The Heat, one of two teams that entered Thursday’s draft without a pick in either round, explored the possibility of trading into the draft. However, team president Pat Riley told reporters late last night that the team didn’t feel it made sense to pay the asking price for a second-round selection.
“Every second-round pick cost two second-round picks or a future second-round pick and cash,” Riley said, per Manny Navarro of The Miami Herald (Twitter link).
Although the Heat didn’t make any moves on draft night, Riley said the club has engaged in a “lot of discussion with a lot of teams about a lot of players,” according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). Riley also discussed several other offseason topics during his session with the media, so we’ll round up the highlights below, via Winderman:
- According to Riley, the Heat have yet to offer Hassan Whiteside to any teams in trade talks. “I expect a lot of out Hassan, contrary to what people might think about us trading him,” Riley said. “We haven’t offered him to anybody, really, to be honest with you. So you go through an emotional period with a player and you deal with it and you come back and you work things out.” Of course, Riley’s comments could reflect a lack of a market for the veteran center.
- Riley denied that Justise Winslow was offered in trades leading up to the draft. However, Winslow is believed to be available in the right deal.
- Riley confirmed that the Heat will try to find a way to keep Wayne Ellington, though he acknowledged potential luxury-tax concerns, hinting that Miami likely wouldn’t be able to match an aggressive offer from another team.
- The Heat don’t know yet whether Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem want to continue their respective careers, but they’d be welcomed back if they want to return to the Heat. “They’ve been together forever and they also deserve the respect to sit and wait on this thing. And so there’s no rush,” Riley said.
- Given the Heat’s lack of cap room, Riley isn’t necessarily expecting an action-packed offseason for the club. “I don’t know if there are going to be any midnight meetings (at the start of free agency),” Riley said (Twitter link). “Not this year.”
- Dion Waiters continues to recover from ankle surgery, but the Heat are hoping that he’ll be ready for training camp, says Riley.
Our best chance of getting something for Whiteside was probably something similar to the Randolph, Temple, #36 deal I’ve mentioned. Not so sure anyone would want to take him on, regardless, but knowing Riley, he wouldn’t want to do something like that b/c he does believe in Whiteside’s abilities. So now that means he needs to show up, be willing to work, be a better teammate, and get ready to contribute to a playoff team. That means pay attention to details, improve pick and roll defense, be a more willing passer, and play with effort
Yes if they won’t look for a deal to help the team then quit complaining, the FO is as bad as Whiteside. A deal for expirings in SAC, PHX, LAC, CLE, more, clears up capspace for next year.
But nobody is trading for veterans of any kind. Paralysis by groupthink.
I agree with x%sure, I think a lot of the blame falls in the team side, when they signed him they said he would be the star, the offence would run through him & so on… which its good, but then the guy hardly plays 25 mpg, I would feel mocked by the team too, & then all the public going on at him, they have devalued him themselves & are stuck with him now, the team needs to make him happy, after all he is by quite some distance the best player in the team, & that is a sad state of affairs, that only the FO can be blamed for, Miami is a prime destination for FA, why don’t they build a winning team, not this mediocrity they are trying to sell, they really suck.
I’m actually looking forward to a top 3 pick this year…. 1 more year of these horrible contracts Miami got themselves counting down…need a breath of youth and Cap room..