The free agent role player additions the Heat acquired this summer, Avery Bradley and Maurice Harkless, have underwhelmed in Miami thus far, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Bradley, signed to a two-year, $11.6MM deal (with a team option for year two), is averaging 8.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.4 APG and 0.7 SPG in just 10 games, and will now miss at least 3-4 weeks of action due to a right calf injury. Forward Harkless, signed to a one-year, $3.6MM contract, is out of the Heat’s rotation. He has appeared in just nine games for Miami, averaging a career-low 10.7 MPG.
There’s more out of South Beach:
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel wonders if the Heat have a Plan B for the 2021 offseason after their top target, reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, signed a lucrative extension with the Bucks during the offseason. Winderman posits that the Heat should not sacrifice one of their intriguing younger players for veteran help, as they did last season in the deal that brought Jae Crowder, Andre Iguodala, and Solomon Hill to the Heat from the Grizzlies in exchange for Justise Winslow.
- With Avery Bradley and Goran Dragic sidelined by injury, 2020 All-Rookie First Teamer Kendrick Nunn has answered the bell with efficient offense, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes. Nunn had been supplanted in the rotation during the 2020/21 season behind starter Tyler Herro and bench guards Bradley and Dragic.
- With the Heat currently near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings at 8-14 (as of this writing, though they are in action against the Knicks today), Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald wonders if Miami’s 2020 Finals run the result of charmed circumstances while the Heat were in the Orlando “bubble” campus. “We haven’t been playing good basketball,” All-Star wing Jimmy Butler acknowledged.
Heat were nothing special during regular season last year. Did they get hot in the bubble? Yeah. But a lot of their guys are a year older now, plus covid. Don’t know that there is a smoking gun. I still think they’ll be dangerous in the post season if everyone is healthy.
I agree.. people forget this team has been decimated by injuries and covid protocols.. when healthy, they are good
I wouldn’t expect Iggy to be nearly as much of a factor in the playoffs, assuming they get there, and losing Jae Crowder didn’t help them either.
I think it’s going to depend in large part on Herro – I have faith in Butler and Bam, Goran still has gas in the tank, Robinson is legit
But Herro is the X factor, could be the third guy for them w/ Goran aging. So far he’s been a little ho-hum this season tho
Winslow would’ve been a real nice fit next to Bam and Butler if he was healthy…
The Grizzlies have a lot of young talent too, hopefully he’ll get healthy soon.
Crowder, Iguodala and Hill all helped the Heat to reach the NBA Finals. Winslow hasn’t played in a year. It’s hard to find fault with Miami’s end of that deal.
Agreed – on paper Winslow is a lot of things.
But we’re five years into his career and he hasn’t shown much beyond flashes here and there
Butler out and protocols missing players have hurt. Easily could have 4 more wins. Still say they need a rim protector. Leonard n Iggy could bring in Drummond. Cavs could buy out Iggy and he could go back to Warriors. All ends well …. happy endings kind of guy.
They got a hot start to the RS then a hot start in the playoffs. These Winderman perspectives have them topsy-turvy… now they don’t want Giannis, now they do want Nunn, now they’re out of it. I call it the wages of Riley’s Giannis-dreaming.
I wonder if Nunn survives his changes in status or even if I root for him!
Heat played well against Knicks. Really only played eight players. But they all had solid game, especially Bam. Knicks once again bad PG play hurt them. When Knicks get solid PG play n production. They can compete with anyone. This is probably why they got Rose. Need that vet to settle things down. Plus he’s a better closer than anyone we got. Mentor Quickly and give us solid 20-25 mins. Knicks still have moves to make I believe. Heat need to get all players back and start winning. Already a third of the way in. You don’t want to fall back too much. I think they are waiting for TD. For players who get bought out.
As a Heat fan, I’m still salty about the trade. Heat could really use at least 1 of Winslow or James Johnson right now