Miami Heat’s Preseason Schedule Released

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It was just released that the NBA Preseason will begin on December 11th, which is exactly two weeks from today.

The Miami Heat won’t kick off their season until December 14th, which will be against the New Orleans Pelicans.

After Miami plays New Orleans at home, they will take a four hour bus ride up to Tampa, to face off against the Toronto Raptors.

They are trying to bundle up games to make it as safe as possible, and the preseason games clearly worked out well for Miami.

Obviously there’s not much to dive into with exact match-ups yet, but there are some things that will be interesting for Miami.

For one, these two games will be great for Precious Achiuwa to get some run, since he doesn’t have the luxury of getting acquainted in the NBA Summer League.

Jimmy Butler and crew will need to get some run at the start as well, since working their way back in slowly will be important after such a quick off-season turnaround.

We may see these first two preseason games as a showcase for Miami, since there are a bunch of guys who are unsure of their exact role.

We will see how it all plays out, but at least basketball officially returns in two weeks. And that might be a long two weeks for many people.

Kendrick Nunn: Bounce-Back or Bounce-Out

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Kendrick Nunn is probably one of the more intriguing players heading into this next season for the Miami Heat.

He had a solid rookie season, in which he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. But after a disappointing bubble stretch, he isn’t getting the same respect.

He had some personal issues and Covid when he was heading in, so it was obvious that basketball wasn’t the primary thing on his mind. Then he went from starting point guard to out of the rotation, so that clearly had to weigh on his mind as well.

But what stood out most, in my opinion, was the heart he showed in the NBA Finals when he got some minutes. There were many moments that Miami couldn’t get anything going, since they were without Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo, but Nunn stepped up and hit some shots like he did all season.

With all that said, it seems as if Nunn should go back to a similar role heading into his second season, but that’s not the case.

He will be the third guard coming off the bench, since Goran Dragic and Avery Bradley will clearly have a bigger role than Nunn. As I’ve mentioned though, depth will be key this season and Miami has it, but Nunn still won’t have a defined role in the rotation.

There’s still a chance he can get some free-lancing minutes and shine, but there just isn’t a clear opening in the rotation to insert Kendrick Nunn right now.

That means that Erik Spoelstra will experiment with him in the first half of the season, then Miami can consider flipping him at the deadline.

Once again, his offensive talent has shined many times, which means he should be getting minutes and trying to develop with a defined role in this league. But I’m not so sure Miami fits that criteria for him right now.

We will see what ends up happening this season, and if Nunn can show out for the Heat right away, then that’s a good problem to have if you’re Miami. But then it’s decision time for Erik Spoelstra and the coaching staff.

A Deep Dive into the Miami Heat’s Bench this Season

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Something I have mentioned quite a few times is that bench units will be crucial in the NBA next season. This will be a season that we have yet to see, since positive Covid tests could pop up at any time.

And for the Miami Heat, they had a much shorter off-season than others, which unfortunately could mean they will be more inclined to injury.

Either way, Miami’s bench will be a huge strength next season.

Going through the roster, they are filled with both veterans and youth, which will be interesting for Coach Erik Spoelstra since he will have quite a few avenues to choose.

Depth is something that isn’t so common among the rest of the East as of right now, especially if a team like Brooklyn trades away all of their assets for James Harden.

Anyways, here’s an advanced look into what the Miami Heat’s bench could look like next season, assuming the starting lineup is Herro/Bradley, Robinson, Butler, Adebayo, and Leonard. (And by the way, this is just speculation)

Goran Dragic:

Miami is very lucky to have a guy of Goran Dragic’s caliber coming off the bench, since it’s clear he’s a very quality starter. He showed that in the bubble for Miami, since they upgraded his role to starting point guard after he was Miami’s go to scorer in the playoffs. He told media about his role for next season, “If he needs me to come off the bench, I’ll come off the bench. If he wants me to start, I’ll start.” And I wouldn’t be surprised if they do the same thing as they did this past season, by starting him once the post-season begins.

Tyler Herro/ Avery Bradley:

As mentioned, there’s still uncertainty of what the starting lineup will look like, but I believe the final guard spot will be between Tyler Herro and Avery Bradley. That said, I think Tyler Herro starts by the beginning of the season, but Avery Bradley could be plugged in for him in certain match-ups. Either way, one of them will be on the bench, and will make huge contributions. Tyler Herro for offensive spark and Avery Bradley for a defensive spark, which once again will be situational. Putting either one of these guys next to Goran on a bench unit will be effective, which they will look to expose opposing team’s benches.

Andre Iguodala:

Andre Iguodala is one of those players on Miami’s roster that hasn’t been discussed much during the off-season, but he will be a huge part of this team next season, especially after losing Jae Crowder. For starters, Andre will make a major impact just due to his veteran leadership for the young guys once again. Having guys like KZ Okpala and Precious Achiuwa trying to work their way in, Andre can really help with their development. But on the floor, it’s obvious he can still bring his strengths of defensive versatilities or offensive IQ. He is still a very quality basketball player who will continue to be a great reliever for Jimmy Butler when he exits the floor.

Moe Harkless:

Miami was very lucky to land a quality wing, in Moe Harkless, to replace Derrick Jones Jr. DJJ was much more of an upside guy, while Harkless is the definition of a solid role player. He gives Miami the perimeter defense that they were looking for, as well as an intriguing jumper. He’s a career 36% three point shooter, which was about what Jae Crowder was when he joined Miami. As Moe Harkless said in his media session, “It’s a perfect fit.” And I believe it is, since he will play whatever role that he is given, as well as representing that Miami Heat grit on the floor.

Kelly Olynyk:

Kelly Olynyk is another one of those players that hasn’t been discussed much throughout the off-season, only hearing his name when a potential trade seems to come up. Of course he’s the type of guy that can possibly get packaged in a deal before the deadline, but as of right now, he’s a quality back-up big for the Miami Heat. I believe he will be even more impactful if Tyler Herro ends up starting, since a bench lineup would lack a bit of shooting. Kelly is a bit streaky at times, but when he’s hitting from deep, it’s a huge plus for Miami. We will see how his role look this season, but I believe it will be pretty identical to the one from this past season.

Kendrick Nunn:

Kendrick Nunn is an interesting name to look at when going through the rotation. He was the starter for Miami this past year as a rookie, and absolutely thrived. He had such a great season that he ended up finishing second in rookie of the year voting. He did seem to struggle in the bubble, but there were a couple different reasons why that happened. And now when looking at Miami possibly playing Goran and Avery off the bench, he seems to be the odd man out as far as guards. He’s another player that could possibly get dealt by the deadline, but he also has a chance at coming back at the same level at which he played in his rookie year. And that would mean Erik Spoelstra has some decisions to make.

KZ Okpala/ Precious Achiuwa:

Finally, the two intriguing young prospects, KZ Okpala and Precious Achiuwa. The departure of Jae Crowder gives them yet another shimmer of chance to try and get some playing time. KZ Okpala, as I’ve mentioned, went through a similar Miami Heat process that we’ve seen before. Duncan Robinson went through the same process in his rookie season, two-way contract while bouncing back and forth from the G-League, and look how that turned out. Obviously there’s less openings as of right now, but Miami clearly sees something in him after not wanting to include him in any deals. Precious Achiuwa is another interesting name when looking at the rotation, since frankly we haven’t seen him play at this level. Not having the Summer League to adjust into the Pro level definitely hurts him as well, but if you’re going to trust any team with player development, it’s the Miami Heat. We will see how they elect to utilize their two emerging 21 year olds, since they each are full of potential.

Jimmy Butler: The Leader is Being Overlooked

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Many people have been so caught up with Giannis Antetokounmpo signings and Bradley Beal trades, that they seem to forget about the leader and star of this Heat team.

Jimmy Butler.

After an outstanding playoff run and finals performance, you’d think that he’d never be overlooked again. But well, it seems as if some have forgotten what he is capable of.

Of course, Miami could possibly pull off a trade at any moment, but ultimately Jimmy is the leader of this team right now, or even if a star lands in South Beach.

Jimmy Butler continually told people in the bubble that this team was going to do something special, and although people doubted, they did just that.

And now that people are possibly counting out Miami since they didn’t sign another star, he feels right at home. Doubt is what drives Jimmy Butler, and actually the entire Heat team.

He had a vision of what he wanted this Heat team to look like and it shaped out pretty perfectly for him. He wanted Goran Dragic back in a Heat uniform no matter what, and also wanted a gritty guard defender in Avery Bradley. And he got both.

He also got to keep his young gems in Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, and Duncan Robinson. Well, at least for now.

The point is that stars will find themselves in Miami sooner than later, but Miami already has their star. He proved that he can be the best player on the floor on any given night once the post-season begins, and doesn’t even need the ball in his hands to be productive.

Heat fans clearly know the importance and level of play from Jimmy Butler, but there seems to be a loss of appreciation due to trades and free agency rumors.

Miami already has their star. And they can still grab another one during the grind to another NBA title, but that’s Pat Riley and Andy Elisburg’s job, not Jimmy Butler’s.

Jimmy is going to go out there and compete no matter who is playing next to him. And right now he’s got a happy and paid Bam Adebayo, a hungry Tyler Herro, a bunch of role guys putting the work in, and many young players ready to prove themselves by making that next jump.

Jimmy Butler is ready to run it back. And whether you appreciate his star status on this team is up to you.

Media Zoom Call with Heat’s Moe Harkless, Avery Bradley

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Both of Miami’s free agency acquisitions spoke with media today, and there was one word that floated around frequently.

Culture.

Moe Harkless talked about picking Miami, saying “You look at the culture, you look at the way they play.” He mentioned that there were a few teams that he was considering, but Miami was the clear fit.

He discussed the team’s success last year as well, saying “When things got harder, they fought harder.” And with the entire league watching from home, that clearly shot through the television screen.

He singled out Jimmy Butler, since he mentioned he’s exited to learn from him, since he’s “one of the hardest working players in the league.”

Moe was also asked what intrigues him the most about playing with Jimmy and Bam. He responded, “They leave everything out there on the floor…You watch Jimmy play, he’s constantly pointing to his teammates. Bam does the same thing.”

Avery Bradley also talked about his excitement for joining the Miami Heat, saying “I always felt if I ever had an opportunity to play here, I’d fit in perfect.”

He also made sure to set his goals straight, which are led by a personal goal of being on the All Defensive team once again, as well as winning a championship.

Avery also mentioned the team’s success this past season, saying “I feel like a lot of people aren’t even talking about our team. And they were just in the Finals.”

And well, that’s gonna be the case at all times when you join the Miami Heat.

To end it off, he gave some love to bunch of people individually. He praised Erik Spoelstra and his coaching staff for his success in the past, as well as getting the most out of every player.

Then when discussing the Miami Heat’s stars, he said, “Jimmy being one, Bam being one, and Tyler being an emerging star.”

Both Bradley and Harkless are very ready to get started with this Heat team, and lucky for them, training camp beings in exactly one week.

Bam Adebayo Signs Extension with Miami

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The Miami Heat gave Bam Adebayo a much deserved extension, worth $163 Million over 5 years.

This honestly shouldn’t have been much of a surprise, since there’s absolutely no reason to take the risk of waiting. He’s been watching a few of his good friends, De’Aaron Fox and Donovan Mitchell, get big time extensions as well.

Bam Adebayo is the textbook definition of a max/centerpiece player in today’s league. He deserves his money and he deserves it right now.

Obviously this makes many Heat fans wonder about the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation, but once again, that is not Bam’s problem.

As Barry Jackson reported here, he has heard that Giannis will be more impressed if they extend Bam than make him wait. Obviously, the Giannis situation could possibly be in play, but it would be via trade.

This also could mean for Miami that they’re more willing to make a big trade for a guy like Bradley Beal, since the trade route is the only route right now.

But Miami is in no rush. They were prepared for this extension for Bam, since it would’ve been a huge surprise if he waited a year.

They have a plan. And it may be a plan that not many people have been discussing.

The Perfect Balance: Veterans and Youth

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One of the most intriguing parts of last season’s Miami Heat team, was that they were young, but also filled with veterans around them.

And well, that will be the case this season as well for Miami. They have some young guys ready to make that leap, such as Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala, but also have guys like Udonis Haslem, Goran Dragic, and Jimmy Butler to teach them the ropes.

Goran Dragic also thinks this is a huge plus for this team, when he discussed Precious Achiuwa, saying “He’s gonna be a big piece of this team. Me, UD, Jimmy, we’re here to help him.”

And that’s a big deal in this league. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are both great talents, but they both had a mentor by their side every step of the way.

Bam had Udonis Haslem to go to if he had any questions, which ultimately helped him a lot.

Tyler had Goran Dragic this past season, which was even more impactful, since he had the luxury of playing next to him when they came off the bench.

And of course they still have Andre Iguodala, who is the ultimate veteran you’d want on the roster.

Bringing in a 29 year old Avery Bradley adds to that balance as well, since he’s been around the league for quite a few years.

Although it’s clear that Miami’s youth needs their veterans, the veterans also need the youth. It’s just something that comes full circle, since they need fresh legs to come in and take over a game at times, which happened quite a lot this past season.

In Miami’s 12 man rotation next season, they will have six guys 26 or under, and six guys 27 or over.

That is balance. And that matters.

Especially since this season will be very unique once again. So it’ll be interesting to see which type of players benefit most.

Media Zoom Call with Heat’s Meyers Leonard, Goran Dragic

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After Meyers Leonard and Goran Dragic both reached a deal at the start of free agency with the Miami Heat, they spoke with media about their return.

Meyers discussed his excitement to return to Miami, saying “There was unfinished business.”

He mentioned that his ankle injury in the bubble restricted a lot of the things that he wanted to do. He said, “I think it had everything to do with it.”

Now that he is healthy, he mentioned that he’s been working out like crazy, after being inspired by what Jimmy Butler did in the bubble. He said, “Watching what Jimmy Butler did…It made me feel like I could run through a wall in all of my off-season training.” And he looks like he picked up that Jimmy Butler mentality when he kept reiterating that he doesn’t care about what his stat sheet looks like.

Goran Dragic also talked with media, which he answered a question about losing Jae Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr. He mentioned “They made us better,” but went straight to discussing their new acquisitions in Avery Bradley and Moe Harkless. He discussed the fact that both of them are great defenders, and both have guarded him in the past.

He also said that he doesn’t care what his role is next season, “If he needs me to come off the bench, I’ll come off the bench. If he wants me to start, I’ll start.”

He also made sure to give praise to the rest of his teammates like Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and even incoming rookie Precious Achiuwa.

He mentioned that Precious will be a “big piece of this team.”

And well, it’s very possible with some slots opening up on this roster.

Goran Dragic is confident in this Heat team and so should Heat fans.

Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA

NBA Foundation Board of Directors Announced

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On October 9th, 2020, representatives from all areas of the sport were announced in the NBA Foundation Board of Directors. The board is made up of players, executives, and the NBA Board of Governors. Similarly, 

 

NBA Popularity and Betting at Sloto Cash Casino

 

Depending on who you read, there are many theories as to the future of the NBA. Some say that the sport is more popular than ever, while others suggest it is losing viewers. 

 

However, many people choose to bet on NBA results through sites like Sloto Cash Casino which suggests that the NBA is still one of the favorite sports in the U.S. It seems that betting on sport is always popular regardless of whether people choose to watch the games or not.And, free wagering options such no deposit games have made it easier for the new sports enthusiasts.

 

Origins of the Foundation

 

Back in August 2020, the NBA Board of Directors announced that they are contributing $300 million of initial funding to create the NBA Foundation. It is anticipated that the Foundation will help to create a better economic situation for black communities. The NBA’s mission is to help black men and women who are at high-school or college, train, and develop the skills needed for career advancement.

 

The Foundation will also set up a leaguewide charitable foundation to be funded by all 30 NBA team owners who will contribute a total of $30 million every year. They hope that this money will be instrumental in enhancing youth unemployment, internships, and other career development programs.

 

Who Will be on the Board?

 

Eight representatives have been chosen including players, executives, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), and league office for the inaugural members of the board.

 

  • Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings Forward


  • Gayle Benson, New Orleans Pelicans Governor


  • Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers Forward


  • Michael Jordan, Charlotte Hornets Chairman


  • Tony Ressler, Atlanta Hawks Principal Owner


  • Michele Roberts, NBPA Executive Director


  • Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner


  • Larry Tanenbaum, NBA Board of Governors Chairman and Toronto Raptors Governor

 

As you may have noticed from that list, one name, in particular, stands out – Charlotte Hornets Chairman and former Bulls star Michael Jordan. Having such a high-profile former player on the board will no doubt help to raise the awareness of what they are trying to achieve.

 

Jordan has been the majority owner of the Hornets since 2010 after also landing a minority steak in the Bobcats. He is also trying to leave a legacy outside of the sport with the opening of a second medical clinic in October 2020.

 

NBA Principles

 

The NBA has always sought to highlight the issues surrounding racism and inequality, the Foundation is seen as one more step they can take to finally address those issues. However, not everyone believes they should be using the sport to be political. Even President Trump has become involved. In an article in Variety, he is stated as saying the NBA is in “big trouble” after kneeling during the national anthem. They were protesting against police brutality and racial inequality.

 

Some believe that it is the political stance taken by a few of the players and coaches that has led to the drop in viewers. The NBA just like any other sport has been struggling with the COVID lockdown and trying to keep the game moving in recent months. 

 

Miami Signs Undrafted Rookie Breein Tyree

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Well, there it is. In the very deep 2020 NBA draft, it was clear that there would be a lot of undrafted gems waiting to get picked up. And the Miami Heat got their guy.

Breein Tyree, a point guard out of Ole Miss, is a very intriguing prospect due to his wide offensive package. He averaged 19.7 points per game in his senior season in a variety of ways.

It’s clear that he can shoot the three ball with ease, since he knocked down two of them a game at a 36% clip.

Most of his three point shooting seems to be even more pure off the catch and shoot, which makes me think he will play more off-ball at the NBA level.

He does have a lot of on-ball attributes as well though, since he has a few signature cross-overs and step-backs that he loves to use. Those moves allowed him to be a huge threat when attacking the rim, which he did a lot of in college. One thing that stood out on his drives to the basket was that he’s very crafty around that area, and knows how to use the backboard to his advantage.

Most people would just go on and on about his offensive package, but he also has some defensive potential. He has very active hands and knows how to hit passing lanes. He’s the type of defending guard that Miami likes, giving it his all on that end of the floor. He has shown some issues one-on-one when trying to beat around screens and things of that nature, but these are things that can be cleaned up.

The reason this signing makes sense for Miami is because he shows a ton of upside, and that’s the type of player that Miami usually goes after.

I’ve seen this story before: drafting a rookie, signing an undrafted rookie, and getting ready to unleash a second year player who spent his rookie season in the G-League.

It would’ve been an ideal situation to throw Tyree into the Summer League and G-League, but obviously things will look a lot different this season. It’ll be interesting to keep track of his growth this next season.

And by the way, if Miami picked him up, there’s a reason.