Miami Heat

The Miami Heat won the Eastern Conference in 2020 one year after missing the playoffs, and now president Pat Riley is tasked with keeping his team in NBA Finals contention.

Riley gave some insight into Miami's offseason plans Friday while speaking with the media: 

"We know what our priorities are. It is to take care of the players that we have, that we have to make decisions on almost immediately. We know [center Bam Adebayo] has a decision to make and we do with him. We know the guys that have sacrificed for us that we really like, our free agents, especially [point guard Goran Dragic]."

Among rotation regulars, Dragic, Solomon Hill, Meyers Leonard, Jae Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr. are free agents. Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn are on non-guaranteed deals, while Kelly Olynyk has a player option.

Adebayo, who made his first All-Star Game in February, is eligible for an extension this season but would become a restricted free agent if a deal does not come to fruition. Miami would be wise to keep the 23-year-old big man, who broke out in 2019-20 with 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

The Heat also have to consider the possibility of a monster 2021 offseason.       

Milwaukee Bucks forward and back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Clippers forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are among the star players who could be free agents.

"I just think we need to remain fluid,'' Riley said. "Once we get all the numbers and we get everything down, we get the schedule, we know when the dates are, and what the rules are in everything, once we get all of that, we're going to remain fluid. And whatever presents itself to us, we'll look at it.''

The Heat finished the regular season fifth in the East at 44-29 but steamrolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs, sweeping the Indiana Pacers before beating the No. 1-seeded Bucks in five games.

They defeated the No. 3 Boston Celtics in six contests in the conference finals before losing to the favored Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals in six games.     

Jack Harlow dropped his new single, "Tyler Herro," on Thursday:  

The song is named after Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, who shined during his rookie year, most notably during a 2020 playoff run when he posted 16.0 points per game and helped his team earn an Eastern Conference title.

Herro appears in the video alongside Harlow on a basketball court, and one of the song's lines features him:

The two even exchanged jerseys, per a Harlow tweet:

Harlow was born and raised in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and is a Louisville Cardinals fan, per TMZ Sports. Herro starred for the Kentucky Wildcats during his one year in Lexington before the Heat took him 13th overall in the 2019 draft. 

Tyler Herro spent the entire NBA bubble dropping buckets.

Now Jack Harlow's about to drop some bars about the Miami Heat rookie.

The rapper announced his new single, titled "Tyler Herro," will drop Thursday in a Twitter post that features Herro and Harlow doing their own jersey swap.

There's no word on whether Herro himself will be laying down any rhymes on the track, which is almost certain to set NBA Twitter ablaze.

Harlow, who ascended to stardom this year with "What's Poppin'," has made a habit of befriending NBA players in recent months. His photo op with Clippers guard Lou Williams at Atlanta's Magic City strip club led to Williams having to quarantine for 10 days upon his return to the bubble and a bevy of jokes at LouWill's expense.

Hopefully, Harlow's rhymes on his song in honor of Herro do the sweet-shooting guard some justice. Or, at the very least, are meme-worthy for our entertainment. 

The Miami Heat will reportedly target "bigger fish" than Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo on the trade market this NBA offseason.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst discussed the situation on the latest edition of The Hoop Collective podcast Monday (via Clay Ferraro of WPLG):

Windhorst's ESPN colleague Tim Bontemps added to the discussion (via Real GM) by saying he doesn't think Oladipo could command the type of return his reputation would suggest, which may lead Indiana to keep him to see if he can rebuild some value before next season's trade deadline:

"From talking to people around the league, I don't think his value is nearly as high as his name brand would suggest at the moment. And I think it's more likely that the Pacers go into the season and either hope he plays really well and they do great and he decides to stay. Or that he plays better and they maybe trade him later, when his value goes up soon."

Oladipo is set to enter the final season of his four-year, $85 million contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent during the 2021 offseason if an agreement on an extension isn't reached.

The 28-year-old Maryland native made just 19 appearances last season after a delayed start to the campaign while completing his recovery from a serious knee injury suffered in January 2019.

He averaged 14.5 points, his lowest total since his 2013-14 rookie season with the Orlando Magic, to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Oladipo appeared on The Fat Joe Show (via Chris Sims of the Indianapolis Star) on Sept. 30 and discussed his desire to collect "hardware"—NBA championships—but downplayed questions about potentially leaving Indiana to make it happen.

"I knew that question was coming. I don't know what you're talking about, man. I'm a Pacer, man. I'm a Pacer, dog. I'm a Pacer," Oladipo said.

The Pacers front office is in a tricky position. Trading him now would likely lead to a severely diminished return, but there's also the risk of not moving him and then watching him leave in free agency next offseason without getting any return at all.

Oladipo can be one of the league's most dynamic playmakers when healthy. He showcased that while averaging 23.1 points per game and ranking ninth among all NBA players in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus during the 2017-18 campaign, his first year in Indiana.

That version of Oladipo could push the Heat, the reigning Eastern Conference champions, to the forefront of the title discussion. But with lingering questions about whether he can get back to that level, it appears Miami will look in a different direction this offseason.

Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. will enter free agency this offseason, and while there has been no urgency from Miami to sign him, there are a number of teams that may be interested in 2020 Slam Dunk contest champion.

According to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks "are among the teams expected to have interest."

In his fourth season in the league, Jones averaged a career-high 23.3 minutes after he returned to the team following injuries to his groin and hip. Per Jackson, Jones appeared in every game for the Heat after Dec. 1, posting an average of 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and a steal in 59 total appearances. 

Despite a strong regular season, Jones played double-digit minutes in just three games during the Heat's run to the NBA Finals, and he was a healthy scratch in two of those championship games. He had just 10 total minutes in the Lakers' series, and averaged 6.5 minutes and 1.5 points throughout the playoffs.

Jackson reported that Jones had physical and mental setbacks during the pandemic, when he lost seven pounds after his personal chef left the area, and he was also diagnosed with COVID-19 back in June. During the Heat's final seeding round game, he sprained his neck and was stretchered off of the court, and Jackson reports he also sprained his ankle during the postseason series with the Indiana Pacers. 

Through his two seasons in South Florida, Jones has provided consistency on the court for the Heat. He averaged 19.2 minutes through a career-high 60 games in 2018-19, averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists. 

The teams that are interested see athletic ability and the promise of offensive development in Jones, according to Jackson, who also reported that if the Heat were to re-sign him, "it assuredly would be only on a one-year deal." 

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets are expected to be among the teams to express interest in Derrick Jones Jr. during free agency.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported others, in addition to those three clubs, will also pursue the high-flying forward.

Jones averaged a career-high 8.5 points to go with 3.9 rebounds per game in 2019-20 but was largely jettisoned from the rotation during the postseason. He recorded just nine minutes played in the Heat's NBA Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

While Jones still needs developmental time to turn into a plus NBA player, his physical gifts are generational. The right coach could harness his leaping and side-to-side athleticism to turn him into a strong perimeter defender and unleash his marvelous open-court finishing ability. 

There is more to Jones' game than highlight dunks, but it only shows up occasionally. Signing with a young, rebuilding team might give him the type of role he needs to become a more well-rounded player.

It'd be a surprise to see him back in Miami next season. 

Goran Dragic helped lead the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals, and both sides are reportedly interested in running things back in 2020-21.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, there is "mutual interest in a new deal" from both parties. Charania suggested there will be "several interested parties" in the 34-year-old and said Miami would likely try to sign him to a shorter deal so it can maintain flexibility as an organization.

Dragic, who has also played for the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, was excellent for Miami in 2019-20. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range.

There are concerns about his age and the fact that he is coming off a plantar fascia tear in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, but the veteran has shown few signs of slowing down.

He has averaged double-figure scoring every season since 2011-12, including when he poured in 20.3 points per game in 2016-17 with Miami. His outside shooting has also remained consistent (36.3 percent for his career) and he is a playoff-tested presence who can create with the ball in his hands or playing on the wing.

It's no surprise the Heat are looking to bring him back after he averaged 19.1 points in the playoffs.

Dragic works well in pick-and-rolls with Bam Adebayo as someone who can finish at the rim or throw lobs to the cutting big man. He can also take advantage of space when defenses collapse on Jimmy Butler and could carry the offense for stretches when Butler was on the bench.

The NBA Finals may have turned out differently if Dragic and Adebayo did not suffer injuries, but it appears the defending Eastern Conference champions would like the guard to stick around for another run at a title.

During the 2010 offseason, the Miami Heat pulled out all the stops to sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh and retain Dwyane Wade. They're apparently approaching the 2021 with the same mindset as Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is due to hit free agency.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Thursday the Heat are "preparing to go all-in" for Antetokounmpo. However, that pursuit could indirectly impact the status of All-Star center Bam Adebayo:

"Rival teams are monitoring Adebayo's extension situation and the aftereffects if Miami bypasses extending their superstar big man. Miami is preparing to go all in on the pursuit of Milwaukee's two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021 free agency, sources said. There is a school of thought that salary-wise, waiting on Adebayo's extension would allow for as much space as possible for 2021. But given Adebayo's presence, leadership and meaning to the Heat franchise, this is a straight-forward conversation between team executives and Adebayo's agent, Alex Saratsis: A max extension this offseason or not."

That the Heat would pull out all the stops to land Giannis isn't a surprise. Especially after reaching the NBA Finals, Miami has to be considered a serious contender if the two-time MVP pushes to leave Milwaukee.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported Oct. 7 that "front office executives around the league believe the Heat have become the league’s top destination for the next star with a wandering eye."

Adebayo's contract status is an example of how the situation is a bit more complex than Miami simply waiting until next offseason and then getting down to business.

Adebayo has improved steadily over each of his first three seasons and took a big leap forward in 2019-20. He averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks during the regular season. During the playoffs, he was a critical member of Miami's rotation.

The 2017 first-round pick isn't a free agent until 2021, and even then he's still a restricted free agent.

For the 2021-22 season, Adebayo will have a $12.8 million cap hold, per Spotrac, which is far less than he'll probably earn on his next contract. If the Heat wanted to be as pragmatic as possible, waiting to formally offer him an extension is the smart play.

Charania alluded to Miami possibly wanting to send a message to Adebayo and the rest of the league that he's a key piece of the franchise's long-term future. Declining to put a max offer on the table would risk alienating Adebayo.

The Heat have experience in how what appear to be minor moves can have larger consequences. Mike Miller explained in 2014 how him getting amnestied by Miami upset LeBron James, who questioned the impact Miller's departure would have.

Snubbing Adebayo this offseason in order to free up more cap space to chase Antetokounmpo might rock the boat a bit.

All-Star forward Jimmy Butler said Tuesday he hasn't paid attention to any outside noise since the Miami Heat fell short against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals.

"Believe me when I tell you that I do not care what people say about me," Butler told Marc Stein of the New York Times. "I truly don't care."

The 31-year-old Houston native has long been one of the NBA's better players. Along with five All-Star selections, he's also been voted to the All-NBA Third Team three times, a distinction that's accurately placed him as a great player but not quite in the top-10 upper echelon.

That changed during the 2020 playoffs. He helped carry the Heat, who entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, to the Finals by averaging 22.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals across 21 playoff appearances.

There were stretches, especially in Miami's Game 5 win over the Lakers when he went bucket for bucket with LeBron James down the stretch, when Butler looked like one of the league's best players.

Before the Finals, the Marquette product explained his arrival to the Heat for the 2019-20 season allowed him to find a comfort zone that wasn't there during stops with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers, per Stein.

"I'm so comfortable with being myself—more than I've ever been," Butler said. "Not saying I've ever not wanted to be myself, but now I know 'myself' is the right way."

His emergence in that aforementioned upper echelon combined with a talented, youthful supporting cast in Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson gives the Heat a lot of potential moving forward.

The East will be deeper next season, highlighted by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving linking up with the Brooklyn Nets after KD missed this past season with an Achilles injury, but Butler and the Heat have shown they belong in any championship discussion.

Jimmy Butler had a message for Miami Heat fans following his team's NBA Finals loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

"THANK YOU Miami, the entire @MiamiHeat organization, Coach Spo, our coaches, and my teammates for a great first season. appreciate all the love and support from Heat Nation and our fans. Best believe we will be back," he wrote on his Instagram page.

Butler deserves nothing but praise for his efforts throughout the Finals.

He put the team on his back for extended stretches, especially when Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic were sidelined with injuries, and went toe-to-toe with LeBron James in memorable battles.

He had two triple-doubles in the series and further cemented himself as one of the best two-way players in the league.

The Heat were simply overmatched against the Lakers as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, but their ability to play their way into the NBA Finals and stun the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics surely caught the attention of free agents with the offseason approaching.

Butler believes the Heat will be back, and they will surely try to put more help around him during the offseason.