutually missed each other during his absence, David Wilson writes for The Miami Herald. Butler is coming off a season that saw him average 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and six assists per game, leading Miami to its first Finals appearance since 2014.
Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer examines whether Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball is ready to make his first NBA start. Ball scored a career-high 27 points in the team’s win over Milwaukee on Saturday, also adding five rebounds, nine assists and four steals on 8-of-10 shooting.
Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is embracing the grind of his rehab, working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last August, Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel writes. “I like the work. I like getting in and grinding every day,” Isaac said. “I think most people would think that that’s the hardest part but I take it like I’m out there playing on the court when I’m doing my rehab. This is my game right now. But the hardest part is definitely just being on the sideline and watching those guys fighting and just wishing I was out there with them.”