Jimmy Butler‘s ties to Kawhi Leonard could impact what the two-time NBA champion decides to do if he reaches free agency this summer, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel speculates.
Leonard holds a $36MM player option for the 2021/22 season and could choose to sign elsewhere — especially if the Clippers lose in the first round. Los Angeles is currently trailing Dallas 2-1 in its series.
Miami lost all four games to Milwaukee in its own series, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs despite reaching the Finals last fall. If Leonard chooses to explore his options, the Heat could offer a compelling role alongside Butler, Bam Adebayo and others — though the team would need to create sufficient salary-cap space for him first.
There’s more out of Miami tonight:
- The Heat could also pursue Kyle Lowry in free agency, though that situation is more complicated than some may realize, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald explores. The team expressed interest in Lowry prior to the trade deadline, ultimately opting not to make a deal.
- Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel examines whether a playoff lineup change is a sign of things to come in free agency. Miami opted to start Goran Dragic in place of Kendrick Nunn during the team’s final two games of the series against Milwaukee, though Dragic mostly struggled. Nunn will enter restricted free agency this offseason, while Dragic has a $19.4MM team option for 2021/22.
- Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald looks back on the Heat’s underwhelming season and what comes next. Miami dealt with a shortened offseason, COVID issues and multiple injuries throughout the campaign, complicating the club’s season from the start.
The Clippers should trade Paul George for Jimmy Butler to get Kawhi to stay.
Miami would turn that down. PG nowhere near as tough as Jimmy and that wouldn’t fit Heat culture
Probably, but Butler (14.5 PPG) was pretty awful against the Bucks.
Heat aren’t trading Butler for George period. The Heat are in the business of trying to make themselves better; not the Clippers better.
Kawhi has got his rings, he wants to be on a competitive team which he is but LA is home and where his family is , Ballmer will spend, the FO is not afraid to make bold moves and he will use his opt out to force the players he wants here and who wants blown out. He’s the king of passive aggressiveness. He’s going nowhere.
Oversimplify
Morris and Kennard are Clippers biggest tradable assets but they may be overpaid bums
The draft picks and other guys have little value
As expected, Heat are hunting for Kawhi
Unstoppable
Heat reporters and fans talk Kawhi
How about Clippers future?
Ja Morant and Kawhi Leonard both play in the NBA…could Kawhi be headed to Memphis next season??
Even if they get rid of Justise Winslow the Grizzlies would have about $28M in cap space which isn’t quite enough to sign a guy like Kawhi.
It’s already being worked on the 2 are practically brothers they both play professional basketball in North America
The GRIZZ getting rid of Justise Winslow is like the LAKERS waiving Lebron ……. Justise Winslow is the GOAT.
– formerlyz
Clippers have to seize the moment. One gm at a time. Lakers thought they could just get it together for playoffs. Not that easy. Playoffs have some good teams. Its why Im not sold on Nets. Bucks n Sixers look ready to me. Both East n West will be competitive. Good for FANS
I don’t think people really understand how much starting the season so quickly after the finals hurt the Heat and the Lakers. Both teams weren’t the same, were tired looking at times this season, often inured and didn’t play up to their potential. I haven’t seen one fan or media outlet mention it but it’s not hard to see that played a factor into this season and the fact they rushed it screwed both teams
You are correct in your assessment, but it is what it is. The league is about making money and they didn’t give a F about two teams playing into October and starting the season in December. They weren’t going push the season back and miss them Xmas day payouts in there tv contracts
This isn’t the first time the Heat have been eyeing Kawhi. Let’s see how this all turns out.
One thing for sure: the Heat are really good, but need another star to make them elite. The question is when and who they’ll get that, and if it will happen before Butler is on the wrong side of 30
Still waiting on options and non guaranteed contracts, but obviously, besides health, and just not going cold against a team that didnt necessarily play great defense against them, and kind of lucked out on certain guys missing bread and butter looks, the Heat need to address someone that can guard the guard spot, another wing piece, which especially matters depending on Andre Iguodala and/or Trevor Ariza, another piece at the 4 that can defend, and preferably knock down shots,and if they can have some size that would be helpful, and a big that can space the floor, and hopefully give them adequate defense to replace Olynyk, especially after not using Bjelica in a matchup they needed him in, for whatever reason…
Obviously depends on what happens with their young guys, and who they potentially trade/dont keep. Curious what they do with guys like Achiuwa and Okpala, besides the obvious guards. Those guys could go in a trade, and they weren’t used for some reason in a matchup where they may have been useful, so moving them or not, those positions may be more important than they already are. I personally would still consider trading Tyler Herro, as I would have a few months ago. If o had to keep 1 of him or Nunn, I would keep Nunn, but depends on what either could get in a trade, or who else they might grab, and if they keep Dragic. I really want Dragic to end his career with the Heat, so I’ll be really sad if he goes, but it might depend on what else happens
I really hope they dont lose Duncan Robinson. He is extremely important. You can probably find a way to either spread out that shooting, or maybe develop other pieces, but I feel like he is very valuable, and I wouldn’t want to trade him for anything but specific valuable pieces. Hopefully they can offer him enough to take away the risk of someone giving him a wonky deal, outside of just money, that makes it tough to match. The Heat has Max Strus on a 2 way deal, and he is interesting to potentially fill some of that spot, but I think it’s worth keeping Duncan Robinson barring a really significant roster change.
Not necessarily in order, but I could see a few of these guys being real options/potential targets, assuming status. Some of those guys are obviously easier to get…I personally doubt Kawhi Leonard moves, but obviously he would change a lot of the scenarios. That being said, I think the same needs would still exist, so the idea of lower cost options at those spots could be nice. I would imagine the Heat would also consider retaining flexibility, as not offering years may have cost them this year, so they could be holding out for someone worth going after to give that up
Paul Millsap is still an obvious target, among others, Serge Ibaka could be nice if he leaves the Clippers. If Marc Gasol became available, he would be so perfect, but I doubt he leaves the Lakers. Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, Josh Hart, Tony Snell, Torrey Craig, Josh Richardson, Sterling Brown, Rudy Gay, Justise Winslow, James Johnson, Solomon Hill, Frank Ntilikina, Shaq Harrison, Lonzo Ball, Isaac Bonga, Kelly Olynyk, Noah Vonleh, Bobby Portis, Harry Giles, Thon Maker, Frank Kaminsky, Moe Wagner, Dwight Howard, Jeremiah Martin, Kris Dunn
If Kawhi opts out guess how many teams have interest ? 32 teams Including the clippers. Team could have 0 cap room and make it work.
Maybe Kawhi goes to warriors and he’s the savior of golden state. Wouldn’t be like KD joining. Golden state missed the playoffs two years in a row.
In my opinion, even if the Heat get Kawai via a trade, the Heat need more length. As good as Bam is, he is only 6’9. The Heat were out rebounded by a large margin against the Lakers in 2020 and again by the Bucks this year. As good as Kawai is, at 6’7 he won’t fix that problem alone and certainly at 6’0 Lowry won’t.
Agreed. I’ve felt that the Heat are a top team talent-wise, but they have a major problem with size that teams have taken advantage of all season after seeing how the Lakers did it in last year’s Finals.
If the Heat want to have an impacting move this offseason, they should look at Andre Drummond.
Heat need size!
Hell no…I dont need another Hassan Whiteside experience