Heat guard Tyler Herro initially feared he might be done for the regular season when he injured his foot, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald tweets. Herro, who suffered the injury on February 3, might be able to take off the protective boot sometime this week, Chiang adds. The 13th pick in last June’s draft, Herro is averaging 13.1 PPG and shooting 39.3% from deep.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Jimmy Butler‘s personality hasn’t changed but he has helped, rather than hurt, the Heat’s team chemistry, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald details. Guard Goran Dragic says the franchise’s culture made Butler fit seamlessly into the locker room. “They push you here. Jimmy is the same,” he said. “If you’re not used to it, it can [be] like, ‘I don’t like him.’ But this is the perfect situation for us and Jimmy. He just wants you and the team to get better.”
- The Hawks will be looking to accelerate their rebuild during this offseason, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic writes in his latest mailbag. They will likely look to add younger veterans instead of acquiring bad contracts as they did last offseason, Kirschner continues. Davis Bertans, Joe Harris, Gordon Hayward, Evan Fournier and Maurice Harkless are potential targets, Kirschner adds.
- Re-signing Derrick Jones Jr. and Dragic will likely be at the top of the Heat’s priority list this offseason, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel opines. Negotiations will Jones could be tricky, since Miami wants to protect its cap space for the summer of 2021, when the free agent market could be robust. At his young age, Jones will probably be looking for a long-term contract, Winderman adds.
Hayward (sign and trade) for Turner would be a prefect move to make the east even better.
The only thing holding the Celtics back from being a legitimate threat is they lack a real centre.
Turner would add the size they need, will help block shots down low, add some rebounds and on offence doesn’t clog the lane.
Pacers have been slowly building but they are probably lacking 1 more player and fortunately for them they have two natural centres both with good values. Hayward can play 3/4, is a team player, he’s a great all round player and even better he’s born and raised in Indy.
Celtics get a legitimate threat with Walker Smart Brown Tatum Turner and Theis Kanter Edwards.
Pacers also become interesting with Brogdan, Oladipo, Hayward, Sabonis, Warren and Lamb, McDermott and Holiday brothers.
Hayward should opt out and sign a new 4 year deal with the Heat. Where is can be a Star starter next to Butler.
Very possible with the Heat being a very close runner up the the Celtics last time.
Only team is better now.
Hayward could opt in and do that next year when Miami has more money, also. I don’t think Hayward is resentful towards Boston.
Heat certainly need to be careful with their cap space. I think they will be a serious destination for Giannis if he hasn’t won a title with Milwaukee yet.
Put him together with Butler, Bam and the rest of the rising young roster, and the Heat are a favorite to make the Finals for a few years. And they are serious contenders to win a trophy or two in that span.
Very similar to the Hawks, though I am not certain they are a destination for a big ticket free agent. What they shouldn’t do is drop big contracts on the Kent Bazemore’s of the world just because no one else will come here and they have plenty of space. It’s just throwing away money.
Throw everything into a potential superstar if you can get one, otherwise, continue to take on expiring contracts and acquire/improve picks .. maintaining flexibility for the next free agency.
The Heat can chase the big ticket players because they have an established culture and tradition of success under Pat Riley and then Eric Spoelstra.
The Hawks have to build something like that. Their best way is to build through the draft, and when they get a good run behind a drafted Superstar, they can be in position for signing the big ticket guys to add to that. That’s how Golden State did it until they landed Clay Thompson and Steph Curry and how San Antonio did it until they landed David Robinson and then Tim Duncan. The Hawks franchise as it is now is how those franchises were then…and how Miami was before Pat Riley arrived.