Miami Heat

The NBA fined Miami Heat team president Pat Riley $25,000 for comments he made about Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. 

During an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show (via Peter Botte of the New York Post), Riley said he'd be open to a reunion with James, who spent four seasons with the Heat.

"I would leave the key under the doormat if he would call me and let me know that he’s coming," he said. "I would do that, but I doubt very much that key…that key is rusted now. ... I wish him nothing but the best, and if he ever wanted to come back, I’ll put a new shiny key under the mat."

James signed an extension with the Lakers in December, which will keep him under contract through the 2022-23 season. A return to Miami likely won't be happening anytime soon.

Riley also seemed to allude to how the four-time MVP didn't exactly leave the Heat on the best of terms.

Upon returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, James said he had a "secret motivation" fueling his quest for a third NBA title at the time. He finally divulged the details behind that desire after the Cavs beat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

"When I decided to leave Miami—I'm not going to name any names, I can't do that—but there were some people that I trusted and built relationships with in those four years [who] told me I was making the biggest mistake of my career," James said to ESPN.

"And that s--t hurt me. And I know it was an emotional time that they told me that because I was leaving. They just told me it was the biggest mistake I was making in my career. And that right there was my motivation."

While James didn't reference the Heat officials by name, many believed he was referring to Riley.

Dwyane Wade had perhaps an even worse breakup with the Heat given how long he had spent with the franchise. The 13-time All-Star came back and finished out his career in Miami nonetheless.

Perhaps LeBron may play in South Beach again one day. More likely, Riley has to pay $25,000 for talking about something that will never happen.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is going to be a father as his girlfriend, Katya Elise Henry, announced her pregnancy on Instagram Saturday.

Herro posted the same picture on his own account, adding the caption: "don’t need a wishlist, I’m already gifted."

Henry and Herro began dating last year, with Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Complex noting the two got their start over messages on Twitter.

Herro, 21, just completed his second year in the NBA, finishing third on the Miami Heat with an average of 15.1 points per game. His team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs one year after reaching the NBA Finals.

Miami Heat team president Pat Riley is keeping the door open for a possible LeBron James return if the superstar is interested.

Riley discussed a possible reunion with James on Le Batard and Friends (conversation starts at 14:08):

"I would leave the key under the doormat if he would call me and let me know he’s coming," Riley said (h/t Brad Sullivan of Heat Nation). "I would do that, but I doubt very much if that key...that key's rusted now."

"If he ever wanted to come back," Riley added later, "then I'll put a new shiny key under that mat."

The executive did note he might get fined by the league for tampering based on the quote considering James is under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers through the 2022-23 season.

LeBron spent four years with the Heat from 2010-14, reaching the NBA Finals in all four years while winning two titles alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He also won two MVP awards during this stretch.

The superstar went on to win titles with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers in his memorable career.

This past season wasn't as successful for the 36-year-old after he suffered an ankle injury that limited him to just 45 games. The Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, the first time in James' career he suffered a first-round exit.

Miami also had a disappointing postseason loss after being swept out of the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Coming off a season in which they were a surprise contender in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks are ready to add some reinforcements to their rebuild. That reportedly may include plucking restricted free-agent guard Kendrick Nunn from the Miami Heat. 

According to SNY's Ian Begley, Nunn, Lonzo Ball and Devonte' Graham are all on the club's wish list, but it's the Chicago native the team is most interested in.

Per Begley:

"Nunn, per sources, is among the guards who have been on the Knicks’ radar as they consider their offseason plans. Nunn shot 38.1 percent from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game this season and shot it remarkably well in the second half of the season. One member of an opposing organization analyzing the market drew a comparison between the 25-year-old Nunn and Terry Rozier, who averaged nine points per game in his last season with the Celtics before signing a three-year, $56 million deal with Charlotte. Rozier’s role increased. His production also increased. The opposing team thought Nunn, who averaged 14.6 points per game last year, could follow a similar path if his opportunities increased."

Despite averaging 14.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 56 games with Miami last season (44 starts), Nunn's standing with the team is unclear following a first-round sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Heat team president Pat Riley was noncommittal about Nunn and fellow RFA Duncan Robinson's return next year in his end-of-year press conference. 

"They’ve really helped us," Riley said. “I applaud both of these guys for coming in...and winning their jobs, winning their spots, winning their time. We like both of them and we will see what happens with them when it comes to the market.”

According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, Nunn's market value is around $15 million per season—a steep increase from the $1.7 million he earned last season. Spotrac notes Miami would have to make a qualifying offer of $4.7 million after the guard met the starting criteria last season. 

Pat Riley once wanted to wear a white suit and shamrock tie to troll the Boston Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals.

Apparently, now a Twitter post is one step too far for Riley.

The Heat president responded to a tweet sent out by the Bucks social media team after Milwaukee completed a four-game sweep of Miami in Round 1, telling reporters he "would have never tweeted out something like that."

Now, we're not saying that Riley has gone full "Old Man Yells at Cloud," but he's certainly giving that cloud a stern talking to. 

The Bucks' Twitter post was the epitome of harmless fun. Miami eliminated a heavily favored Milwaukee team in the second round last season on its way to a surprise Finals run, with players understandably puffing their chest out along the way.

The Bucks got one back. They should have some fun with things. There wasn't anything rude or disrespectful; it was the kind of all-in-good-fun trash talk we should embrace rather than browbeat. 

If there was ever any doubt about Tyler Herro's place with the Miami Heat after his up-and-down sophomore campaign, team president Pat Riley erased it during his end-of-season comments on Thursday. 

“He’s a core player," Riley said of Herro. "That’s all there is to it.”

The second-year guard out of Kentucky averaged 15.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 2020-21, but his three-point shooting dipped from 38.9 percent in his rookie year to 36.0 percent. 

Despite Miami getting swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs, Herro's status with the team hasn't changed. 

That doesn't mean Riley won't be looking to add to that core. 

After the way the Bucks dismantled Miami in their Eastern Conference first-round series—Milwaukee reserve Bryn Forbes had more points (60) than Jimmy Butler (58) in the four games—changes are coming. 

Victor Oladipo is an unrestricted free agent, and so are Trevor Ariza and Nemanja Bjelica. Andre Iguodala and Goran Dragic are signed through 2022—and that's not including the guys on expiring rookie deals. 

Riley was noncommittal on the team's plans for restricted free agents Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn, and he alluded to his desire to trade back into this year's draft. 

“I guarantee you we’ll probably get a couple of good players out of this draft, somehow." Riley said. 

The biggest thing the 76-year-old, who has been the team president since 1995, stressed is flexibility. That's going to be the key to adding a third star alongside Butler and Bam Adebayo, even if he admitted he hasn't begun discussions on an extension for the 31-year-old Butler, who's signed through 2023, just yet. 

"I like the nucleus of our team," RIley said. "We’ve got a great core with Jimmy and Bam. We didn’t make a mistake on those guys. ... Somewhere, you have to make a decision on the two or three players that you think are you franchise anchors."

Herro can rest easy this offseason knowing he's included in that core. 

Even though Jimmy Butler has one more guaranteed year left on his current deal, the five-time All-Star is reportedly going to be seeking a max extension this offseason. 

Per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Butler "will likely seek a maximum four-year extension worth $181 million" from the Miami Heat. 

Butler was acquired by the Heat as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in July 2019. He signed a four-year, $140.79 million contract that includes a player option for the 2022-23 season. 

The 31-year-old is eligible to sign an extension this summer. ESPN's Bobby Marks noted a max deal for Butler would give him salaries of at least $40 million every season, including $50.3 million in 2025-26 when he would be 36 years old. 

Butler has been instrumental in Miami's success over the past two seasons. He's averaged 20.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in 110 games since the start of the 2019-20 campaign. 

Durability hasn't been a strength for Butler over the past four seasons, however. He's missed a total of 75 regular-season games during that span, including 20 this season. 

The Heat have a strong core of talent around Butler, including Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. If team president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra want to move forward with that group, they can secure their long-term future as soon as this summer by working out a new deal with Butler.  

Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson wants to win, be comfortable and make money.

He opened up about what he is looking for as he heads into free agency this offseason, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

I'm just trying to get all the information possible, so I can make the best decision possible. In terms of the different factors that contribute, all of them do, to some extent. First and foremost, the fit, a place where I can really feel comfortable. Winning is obviously a priority for me, as well. And then, of course, it's also a business and there's an opportunity to make money to take care of people that I love the most. So that's also a priority, as well.

So any place that can offer all of those is a destination that I would be excited about. Obviously, I've had an incredible experience here, love this organization for many different reasons. So, we'll see. For the most part, like I said, I haven't really shifted my focus toward that just yet. But the next weeks, months will be mostly about gathering information and trying to make the best decision possible.

Winderman explained the timeline, noting Miami can extend a $4.7 million, one-year qualifying offer by Aug. 1 to make him a restricted free agent. That would give Robinson until Aug. 3 to either agree to terms with the Heat or sign an offer sheet elsewhere.

That offer sheet elsewhere could present a problem for Miami, as Jimmy Butler ($36 million) and Bam Adebayo ($28 million) are already on the books for next season. Robinson signing a head-turning deal because of his outside shooting could lead to a luxury-tax situation for the club.

Robinson averaged 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from three-point range.

While Miami reached the NBA Finals last season—where Robinson hit seven three-pointers in a Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Lakers—it was swept in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks this season.

Robinson did what he could, though, and appeared in all 72 of the team's games after playing 73 games in 2019-20.

"That's not going to mean I'm always going to make shots or do this or that, but at least I'm going to be in position to be in position, if you will," he said, per Winderman. "The fact that I was always available is something I'm proud of particularly."

There is plenty to like about Robinson at just 27 years old as a durable complement to Butler and Adebayo with that outside shooting. That could lead to a significant deal this offseason.

The Milwaukee Bucks enjoyed getting revenge on the Miami Heat on Saturday with a 120-103 win to sweep the defending Eastern Conference champions in the first round of the playoffs.

It marked a huge turnaround for the Bucks from last season when Miami beat Milwaukee in five games in the second round.

The Bucks' official Twitter account referenced that loss by tweeting "This ain't the bubble" after Milwaukee completed the sweep:

Milwaukee was heavily favored to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals last season. The Bucks posted the best record during the regular season and had two-time reigning MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster.

While Milwaukee looked listless in a series loss to Miami, it turned the tables this year.

Miami had an up-and-down season but was still viewed as a threat to upset the Bucks with the star duo of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo along with offensive catalysts Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson.

The Heat never found an offensive rhythm in the series, however, and the Bucks took advantage.

Milwaukee overcame a seven-point halftime deficit in Saturday's Game 4 to finish the sweep with a complete offensive effort that saw Giannis, Khris Middleton, Bryn Forbes and Brook Lopez all score at least 20 points.

Antetokounmpo posted a triple-double with 20 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds.

It remains to be seen who will oppose the Bucks in the next round. If the Brooklyn Nets turn their 2-1 lead over the Boston Celtics into a series win, Milwaukee will face Brooklyn in perhaps the most compelling series of the second round.