The Heat have the flexibility to sign Gordon Hayward and create room for another top-level free agent, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. A report Friday said the Jazz consider Miami a legitimate threat to sign the free agent forward, who is coming off the best season of his career. In response to a reader’s question, Winderman notes that the Heat can give $30MM to Hayward and open up another $23MM or so by trading Tyler Johnson, Josh McRoberts and Justise Winslow. However, he cautions that the team tried to find a taker for McRoberts’ contract last summer, and that was before he missed more than half a season with injuries. If Miami were able to pull off such a scenario, it would be in the range for players such as Serge Ibaka, Paul Millsap or the combination of Zach Randolph and a re-signed Dion Waiters.
There’s more this morning out of the Southeast Division:
- The Hornets have limited resources to work with as they try to improve on this year’s 36-46 record, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. With six players who have salaries topping $12MM, Charlotte is already over the salary cap for next season, leaving GM Rich Cho with little to offer prospective free agents. The team will have its mid-level exception [worth about $8.4MM] and its bi-annual exception [about $3.3MM], but neither will be enough to add a difference maker. The Hornets own both of their picks at 11 and 41, but the team’s draft record has been mixed in recent years. Trade assets are limited, with only Kemba Walker able to bring a significant return. Bonnell cites depth, defense and closing out games as areas in which Charlotte needs to improve.
- Duke’s Amile Jefferson is among six players who will work out for the Hornets today, Bonnell relays in a separate story. He will be joined by Antonio Blakeney of LSU; Torian Graham of Arizona State; Kyle Kuzma of Utah; Derrick Walton of Michigan; and Nigel Williams-Goss of Gonzaga. Several more workouts are planned for next week.
- Kuzma held a second pre-draft workout for the Hawks on Thursday, tweets Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Joining him at that session were Dwayne Bacon of Florida State, Nigel Hayes of Wisconsin and Nik Slavica of Croatia.
It would be amazing if the Heat got Heyward, but I don’t know who else they can keep/add in that scenario. If they could move Whiteside, it would open space to get Heyward and keep both James johnson and waiters, and maybe grab Ibaka in FA or keep Reed and figure something out at that 5 spot….
Makes no sense to trade Tyler Johnson or Winslow right now. TJ has the poison pill coming up next year, but if he continues to play the way he did thisbyear, and improves a little, the number makes sense with the cap increase coming. I’d explore moving him, but only for the right offer. Not gonna lie, Tyler is also probably my current favorite Heat player, other than obviously UD
Heat could also open like $4 million more if they stretch provision McRoberts.
If they can get James Johnson and Dion Waiters together for $26 million or so, they can use half their remaining cap space to maybe keep Willie Reed at $6-7 million, and Ellington at his number, and/or bring someone in on a cheap deal, or the room exception, to help the 3/4 spots. Winslow and Richardson being healthy should help though. I wouldnt mind someone like Ibaka instead of keeping Reed, but I think they’re a bit short on cap space to get him
That seems like the most simple possibility, but there are obviously potential trades they could make as well. I still would like to see them move Whiteside, but I don’t think they’ll do it at this point
Millsap and Heyward are both obvious fits, but Heyward is likely to stay in Utah or could look elsewhere, since you have to consider what else the Heat could do if they get him, and Millsap is at an age where it might make more sense to pay a lot less for James Johnson, and therefore use cap space on more pieces…I’ll pass on Blake Griffin
Someone thinks they’re an expert here lol
-Tyler johnsons agent
If you look at the cap, the money is similar in percentage as 12.5 million or so for this year, which is what it should be in this market for guys like him, and is if you look at comparable deals. If you don’t watch someone play, and don’t know his skillset, it’s not fair to say they shouldn’t get paid what his market is
Charlotte should draft Justin Jackson at 11, and look to add a 2 guard and backup PG