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Bradley Beal Trade Rumors: Heat Remain 'Very Interested' in Wizards Star

Nov 18, 2020
FILE - In this March 8, 2020, file photo, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal drives during an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Washington. The Wizards won’t have Beal, John Wall or Davis Bertans when the NBA returns amid the coronavirus pandemic. When the league stopped play in March because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Wizards were 24-40 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.  (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - In this March 8, 2020, file photo, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal drives during an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Washington. The Wizards won’t have Beal, John Wall or Davis Bertans when the NBA returns amid the coronavirus pandemic. When the league stopped play in March because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Wizards were 24-40 and ninth in the Eastern Conference. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

The Miami Heat are reportedly "very interested" in adding Bradley Beal through a trade if he becomes available, according to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

The organization has been seeking another star, with Giannis Antetokoumpo No. 1 on the list, but Beal is reportedly the No. 2 option.

Despite the apparent interest, the Washington Wizards aren't planning to trade the shooting guard.

"Bradley Beal isn't going anywhere," general manager Tommy Sheppard said Tuesday.

Beal is signed through at least 2022 and has a $37.3 million player option for 2022-23, and he is considered a franchise player for Washington.

"We're building this team around Bradley Beal," Sheppard said on The Lowe Post podcast last week (h/t RealGM). "He's a tremendous human being. He's a tremendous player. He's exactly what we want to have here with the Washington Wizards."

The two-time All-Star is coming off a career year offensively when he averaged 30.5 points per game, second best in the NBA behind only James Harden. He also added a career-best 6.1 assists per game while carrying the Wizards close to playoff contention.

The 27-year-old would be a huge addition for Miami, which is looking to get over the top after reaching the NBA Finals last season.

Beal would provide the team with another go-to perimeter option and a perfect complement to Jimmy Butler, who is mostly known for his inside scoring. Butler and Bam Adebayo could also help hide Beal's defensive deficiencies.

Even with the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets getting stronger, Miami could certainly be a favorite to win the Eastern Conference in 2020-21.

However, the Wizards seemingly plan to hold onto the talented guard as long as possible.

Heat Rumors: MIA Interested in Signing Derrick Jones Jr. to New Contract

Nov 16, 2020
Miami Heat's Derrick Jones Jr. dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Miami Heat's Derrick Jones Jr. dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

The Miami Heat are interested in bringing back forward Derrick Jones Jr., who will enter free agency this offseason, but with the team attempting to stay under the luxury tax, the 23-year-old may move on, according to Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Jones posted a career season for the Heat en route to the 2020 NBA Finals, averaging 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals on 52.7 percent shooting in 23.3 minutes per game over 59 outings, though he was a minimal factor in the team's postseason run, averaging just 6.5 minutes over 15 outings.

Jones had to be stretchered off the court in the Heat's final regular-season game and was eventually diagnosed with a neck strain. He was cleared to play four days later for the start of the playoffs.

The UNLV product signed with the Phoenix Suns after going undrafted in 2016, and he joined the Heat on a two-way deal ahead of the 2017-18 season before signing a two-year, $3.2 million deal in 2018. He has 171 appearances under his belt through his four years in the league.

With free agency approaching, multiple teams were rumored to have interest in the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest winner. Jackson reported in October that Jones, who limited players he guarded to 40.8 percent shooting (fifth-best in the league), was expected to have potential suitors in the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks. He did not rule out a return to Miami, but he did note that "it assuredly would be only on a one-year deal."

The Heat have just $82.4 million on the books for the 2020-21 season, with the salary cap set at $109.1 million, but that's without a contract for Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard, Solomon Hill or Jae Crowder.

The Miami Heat hold the No. 20 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, and while they could use that selection in an effort to get another star player to pair with Jimmy Butler and ...

Heat's Udonis Haslem to Return for 18th Season on Reported 1-Yr, $2.5M Contract

Nov 13, 2020
Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem (40) poses during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem (40) poses during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Longtime Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem is coming back for his 18th NBA season, announcing his decision Friday.

According to the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds, Haslem will sign a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

The South Florida native was preparing to retire after the 2018-19 season but returned for a 17th year, hoping to provide his city with a proper goodbye in the process. That soon become unfeasible as the coronavirus pandemic took hold and forced the league to go on a five-month hiatus, only to return without fans able to attend games.

Now he's looking for another chance to properly end his career and help a budding Heat team win its next NBA title. Miami reached the 2019-20 NBA Finals before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

Haslem appeared in just four regular-season contests in 2019-20, averaging 3.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest.

In May, Haslem told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald it would be hard to end his career this year with how COVID-19 has changed the team's operations:

"It's hard to really say now because all the things that I really wanted at the end have been taken away from me. You want to walk away on your own terms; that has been taken away. You want an opportunity for the people that have loved and supported you and sacrificed so much for you to be here in this time of your career; that has been taken away. And you want to have something connected with the organization when you walk away."

An undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida in 2002, Haslem has been part of three title teams in Miami, playing a central role for the 2006 Heat and serving as a key role player in 2012 and 2013.

Caron Butler Reportedly Joins Erik Spoelstra's Heat Coaching Staff as Assistant

Nov 13, 2020
Miami Heat forward Caron Butler (4) drives the ball in the second half against the New Orleans Hornets in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoff series Saturday, April 24, 2004, in New Orleans. Butler scored 24 points in the Heat's 77-71 loss to the Hornets. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Miami Heat forward Caron Butler (4) drives the ball in the second half against the New Orleans Hornets in Game 3 of a first-round NBA playoff series Saturday, April 24, 2004, in New Orleans. Butler scored 24 points in the Heat's 77-71 loss to the Hornets. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

The Miami Heat have reportedly hired longtime NBA forward Caron Butler to serve as an assistant coach under Erik Spoelstra.

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported the news.

Butler started his NBA career as a first-round pick of the Heat in the 2002 NBA draft.

The UConn product made stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings during a nomadic 14-year playing career.

He formally retired in 2018 and has worked on ESPN and Fox Sports as a basketball analyst.

Butler won an NBA championship with the Mavs in 2011 and earned back-to-back All-Star selections with the Wizards in 2007 and 2008.

In 2013, he discussed the transition from impact role player to leader in the latter stages of his career while with the Bucks.

"I hang my hat on being a professional on and off the court," Butler told reporters. "I pride myself on trying to get better, even at this stage of my career. I'm trying to help the younger guys. I think it's a great opportunity for all of us."

Now 40, the Wisconsin native will return to Miami as the organization looks to build on an appearance in the 2020 NBA Finals, where it lost to LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers.

"If they can add another piece with what they have developing, they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come," Butler said on NBA TV after the Finals (via the Miami Herald). "You bring back this team with more pieces, this team is going to be a problem."

Butler will replace Dan Craig, who left Miami to join the Clippers' staff in October, and join a group of Spoelstra assistants that includes Malik Allen and Chris Quinn.

Heat Rumors: MIA 'Won't Do Anything' to Jeopardize Giannis Antetokounmpo Pursuit

Nov 5, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Miami Heat Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Miami Heat Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Any moves the Miami Heat make this offseason will reportedly be done with an eye toward pursuing Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the near future.

According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Heat have decided that they "won't do anything that jeopardizes their chances with Antetokounmpo."

Lowe noted that Miami has interest in re-signing Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder, as well as signing All-Star center Bam Adebayo to a contract extension. The Heat may wait until next offseason to extend Adebayo, though, since it would allow them to maximize the salary-cap space they would need to sign Giannis.

Antetokounmpo is set to enter the final year of his contract in 2020-21, and if he decides to test the market, he would be one of the biggest prizes in the history of NBA free agency.

One factor that could help the Heat when it comes to wooing Giannis is the fact that his agent, Alex Saratsis of Octagon, is also Adebayo's agent.

Provided the Heat can find enough money to make both Giannis and Adebayo happy, perhaps the Saratsis clients would be interested in teaming up to form an Eastern Conference superpower.

Giannis and the Bucks entered the 2019-20 season as the favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals after posting an NBA-best record of 60-22. The Bucks had the NBA's best record again last season at 56-17, but playoff success eluded them once more.

After falling to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018-19, the Bucks were eliminated by the Heat in the second round of the playoffs last season.

If Giannis takes a if-you-can't-beat-'em-join-'em approach, then the Heat make plenty of sense as a landing spot.

Even without Antetokounmpo, the reigning two-time NBA MVP, the Heat reached the most recent NBA Finals on the strength of All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Adebayo, plus a supporting cast that included Dragic, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and others.

The Heat took two games from the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals, and adding a player of Giannis' caliber could be what they need in order to create a dynasty.

While Antetokounmpo has enjoyed individual and team success with the Bucks during the regular season, they have not put a team around him capable of winning when the games matter most.

Perhaps that will change in 2020-21 and Giannis will be compelled to re-sign with Milwaukee, but if he decides he can't win championships there, Miami likely gives him the best opportunity to win multiple titles.

Heat Rumors: Zeke Nnaji, Kira Lewis Jr. Linked to MIA Ahead of 2020 NBA Draft

Oct 27, 2020
Arizona's Zeke Nnaji (22) drives into Washington's Isaiah Stewart (33) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Arizona's Zeke Nnaji (22) drives into Washington's Isaiah Stewart (33) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Arizona big man Zeke Nnaji and Alabama guard Kira Lewis Jr. are reportedly among the players the Miami Heat have their eye on with the No. 20 pick in next month's draft.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Nnaji worked out for the Heat on Sunday, and the team has "expressed interest" in Lewis despite the expectation he will be gone in the teens. Miami has also interviewed San Diego State guard Malachi Flynn.

Nnaji averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds during his lone season at Arizona, winning the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Award. ESPN's Jonathan Givony has him ranked as the No. 36 player in this class, so taking him in the top 20 may be a reach.

The Heat likely have confidence in their ability to develop raw, athletic big men after Bam Adebayo's ascent, so the 6'11" Nnaji could project as a long-term backup if he pans out. He has the athleticism and size to be a force on the interior but lacks a feel for the game and averaged less than a block per game at Arizona.

Lewis is No. 20 on the ESPN rankings list but will likely come off the board higher because of his upside. The fleet-footed 6'3" guard flashes on the screen with his ability to blow by defenders off the dribble, and he's shown an improved shooting stroke from three—an important development since his lack of strength makes him a below-average finisher.

Miami hit on rookie Tyler Herro (and Kendrick Nunn as an undrafted signing from the G League), so whoever Pat Riley rolls the dice on may wind up with outsized expectations for a No. 20 pick.

Bam Adebayo Trade Rumors: Heat Would Reject Offers 'With F-Bombs Ringing'

Oct 26, 2020
Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo (13) dunks during the second half in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo (13) dunks during the second half in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Miami Heat were the darlings of the Orlando bubble, making an improbable run all the way to the NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The bubble proved the Heat were a team on the rise, led by Jimmy Butler and largely a cast of talented younger players like Bam Adebayo. The Finals, however, were a pretty clear indication that the Heat will need another superstar to win a title. 

That will likely mean trading some of those young players. Just don't expect one of them to be Adebayo. According to Zach Harper of The Athletic, "A league source tells The Athletic that the Heat 'would hang the phone up with F-bombs ringing through the disconnected call' if someone demanded Ad

As Harper noted, the Heat have always been disinclined to move on from Adebayo, reporting that when the team was in talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of the 2018-19 season to acquire Jimmy Butler they refused to include their young center in trade packages. 

Granted, all's well that ends well. Butler was traded to Philadelphia for Robert Covington and Dario Saric (neither player is still in Minnesota), stayed for the better part of a season and was acquired by the Heat as a free agent ahead of the 2019-20 campaign in a sign-and-trade move that sent Josh Richardson to the Sixers. 

But if the Heat want another star and don't want to wait until next offseason, when a long list of stars headlined by Giannis Antetokounmpo could hit the market, somebody's got to go the other way. 

If Adebayo is completely off the board, Tyler Herro is the team's top trade chip after an excellent rookie season that saw him average 13.5 points while shooting 38.9 percent from three. The Heat already trust Herro enough to give him minutes in postseason crunch time and his potential is sky high. If he continues to develop as a playmaker and well-rounded scorer, then the Heat's reported viewpoint that he could eventually be a Devin Booker-esque star isn't unfounded. 

Given the 31-year-old Butler's shrinking title timeline, however, an already developed star makes more sense than Herro, who is still years away from his prime. 

Herro could headline any Heat package, but players like sharpshooter Duncan Robinson and point guard Kendrick Nunn are other enticing options for teams who want to make a deal with Miami. 

Granted, the Heat will need to get back quite the player to consider moving Herro. Antetokounmpo seems unlikely to be traded by the Milwaukee Bucks, but if a player like Bradley Beal became available, he could move the needle for Miami. 

Harper noted that the Heat wouldn't make Herro available in Victor Oladipo talks, however, if the Indiana Pacers shop the shooting guard. 

"Pat Riley hangs up," a source told him. 

Pat Riley Clarifies Lakers 'Asterisk' Comments: 'Their Title Is Legitimate'

Oct 25, 2020
Miami Heat president Pat Riley watches before an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Miami Heat president Pat Riley watches before an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Miami Heat president Pat Riley walked back some of his controversial words on Sunday.

"The asterisk is next to the Heat's name, not the Lakers," Riley said, per David Wilson of the Miami Herald. "Their title is legitimate. Our loss has an asterisk [next] to it. The Lakers were the better team. Period."

Sam Quinn of CBS Sports explained Riley previously turned heads when he suggested the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA Finals win over the Heat should come with an asterisk because of injuries to Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo:

"They were the best team, but there's always going to be asterisk, that caveat. If we had Bam and Goran—Goran was our leading scorer in the playoffs—at 100 percent, it could have gone to seven games or whatever, but thank you for reminding me. I appreciate that, but I'm not going to look back on it. I'm just going to look at all the positive things, get Goran healthy and Bam healthy, and bring everybody back and try to add to the mix."

It is at least understandable that Riley and Heat fans would be left wondering what could have been after their NBA Finals loss.

After all, Dragic missed four games with a foot injury and was severely limited when he returned for Game 6. Adebayo missed two games because of a neck injury, which took Miami's best counter to Anthony Davis in the frontcourt away from its defense.

Dragic helped take much of the offensive pressure off Jimmy Butler's shoulders, and the latter was often left trying to go toe-to-toe with LeBron James in crunch time without much help.

Still, the Lakers left little doubt who the champion was in Game 6 when they jumped out to a 30-point lead in the first half before shifting to cruise control for the remainder. Adebayo was back at that point and couldn't do nearly enough to counter the Anthony Davis-LeBron James combination.

It should also be noted that Miami's run through the Eastern Conference was at least aided by opposing injuries, as Domantas Sabonis did not play for the Indiana Pacers, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered an injury in the second round for the Milwaukee Bucks and Gordon Hayward was limited for the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Yet Miami, just like the Lakers in the Finals, deserves plenty of credit for advancing in the difficult circumstances inside the Walt Disney World Resort bubble.

Pat Riley: Lakers' Title Win Will Always Have Asterisk Due to Heat's Injuries

Oct 25, 2020
Miami Heat president Pat Riley watches before an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Miami Heat president Pat Riley watches before an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

If you ask nearly every person in the NBA, they will tell you there is no such thing as an asterisked championship.

Pat Riley apparently disagrees.

The Miami Heat president said the Los Angeles Lakers' title carries an asterisk because Miami was without Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo was limited for most of the series. 

"I would like to see what it would be like with everybody whole. We'll get our chance again. The Lakers have the greatest player in the game today in LeBron [James] and Anthony Davis," Riley told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "They beat us fair and square. They were the best team. But there's always going to be asterisk, that caveat. If we had Bam and Goran, Goran was our leading scorer in the playoffs, at 100 percent, it could have gone to seven games or whatever."

Here is where we add our own caveat: I don't think Riley was attempting to demean the Lakers' championship. It seemed like he was attempting to play out a "what if?" scenario in his head, that would plausibly get the Heat to a deciding seventh game.

That said, Riley used the word "asterisk." So let's go there.

It's going to be a short trip.

The Heat's run through the Eastern Conference included an Indiana Pacers team without Domantas Sabonis, a Milwaukee Bucks team that lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to an ankle injury and a Boston Celtics team that was playing with a missing/limited Gordon Hayward.

Does Riley think the Heat's run to the Finals deserves an asterisk? Doubtful. 

In 2019, the Golden State Warriors lost Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson to injuries. In 2015, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving to injuries. If we want to use an example dear to Riley's heart, the 1987 Boston Celtics lost Kevin McHale to a broken foot and all but handed Riley his third NBA championship. 

None of these rings or runs are given asterisks because injuries, as unfortunate as they may be, are part of the risk every team runs. 

We're not going to say Riley has been eating sour grapes, but he's not exactly chewing on sweet ones, either.