Pat Riley Knows Tyler Herro Isn’t Going Anywhere

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“He just turned 20. My gosh.”

That’s what Pat Riley had to say about Tyler Herro in his press conference on Friday afternoon.

There still seems to be some discussion if Tyler Herro is indeed untouchable. Obviously he is above most of the trades that have been discussed in the past, such as Jrue Holiday or Victor Oladipo, but what if an even bigger name gets thrown Pat Riley’s way?

Something that stood out to me about what Pat Riley said when discussing Tyler Herro over other players was that he raved about his future. He even said, “He will go to another level when he gets older.” And if Pat Riley is saying that about a cheap and productive 20 year old rookie, I can guarantee he’ not going anywhere.

Bradley Beal is the name that continually seems to get thrown into the mix when asking if Tyler would still be considered untouchable.

For starters, Bradley Beal is not going anywhere, since he seems like he wants to stay in Washington, at least for now. But if he does end up forcing his way out of Washington in the near future for some reason, I believe it’ll be too late, since Tyler will officially be off of the table.

Something else that stood out when he talked about Tyler Herro was the fact that he loved the mentorship he got from the veterans on the team. He said, “All these veterans took him under their wing because they saw something special in him.”

And Pat Riley does not give up special players. He gives up assets.

The two things that stood out the most to me from what Pat Riley said was his talk about Tyler Herro and “The Next Thing.”

Those two things don’t always need to be connected, because ultimately they are not.

The next thing can be acquired pretty easy without Tyler Herro, since there are plenty of options in both this free agency and 2021 free agency.

Pat Riley and this Heat organization know, Tyler Herro isn’t going anywhere.

 

 

Who Are the Two Back-Up Point Guards Miami Could Consider?

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I’ve been discussing some possible back-up centers quite a lot lately, but what about some possible back-up point guard options?

Obviously the plan for Miami will be to resign Goran Dragic, but if that’s not the case for some reason, these will be some options.

Miami will be looking for a guard who can defend, since they’ve had troubles with the point of attack. And there are two guys that I believe fit their needs for a good price as well.

The first guy is De’Anthony Melton, since he seems to fit the needs of Miami perfectly.

He’s the type of guy that Miami can gamble on over others, since his inability to really shoot the ball gives teams some uncertainty. Miami, on the other hand, is not worried about the shooting aspect of things, since they seem to have that locked up already.

He is a guy that Miami truly could trust against opposing point guards, since he’s proven he can go toe to toe with just about anybody on the defensive end. His competitive spirit and energy also screams Miami Heat guy, which is why Miami will definitely give De’Anthony a look.

He is a restricted free agent though, which means that Memphis will have the ability to bring him back. But it just comes down to how much they truly value him.

Another intriguing pick-up would be Jordan McLaughlin, who Miami Heat fans are very aware of. Jordan seemed to be another one of those unknown players who seem to kill the Heat, when he scored a very efficient 13 points against Miami in late February and hit the go ahead layup on Bam Adebayo with 8 seconds left to eventually win the game.

The reason he’s intriguing is because he’s another one of those two-way players. When he was playing in the Summer League, all people would say when discussing McLaughlin was how defensive minded he was, since he would pick up opposing point guards full court.

Not only would he give Miami exactly what they want and need defensively, but he is also a very solid offensive player. He has the ability to both attack the rim and shoot the three ball, which he can do by creating his own shot.

The fact that not many people know his name tells you Miami will give him a look alone.

He is also a restricted free agent, which means Minnesota will have the option to bring him back as well.

Once again though, it does seem very likely that Miami will resign Goran Dragic, so they won’t need to worry about this position. But if that’s not the case, I believe De’Anthony Melton and Jordan McLaughlin would definitely be at the top of their list.

Miami’s Hunt for a Big Man Isn’t Predicated Around A Fit for Bam Adebayo

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The big talk of both free agency and the NBA draft for the Miami Heat is just trying to fill some holes in their roster.

One of the most important holes that needs to be filled is a big man who can grab them some rebounds and protect the rim a bit.

Something I have noticed though, is that people are getting too hung up on finding a perfect fit to play with Bam Adebayo, and I just don’t believe that’s a worry in the Miami Heat’s eyes.

For one, if Miami grabs a big man in this draft, they’re getting him to sub in for Bam to bring a spark to their center position. They’re not going to be starting this draft selection next to him right away.

Of course the hope is that the selection turns into the starting center of this team, but that is not the direction this team is going. They’re trying to win now.

I understand finding a fit for Bam when discussing free agency, since that starting position can be plugged in immediately. Obviously guys like Serge Ibaka and Danilo Gallinari would be starting right away. But if they grabbed someone such as Aron Baynes or Tristan Thompson, it does not mean they have to play together, since that type of pick-up would be used as a bench role.

And not many should worry about players fitting in with Bam anyways, since Bam makes everybody on the floor better. Jae Crowder, Meyers Leonard, and Kelly Olynyk all shined in their minutes this year when they played next to Bam Adebayo, and not to discredit any of these talented players, but that’s what I like to call the Bam effect.

If Miami was to look at Vernon Carey Jr in this draft, which I believe is very possible, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad pick because he’s not a great shooter from distance and can’t play next to Bam. That would actually just further prove that they’re going to get that extra piece for this team, such as a Jrue Holiday, which means all they need is a trusted back-up center to give them a boost without Bam.

The Miami Heat are finding pieces to compete for an NBA title once again next season, not build for the future.

The time is now and they know it, which is why this “fitting” topic doesn’t mean much to them.

Pat Riley Getting His Words Twisted From Presser

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It’s honestly not surprising that national media and others feel the need to make up fake stories about what Pat Riley had to say in Friday’s presser.

As I mentioned in my recap of Pat Riley’s press conference, the most intriguing points he made was how highly he talked of his player and Erik Spoelstra, and also some talk about acquiring the “Next Thing” by going whale hunting.

Well, that’s not what ESPN took away from what he said, since this is what they thought this meant…

Well, that’s not the only thing that got twisted, since this was another headline this weekend…

And if you actually watched or listened to what Pat Riley had to say on this specific topic, this is very out of context. When asked about what could’ve happened if they had Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic 100% in the finals, he responded with “It’s an excuse.” He also gave the utmost respect to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, since he credited them by saying “The Lakers were great…And they have the greatest player in the game today.”

Pat Riley made sure to clear up his twisted comments today, since people decided to put out false information…

So, before you go listen to this week’s ESPN programs where they will discuss “Pat Riley discrediting the NBA champions,” instead listen to this week’s episodes of Five on the Floor, where they will discuss five different Pat Riley quotes that actually came out of his mouth.

Is LaMarcus Aldridge A Good Fit for the Miami Heat?

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There have been some rumblings about the possibility of LaMarcus Aldridge being traded to the Miami Heat.

There’s not much to dive into about contract stuff, since he’s going into the last year of his deal. I’ve discussed what that means to Miami in past articles when dealing with a guy with an expiring contract. But what I want to look at now is how he would fit with this current team.

To start off, when the Spurs were shopping Aldridge before the deadline, they saw Miami as a possible destination for him, which makes this more interesting.

The Miami Heat were one of the best three point shooting teams this past season, even with two starters that were not three point shooters.

And even though Miami seemed to be pretty dominant throughout the playoffs, teams were constantly trying to eliminate their threes. That obviously led to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo attacking the basket.

Something I mentioned during those stretches was that Miami would need to begin to take the mid-range jumper. That is just something a three point shooting team must do to be successful. For instance, the Golden State Warriors took advantage of that mid-range when they were chased off of the three, which is why Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry improved in that area.

But what better way for Miami to improve that area than to get one of the best mid-range shooters in the game.

LaMarcus definitely gives a little flavor to Miami’s offense with that area of his game, but does he actually compliment Bam Adebayo?

I believe that Bam compliments Aldridge more than Aldridge compliments Bam. But that goes without saying since Bam compliments everybody.

Bam’s length and quickness on the defensive end could really help LaMarcus out on defense, since he’s been playing next to Jacob Poeltl, which means limited movement.

But Miami isn’t making a decision to help out LaMarcus Aldridge, they’re making a decision to help this Heat team.

And ultimately, I believe that he actually hurts Miami more than he helps them. Obviously he’s a savvy veteran who can find his spots on the floor, but I don’t believe that is what Miami needs right now.

They need a big that can stretch the floor with a respectable three ball, be active on the boards, and can protect the rim a bit. And clearly, you wouldn’t be getting that from Aldridge.

And since the league is becoming smaller and smaller by the year, you must have bigs who can at least move around. The speed of LaMarcus on the defensive end doesn’t seem to be enticing as well, which won’t be improving at the age of 35.

I do believe there’s a case to be made that he can help a bit, but I don’t think it’s the best fit, especially since there are so many options this off-season.

Miami is currently whale hunting, and I don’t believe that LaMarcus Aldridge is the biggest fish in the sea.

Miami Has One Decision to Make to Acquire Jrue Holiday

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Pat Riley seemed pretty adamant in Friday’s presser about finding the “next thing,” and going “Whale hunting.”

He is not afraid to pull the trigger on a possible deal that makes them better immediately.

It’s clear though that Jrue Holiday changes this whole team upon arrival, since he’s one of the best defensive guards in this league, and has a solid offensive game.

When people around the league begin to talk about Jrue Holiday, they usually start by talking about his motor.

Sound familiar?

Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler are two guys that play hard on both sides of the ball as well, and are known for their motor and toughness. Jimmy has talked very highly of Jrue in the past as well, as shown here…

It’s pretty obvious that Jrue Holiday fits this organization and team perfectly, but what is the one decision Miami will have to make?

The baseline trade that has been discussed has involved Kendrick Nunn and the 20th pick as the main assets, but I see New Orleans wanting another player instead.

Duncan Robinson.

Obviously everybody knows that if there’s anybody that can pull off a deal without giving up a guy like Duncan, it would be the Miami Heat front office.

But I just don’t see them giving Jrue up unless they get Duncan in return. He fits their team perfectly right now, since his gravity on offense from beyond the arc can open up the floor for Zion Williamson.

His movement without the ball is much like that of JJ Reddick, but obviously you’re going much younger and cheaper.

Now, I definitely believe it’s something that Miami thinks about. I’ve been a strong proponent of keeping the core, but if you are giving up Duncan Robinson for Jrue Holiday, that’s hard to pass up.

A big three of Jimmy Butler, Jrue Holiday, and Bam Adebayo would be a scary sight on the defensive end, since they can basically switch everything. And you still have your 20 year old offensive talent in Tyler Herro.

That’s a team that can win a title right now, and then go after a “whale” in 2021 free agency.

Once again though, it’s hard to see Miami giving up Duncan Robinson like that, especially since they have a bunch of assets right now. I also believe it comes down to how much they value KZ Okpala. If they value KZ more than they value Duncan going forward, I think they do it.

But if they’d rather go forward with Duncan instead of developing KZ, then I believe they can make something work without Duncan.

 

Also, check out an episode of Five on the Floor where they discuss Jrue Holiday.

#BugBrady: Taking Your Miami Heat Questions #3

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Well, it’s still not out of the question that he resigns with Miami. For one, Miami is in search for a big to play with Bam Adebayo or play behind him. And if they don’t sign one of their ideal big man options, Meyers might be a smart resigning.

I actually believe that it would make sense for Meyers to make a return back to Portland, if Miami chooses not to resign him. The city loves him, his teammates loved him, and of course there’s an opening as well.

Hassan Whiteside is entering free agency, and Portland seems to have their starting Center in Jusef Nurkic. This means that Portland will be searching for a back-up big as well, and an old friend may be on the market.

Obviously Miami would love to bring him back due to the leadership he brought to this team, but the question will be if he would rather a much bigger role.

I feel that Miami and Portland may be his two main options.

The easy answer would probably be to try and improve the fundamentals on the defensive side of the ball. It’s pretty obvious that Tyler Herro’s offensive package is pretty solid already, since he has the jumper, the ability to attack, and a nice handle.

I have a feeling there will be a lot of ball-handling improvements that will be made throughout this off-season, especially if he takes the role of starting point guard. He has a great vision for the game, so the passing side of things isn’t an issue.

Another thing I see him improving is his body. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back with even more strength by gaining some muscle, since that ultimately can help on the defensive side of the ball alone.

Well, in my opinion, I feel like Miami would be letting Derrick Jones Jr walk even if they didn’t have KZ Okpala.

But yes, I do feel this makes it pretty certain that DJJ will be gone. KZ already has a skill-set to replicate what DJJ did this season, and obviously much cheaper. We haven’t really been able to see what KZ has to offer right now, but due to the fact that Miami was so high on him upon drafting, and also giving him a full year to develop, I’d say it’s a good replacement.

It makes it even more clear that they will let DJJ walk since he wasn’t even apart of Miami’s rotation upon injuries in the playoffs. Miami felt more comfortable putting in Soloman Hill than Derrick Jones Jr, which further proves they don’t feel the need to give him a good sized contract.

And due to DJJ’s youth, other teams will be looking to sign him since he has a ton of upside. Those teams would probably include the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, and others.

5 Pat Riley Comments from His Miami Heat Presser

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Pat Riley held a press conference with media on Friday afternoon, which he usually does following every season. This one was clearly a little different, since he was doing it in October instead of June. Either way, it was still the iconic Pat Riley speaking about this intriguing Miami Heat team led by Jimmy Butler. Here’s what Pat Riley had to say…

Comment #1:

Pat Riley discussed free agency briefly, mostly since he can’t mention other players directly, but said “If there’s a next thing that can take us to the next level, I’m open to it.” I think this comment was pretty known when discussing the Miami Heat, since Pat Riley is always willing to make a move to win now. There are plenty of guys that can take this team to the next level, including via trade and free agency, but the big fish he’s going to be focused on is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He made it clear throughout that having cap flexibility going forward is a priority, and it’s because of that very reason. He also mentioned that the trade back in February for Soloman Hill, Jae Crowder, and Andre Iguodala had a lot to do with staying flexible. When asked about if this team is good enough to grow on their own or if it needs a boost, he said “I’ll kick that around. Are we good enough or do we need to get onto the next thing earlier.”

Comment #2:

After discussing the possibility of needing the next thing to take them to the next level, he also mentioned the other side of things. Pat said, “Do you just run it back without doing anything? I think about that…We were in the finals.” Not only is Pat Riley thinking about that, but I feel that everybody feels the same way about that question. You may have the ability to try and get somebody to take you to the next level, but you also have the ability to take this youth and watch them grow. Pat ends his answer asking, “Can we get to the Finals next year? That’s a question I’ll kick around with Spo.” This team has so many options and Pat Riley is aware of all of them.

Comment #3:

Pat Riley also discussed their 20 year old rookie who had an amazing post-season run. He starts off by talking about how important the mentorship this season was for Tyler Herro. He mentioned UD, Butler, Goran, Andre, saying “All these veterans took them under their wing, because they saw something special in him.” He also talked about the improvements he can make going forward, saying “He will go to another level when he gets older. He just turned 20. My gosh, he had a great year.” He seemed to shed light on all of Miami’s young core, saying “What a young nucleus we have that can play.” He talked briefly about their centerpiece Bam Adebayo as well, but didn’t want to go into the logistics of his contract moving forward. He did make it clear that they “value Bam Adebayo,” and they take care of the players that they value.

Comment #4:

When Pat was asked about this last NBA Finals and what could’ve happened if Bam and Goran never got injured, he said “It’s an excuse.” He also mentioned that they didn’t have enough, which is another small comment that can mean much more. That seems to be another indication of needing the “next thing.” He also praised Jimmy Butler for his finals performance, calling him “Superman,” and saying that those two game were two of the best he has ever seen. He did give credit to LeBron James and the Lakers, saying “The Lakers were great…And they have the greatest player in the game today.”

Comment #5:

And here’s another one of those famous Pat Riley quotes. “This isn’t for everybody.” That’s what he had to say when discussing the culture of this Miami Heat team. It’s clear that a big reason that culture was shown this season was because they were led by Jimmy Butler. Pat discussed Jimmy for a bit as well, which he said “I love Jimmy.” He also said that Jimmy is a different kinda person, and mentioned his relationship with Jimmy being outside of the box. He then said, “As long as he taps and throws me a heart back, I’m cool.” Its obvious Pat has no worry in losing that intense reputation of that Heat culture, when he has an absolute dog like Jimmy Butler as the leader of this team.

 

Some side notes:

  • Pat Riley mentioned that they will use the 20th pick, but are unsure whether or not they will keep it, which tells me there’s a good shot it ends up getting traded.
  • Goran Dragic will be taken care of by this Heat team.
  • Lastly, although he talks about re-signing and possibly running this thing back, the theme of this presser was the “next thing.” He is always searching for that piece to put them over the top.

Is A Miami Heat Trade for Kyle Lowry the Most Ideal Pick-Up?

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There’s been a lot of discussion about possible trade options for the Miami Heat, including Victor Oladipo and Jrue Holiday, but is Kyle Lowry the best fit?

I believe he is. For one, there’s a known relationship between Lowry and Jimmy Butler. He’s the type of player that Jimmy would love to play with as well, since he’s one of those gritty and tough players.

Miami is also in need of a defensive guard, and with Kyle Lowry, you know you are getting that and more. He’s a guy that you can trust to guard an opposing point guard, which ultimately takes a lot of pressure off Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy would also get some pressure taken off of him on the offensive side of the ball. Lowry averaged 19 points a game this past season, while hitting about 3 threes a game.

The fitting factor with Kyle Lowry on this team is obvious, since he fits the culture mold, but what does this effect?

For one, the Toronto Raptors will not just be giving Lowry away for free. But, the reason they will be willing to make this trade is because they will need to sign Fred VanVleet, and it’s clear that’s the route they will go for their future.

Miami’s trade package that people have discussed lately includes Kendrick Nunn, Kelly Olynyk, the 20th pick, and possibly KZ Okpala. This may seem like a lot for a 35 year old Kyle Lowry, but if Miami was to trade for him, they’d definitely find a way to give up much less than all of these assets.

Another trade that has been discussed is giving up much less, but sending Duncan Robinson to Toronto. Once again, I would not include Duncan in this type of trade, and I don’t believe Miami would either.

It impacts Miami’s cap space for this season as well. Kyle Lowry is going into the last year of his deal, which is worth $30 Million, and could impact possible re-signings for Miami. The only positive thing though is that it wouldn’t impact Miami’s run at Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021, since it will be off the books.

Would Miami be willing to give all of this up for another run at an NBA Championship next season?

Well, I’m not sure, but it’s clear that Pat Riley isn’t afraid to make moves to win now.

Although you may be losing some key role pieces, you’d still have a core of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson. And I believe that you can compete for a title with that core.

Could Miami Go From Kendrick Nunn to Kris Dunn?

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Other than Kris Dunn and Kendrick Nunn’s rhyming last names, they share absolutely nothing alike.

Kendrick Nunn showed throughout this regular season that he is a pretty natural scorer of the basketball, even though it was hard to see that during some stretches of the postseason. Kendrick’s downfall though is that he is not a great defender, and that is what Miami lacked this past season.

Kris Dunn, on the other hand, is one of the league’s best guard defenders in the league. He received the most votes for the all-defensive team among those who didn’t make it this season.

Kris was second in steals per game this season with 2.0 a game, only trailing Ben Simmons with 2.1, which Dunn averaged 10 less minutes a game.

Not only was his name at the top of the defensive statistics like defensive plus/minus, deflections, and loose balls, but he also elevated the Chicago Bulls to a top 10 defense before his injury.

All of these things show pretty clearly how effective he is defensively, but how is he offensively?

Well, he really isn’t the most efficient player. In 51 games played this season, he averaged 7 points a game shooting 26% from three.

That may look bad on a stat sheet, but it really isn’t all his fault.

He did not seem to have a fitting role on this past season’s Chicago Bulls team, especially with Zach Lavine having a decent season, which he controlled the ball most of the time. Dunn was attempting under seven shots a game, which further proves that he wasn’t very comfortable.

And with that offensive uncertainty, many teams will not have as much urge to jump at that type of player.

Unless, you are the Miami Heat.

Miami had one of the most dynamic offensive teams throughout this regular season, due to the shooting out-pour of Duncan Robinson, the evolution of Tyler Herro, and the throwback Goran Dragic season. It’s obvious that Miami doesn’t need scoring right now, they just need exactly what Kris Dunn is.

Kris Dunn is a restricted free agent, which means that Chicago will still have the opportunity to match a possible Miami Heat offer. But would they want to?

They had a pretty good rookie showing from their new point guard last season, in Coby White. And they now have the fourth pick in this NBA years NBA draft. It’s clear the way they’re heading with this roster, and it doesn’t seem that Kris Dunn will be apart of it.

It truly seems like a win-win situation for both Kris Dunn and the Miami Heat. Miami gets their guard defender, while Dunn gets a fitting role.

If Miami has an opportunity to pull off this signing without hurting their other off-season plans and re-signings, I believe they should do it.