Alejandro Villegas

Miami Heat’s Young Core vs. the NBA

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How do you evaluate an NBA team’s young nucleus?

Typically, it comes down to the potential of their rookies and whether any of their recent rookies have elevated closer to star status.

Well, the Miami Heat have both.

And they’ve done it without the high picks of other teams.

The Heat have not even taken the projected player in their past few drafts. Bam Adebayo was not expected to go to Miami at 14, and Tyler Herro was not supposed to be the number 13 pick. This is because the Heat not only pick the player who best fits the team, but also who most fits the culture. Bam and Herro are both proponents of the culture with their work ethic and winning mentality.

The Heat also have a history of cultivating and empowering undrafted prospects. Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, and Derrick Jones, Jr., did not make it to this point the traditional route. This means that they already had a bit of Miami Heat grit upon entering. Now, they play huge roles on a top 4 seed and are hardly finished products, even though Robinson just turned 25 and Nunn is 24.

Well, here’s where they fit among the rest of the NBA…

The criteria for this list is players under 25 and is ranked based on potential of the young core.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves 

Karl Anthony Towns, D-Angelo Russell, Jarrett Culver, and Josh Okogie

The Minnesota Timberwolves are ranked 5 due to the new addition, D’Angelo Russell, via trade with the Golden State Warriors. There is chemistry between Russell and Towns since they came up together through high school and AAU. Jarrett Culver is an intriguing young prospect who has gotten quality minutes this past year along with Josh Okogie. Josh has made himself known through his toughness on the defensive side of the ball and scrappiness. These four guys elevate this team to number 5 on this list.

4. Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Romeo Langford, and Carson Edwards

Jayson Tatum has had a breakout season as a No. 1 or No. 2 option, averaging 24 points per game and validating his choice on the All-Star team. This goes the same for Jaylen Brown, a defensive stopper with versatility who was in the All-Star discussion also. Boston has other young pieces, but Carson Edwards, Romeo Langford, and Tacko Fall have not shown much in their rookie years so far. If they do start to show improvement, especially Langford, there’s a chance this core could be on top.

3. Miami Heat

Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, and Derrick Jones Jr

The Miami Heat have made the biggest jump when discussing young cores after drafting Tyler Herro, picking up Kendrick Nunn, and molding Duncan Robinson. Bam Adebayo went from being a guy that had a good amount of potential to being indispensable with limitless upside. Derrick Jones Jr has also been a big time role player for the Heat, especially with his defensive versatility, though it’s questionable whether they will be able to re-sign him, even though he wants to stay.

 

2. Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, Brandon Clarke, and Justise Winslow

Ja Morant looks like the Rookie of the Year, not only averaging 18 points a game and providing highlight dunks, but leading his team to a surprise playoff position with his distribution and late-game playmaking. Brandon Clarke has been historically efficient as a rookie, a polished player who is a perfect complement to Morant. Jaren Jackson Jr has made major improvements in his second year, becoming a 17 points per game scorer with shooting range. And of course, if Winslow can stay healthy, we’ve seen what he can do. The question is how he will fit off the ball with Morant, after seemingly assuming point guard duties in Miami.

 

1. New Orleans Pelicans 

Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Jaxson Hayes

There’s no surprise here with the amount of young talent they’ve gotten in the last year. They were able to trade for Lonzo Ball, who is one of the best passing point guards in the NBA, and Brandon Ingram, who finally flourished and became an All-Star this year, showing some Kevin Durant lite qualities when Zion Williamson was out. Jaxson Hayes also showed signs of improvement as his rookie season progressed. This young core has the most potential over the next couple years.But this, of course, is mostly about Zion, the most intriguing prospect since LeBron James, who started to dominate prior to the shutdown.  Now the Pelicans just need some veterans, other than just Jrue Holiday, to help them consistently compete for a top seed in the West.

 

DeVante Parker took flight for seven catches for 159 yards against the Eagles. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

DeVante Parker holds his own in Instagram battle with Michael Thomas

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas had a nice and friendly Instagram exchange on Monday night. It was certainly a sight to behold, and I have to give the advantage to Parker in this one.

The NFL on FOX Instagram asked the question which feat was harder: Catching a pass on Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore or breaking up a pass while guarding Michael Thomas? Parker answered catching a pass on Gilmore, much to the chagrin of Thomas.

As some of you may recall, Parker had a rather easy time catching passes in Gilmore’s direction. In what was a win versus the New England Patriots in December, Parker recorded  eight receptions for 137 yards. In any event, he still made the Defensive Player of the Year look silly.

DeVante Parker won this battle

Parker certainly has a point. When I watch Thomas play, he catches a pass from Drew Brees on a five- yard slant and then makes things happen after the catch. Parker for one has never had the luxury of a Drew Brees. Secondly, Parker makes things happen down the field and doesn’t rely on the slant.

Sure, people can knock Parker for not being healthy. Health has certainly been an issue for him over the course of his career. However, he is undoubtedly one of the most explosive receivers in the game when healthy. The 2019 season really proved that. He was able to find his groove, particularly late in the

season. Hopefully, he can build off that and give the Miami Dolphins a true number one receiver in 2020.

With nothing else going on, social media had a field day with the exchange between the two receivers. Here’s a little bit of a glimpse at what the rest of the world thought of this heavyweight battle.

 

 

 

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa officially signs rookie contract

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The Miami Dolphins have locked up the future. According to Field Yates of ESPN.com, the Miami Dolphins have signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a four-year contract worth over $30 million. The contract has a fifth-year team option.

Tagovailoa is viewed as the franchise quarterback for Miami. He put together a great career at the University of Alabama. With over 70,00 passing yards, 87 touchdowns, and one 3,000-yard season, Tagovailoa put together a solid career in Tuscaloosa. Now, he will look to be that same stabilizing force for Miami.

As of the time of publishing this article, he is the second top-10 pick to have signed a contract with his team. Derrick Brown of the Carolina Panthers is the other.

There has already been so much hype surrounding his arrival in Miami. From wearing the number one, to getting praise from Dan Marino, Tagovailoa has had a busy couple of months.

Now, the Miami Dolphins need to focus on signing their other two first-round picks. Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene  are the other draft picks in question.

Miami Dolphins spending big this offseason

It’s reassuring that Miami has already signed Tagvailoa. Sometimes, rookie contracts can take a while to sign, and the negotiating process can take longer than expected. Especially with the uncertainty of the season, the fact that the Miami Dolphins were able to get this deal done quickly is certainly a positive.

According to a tweet from Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Tua is just the seventh-highest paid Dolphin. Interestingly enough, two of the players on the list were already on the team prior to this offseason. The rest on the list are new arrivals.

Now, the waiting game begins. No one knows for sure when Tagovailoa will make his debut. Some have speculated it could come in the second half of the season. Whatever the case may be, he is now officially in the fold.

Former target Walker switches course, will transfer to Miami

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In an interesting turn of events, former Florida and Miami Norland offensive tackle Issiah Walker recently entered the transfer portal after spending only four months in Gainesville. Early Saturday afternoon, the 6’4” 309 lb. lineman announced on Twitter that he is returning home and transferring to the University of Miami. He originally signed with Florida as part of their 2020 recruiting class and he had been enrolled since  January. Miami is essentially getting the 15th-best tackle in the country coming out of high school and 156th overall regardless of position.

 

https://twitter.com/walker_issiah/status/1259183711985315840

 

Walker will also apply for a hardship waiver to gain immediate eligibility to play this season. 

 

Even before Walker signed with the Gators during this past Early Signing Period, it was no secret that Miami wanted his services. He decommitted from South Carolina in July of 2019 and from then on, it was strictly a Miami-Florida battle. 

 

Walker flirted with both schools often and took frequent visits to Coral Gables, forming great relationships with head coach Manny Diaz and then-offensive line coach Butch Barry. Dan Mullen and the Gators eventually won out in October and received a commitment from him. 

 

But once he entered the transfer portal this past Monday, Miami’s coaches were quick to make a move.

 

There was no specific reasoning given by Walker on his decision to transfer but it is essentially a homecoming of sorts as his high school is only a mile and a half away from Hard Rock Stadium. 

 

This is a huge win for the Canes. Despite having a top-15 recruiting class during this past cycle, Miami only signed two offensive linemen in Jalen Rivers and Chris Washington. 

 

But the unit overall performed very poorly in 2019 and needed much more help. Diaz went as far as even switching to former UNLV OL coach Garin Justice to lead this year’s unit. Walker can now come in provide that help up front as well as add to the depth for the next few years.

 

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa set to wear No. 1 as new era begins

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We finally have an idea as to what number new Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is going to wear. According to  the team, Tagovailoa is set to wear number one for Miami.

Cam Newton, Kyler Murray, and Warren Moon are some of the more recent quarterbacks to have worn the number.

Let us not forget that Randall Cunningham also wore this number towards the end of his career. He had quite an impressive career of his own.

 

The bottom line is, the number one carries a lot of weight. The exclusivity of the number itself means that  the Miami Dolphins are putting their trust in Tua.

In total, there have been 110 players who have worn number one. That certainly makes Tagovailoa’s jersey number even more special.

Tagovailoa war number 13 while at Alabama.  There was a debate in social circles whether or not the dolphins would  unretire Dan Marino’s number. However,  this announcement puts that debate to rest.

The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era

The Miami Dolphins are looking to enter a new era of football. The organization has received an overhaul this offseason. Tagovailoa is a big  part of this overhaul. He has certainly brought energy to the organization as the Miami Dolphins look to rise back to the top of the AFC East.

With this jersey number for the rookie, the Dolphins are making a statement. They believe Tua is the future of the organization. With the New England Patriots undergoing a rebuild in the post-Tom Brady era, the entire AFC East now has a chance to compete.

More so than any other team in the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills will undoubtedly be a thorn in the side of the Miami Dolphins for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, wearing number one, Tagovailoa will help bring the organization back to respectability and help them land a spot in the playoffs.

5 Reasons the Heat were Successful this Season

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In a recurring Five Reasons series, here’s a quick look at why the Miami Heat went 41-24 before the NBA eason was suspended…

1. Jimmy Butler has done exactly what Pat Riley brought him here to do.

Jimmy Butler came into this season with the Heat with a lot of doubt. Many said he came to Miami to retire. Well that discussion ended quickly when the Heat started the season with an 11-3 record. It was clear right away that Jimmy made everyone better on the court, due to his unselfishness and hunger to win.

2. Bam Adebayo stepped up as “The Guy.”

Bam Adebayo did not have much hype around his name at the start of the season, but once he got the role that he’s wanted since he’s been drafted, he flourished. He’s almost doubled his points per game from last year, while averaging three more assists and three more rebounds than he did last year. Stats don’t show what Bam has done for this Heat team though. He’s a young star that is prospering right in front of our eyes.

3. The young guys grew up quick.

After the Heat drafted Tyler Herro, there was some uncertainty if he was the right pick for this team. Well, he was. He proved in Summer League and pre-season that he had the ability to help this team win. Duncan Robinson also was a guy no one thought would be in the rotation, let alone start. He has been one of the key players for this team and has broken many Miami Heat three point records along the way. Kendrick Nunn is another guy that flourished in the Summer League, but who would’ve thought he would’ve been the starting point guard to begin the season. Well, he did and has been in the discussion of Rookie of the Year.

4. The role players had no problem accepting their roles.

As sometimes these guys don’t get as much credit, they deserve it. Goran Dragic could’ve caused problems by saying he wants to have a bigger role as he’s not getting any younger. Meyers Leonard could’ve said that he wants more of a scoring role instead of just being a spacer, spot up shooter, and floor general. But they didn’t. They want to help this team win as much as possible which is why they’re here. Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala got brought in at the deadline to have experience going into the playoffs, and they both know their roles as well. These guys are major contributors to their success.

5. Chemistry actually matters.

When you walk into the Miami Heat locker room, you can feel the connection. These guys enjoy playing and being around each other, which is actually not common. This is the reason the Heat moved on from certain players that seemed to be a cancer in the locker room. Every player on this team now has the same mentality which is that they will do anything they can to win. You can see this chemistry on the court and hold each other to a high standard, which is exactly what Pat Riley loves to see in his players.

Don Shula

Miami Sports Community Mourns Passing of Don Shula

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Don Shula was the patriarch of Miami sports and a resonating symbol of integrity and excellence.

The Miami sports community, and the world in general, lost an icon with the passing of Miami Dolphins legendary coach Don Shula today at age 90.

 

Shula personified everything sports, and life, are meant to nurture.

Determination.

Work ethic.

Integrity.

 

His accomplishments on the sideline set the standard not only for a franchise, but an entire league.

 

Shula’s legacy cast an unintentional shadow over the Miami Dolphins, along with that of Dan Marino.

A nearly impossible bar to reach, yet one that shows what the pinnacle of achievement means.

He did that for us.

 

 

Shula came into the NFL as a hard nosed cornerback after serving in the Ohio National Guard and played seven seasons in the NFL.

That toughness in both service and football transitioned to the coaching ranks in a storied career spanning four decades.

 

One could stop at the numbers and Shula’s impact would be unfathomable.

Yet that would not do him justice.

 

His mentorship and commitment to an unwavering standard help mold a team in his image that would transcend the NFL.

Perfection is often referred to as an unobtainable illusion.

 

Don Shula did not subscribe to that philosophy.

He came so close to the mountaintop in 1969 with the Indianapolis Colts, reaching Super Bowl III with Johnny Unitas.

 

That game would of course be known for Joe Namath’s guarantee of victory which came to fruition.

A feat which gnawed at Shula and fanned the flames of his determination and will.

Which he would use to take himself and the Miami Dolphins to the summit.

 

The 1972 Miami Dolphins under Shula are the pinnacle, the standard by which any team that follows will be measured against.

They say luck is when opportunity meets preparation.

The Miami Dolphins were lucky enough to have the opportunity to land Shula when he left the Colts.

Sometimes, timing is everything.

When the stars align and everything falls into place, you end up with a destiny beyond what you thought was possible.

That was Don Shula.

 

Charles Harris

Miami Dolphins trade DE Charles Harris to Atlanta Falcons for 7th round pick

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After releasing veteran DE Taco Charlton on Thursday, the Miami Dolphins took the predictable next step and moved on from former first-round pick Charles Harris on Friday. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, GM Chris Grier actually managed to find a trade partner. In exchange for Charles Harris, the Dolphins will receive a 2021 seventh-round pick.

Considering Charles Harris has only 3.5 sacks throughout his entire three seasons with the Dolphins, it’s shocking the Falcons were willing to give up an asset for him. With that trade, Miami now has a total of 10 draft picks ready for the 2021 NFL Draft. Their extra first and second-rounders come from last year’s trade that sent Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to the Houston Texans. The extra sixth-rounder comes from the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

  • 1st Round – 2 picks
  • 2nd Round – 2 picks
  • 3rd Round – 1 pick
  • 4th Round – 1 pick
  • 5th Round – 1 pick
  • 6th Round – 2 picks
  • 7th Round – 1 pick

Harris’s departure is under the same circumstances as Taco Charlton’s. The Miami Dolphins have added a lot of talent at both defensive end and outside linebacker for their 3-4 defense. For different reasons, neither Charlton nor Harris were expected to contribute. Charlton is speculated as not being a “locker room guy,” while Harris was simply unproductive. Consequently, the door is open for the likes of Curtis Weaver, Jason Strowbridge, and Miami’s free agent haul to provide what Harris couldn’t.

All of a sudden, the Dolphins roster is now devoid of any of their hand-picked first-round talent from 2009-2018. The only one who remains is WR DeVante Parker, who recently signed a 4-year, $30 million dollar contract after a breakout season. However, while Harris will remain as a certified bust on Chris Grier’s resume, Grier deserves credit for not hanging on to hope for too long and cutting ties in a timely manner.

Now Miami can move forward with new, more scheme-fitting talent. In essence, the extra pick is icing on the cake that allows the Dolphins to continue building for the future.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Taco Charlton

Miami Dolphins release veteran DE Taco Charlton

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It would seem that Taco Tuesday in Miami has come to an abrupt end. The Miami Dolphins are releasing veteran defensive end Taco Charlton after he led the team in 2019 with five sacks. This continues the Dolphins roster churn as they look for the best possible talent.

Charlton, 25, was picked up off waivers from the Cowboys last September. In his short stint with the Dolphins, Charlton played in ten games, made 21 tackles and – as previously mentioned – led the team in individual sacks with five. As a former first-round pick for Dallas (28th overall in 2017), Charlton was never able to live up to his first-round potential. But Miami made it a point to give several castoffs a chance to revitalize their careers last season, to no avail.

Despite Charlton’s numbers, he fell out of favor with the coaching staff and soon found himself inactive on game days. Coaches never gave a concrete reason as to why Charlton wasn’t playing on Sundays. However, speculation is that Charlton didn’t have the versatility they were looking for in their defense.

“We base who plays and all of that stuff based on game plan.” Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said last December. “The thing is Taco is working hard. That’s what we’ve asked him to do. Then based on game plan, we make a decision on that.”

 

The hope among fans was that Charlton would get an chance to compete in training camp for a roster spot. If anyone was to be released, it would be fellow former 2017 first-round pick Charles Harris, who has only 3.5 sacks in his entire career.

Whether it was Harris or Charlton, the likelihood of either or both of these players no longer being with the team in 2020 was high. The Dolphins invested a lot of capital in shoring up the defense in hopes of creating a pass rush. Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah all project to offer both pass rushing and edge setting at either defensive end or outside linebacker. Then in the draft, Miami selected second-round defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, fifth-round defensive lineman Jason Strowbridge and sixth-round defensive end Curtis Weaver.

Not only that, the Dolphins also have linebackers on the roster who can rush the passer. Vince Biegel signed his restricted free agent tender for $2,133,000 and was disruptive all season. 2019 draft pick Andrew Van Ginkel is also capable of getting to the QB in a hurry.

All of these additions and holdovers make Charlton expendable. The new players on Miami’s roster all offer versatility that Taco Charlton does not. The Dolphins aren’t looking for pure pass rushers anymore. Their 3-4 defense requires players who can set the edge and stop the run. Speed rushing is no longer a high priority.

There will be more moves made as teams shuffle their rosters to find the best possible combination of 90 players.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Robert HuntRagin Cajuns Football - Louisiana-Lafayette

Report: Dolphins intend to try rookie OL Robert Hunt at right tackle.

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The Miami Dolphins placed a lot of emphasis on shoring up the trenches on both sides of the ball in the 2020 draft. One of the players they drafted is Louisiana offensive lineman Robert Hunt, a physical power blocker who makes a name for himself by utterly dominating defenders coming at him. His style of blocking would indicate that he fits best as a guard in the NFL. But he has plenty of experience as a tackle from his college days.

So the question is, what do the Dolphins plan on doing with Hunt?

“Robert can play right tackle, he can play right guard.” GM Chris Grier said after drafting Hunt 39th overall. “So for us, he’s going to come in and compete for a job. Brian’s talked about it. It’s a competition. That’s one of the things we liked about him – position flexibility to play those things, but the thing we loved about him was his competitiveness. He’s a tough, physical player. He plays with an attitude. He’s got good football intelligence. It’s important to him.

“A lot of those criteria and qualities the coaching staff is looking for, this kid has them so we’re very excited. After we took him, Brian and I got multiple texts from people on other teams saying that was their guy, so we were happy to get him and think he will be a good fit. (We are) looking forward to having him – when he gets here – to work and get on the field and compete for a job.”

The answer is vague as per the norm. In truth, the plan can be anything and can easily change as time goes on. But according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, there is some clue as to where Miami plans on letting Hunt try out first.

“…we’re told the Dolphins at least want to give (Hunt) a chance at right tackle,” wrote Jackson. “The plan – subject to change, obviously – is to allow Hunt and Jesse Davis to compete at right tackle and decide which player is better suited to tackle and which is better suited for guard.”

Trying Robert Hunt out at right tackle makes sense for several reasons. Firstly, putting Hunt at tackle frees up the logjam at guard the Dolphins currently have. Presently, the roster consists of Keaton Sutherland, Shaq Calhoun, Danny Isidora, the aforementioned Jesse Davis, and of course 2019 draft pick Michael Deiter and rookie Solomon Kindley. Naturally, the best case scenario would have Kindley win the job at right guard as another massive, power blocking player. That would leave Hunt at right tackle and Jesse Davis can be the primary backup.

Secondly, and more importantly, Hunt has an entire season to try and develop at right tackle. The entire draft class is predicated on developing potentially elite talent. Hunt isn’t projecting to be elite right away. However, there’s no telling what his ceiling can be at tackle if he fixes his footwork and mobility. That’s the trade off the Dolphins have made. Giving up immediate contributors for a chance to turn high-upside prospects into superstars in a year’s time.

Hunt, for his part, has made it clear he has no preference.

“I definitely can play any position that coach or the o-line coach need me to play.” He said after being drafted by Miami. “I’m a versatile guy. I think that will help me out a lot in this draft, so wherever coach needs me to play, that’s where I’ll stick at. I’m open to playing any position. I’m ready to play any position. Anything, anywhere that I can help the team out, I’ll definitely do it.”

Hearing that is definitely encouraging. Many players say that they’re okay playing anywhere, but not everyone means it. Infamously, Minkah Fitzpatrick initially claimed he enjoyed being a chess piece on the football field. Then a year later he expressed his deep frustration with that philosophy, resulting in a trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That trade gave the Dolphins Austin Jackson, but having Fitzpatrick in the defense Miami is building would make it potentially elite. The fact that Hunt seems open to the initial experimentation is a good sign.

Fans should be excited about the potential Robert Hunt brings to the table. Some are bothered by the lack of instant starters in this year’s draft class, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. In 2019, Brian Flores took a ragtag group of undrafted free agents and roster castoffs and dragged them to 5-11 when they had no business winning even one game. If that’s what Flores can do with subpar talent, what can he do with potentially elite talent?

Robert Hunt is eager to find out. He attended the NFL combine but was unable to workout, and that may have hurt his draft stock. But Hunt believes that everything that’s happened to him is for a reason. He’s happy to be in Miami where they’re building something special. And he doesn’t care if that’s at guard or tackle.

“It is what it is. This was going to happen anyways.” He said. “I’m a big believer in God. God puts you in places that He wants you to be. He definitely put me here for a reason. I’m just going to take the opportunity and go forward with it. He doesn’t make mistakes. This is a blessing to me. It doesn’t hurt me or help me. This is my opportunity. I’m super grateful for it.”