The Heat made a key personnel decision that could have adversely impacted their 2020/21 season in letting Jae Crowder walk as a free agent during the 2020 offseason, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The club opted to not sign Crowder to a long-term deal so that it could keep its coffers open for the summer of 2021, when Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was scheduled to be a free agent. Of course, Antetokounmpo then signed a lucrative extension with Milwaukee, and the Bucks would go on to sweep the Heat 4-0 in the first round of the 2021 postseason.
Crowder, meanwhile, signed a three-year, $29.2MM deal with the Suns. Though Crowder’s statistical numbers may be modest, Winderman notes that his toughness and versatility would have significantly aided Miami’s 2020/21 season. Crowder is now bringing those same attributes to bear for the Suns in the NBA Finals. The club is up 2-0 against the Bucks.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Team Nigeria head coach Mike Brown sang the praises of Heat forwards Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala after they contributed to Team Nigeria’s 90-87 exhibition match upset over Team USA in an Olympics tuneup game, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Achiuwa and Okpala’s contributions went beyond their minor offensive output. Their Miami teammate Gabe Vincent, meanwhile, enjoyed a stellar offensive game for Nigeria, scoring a team-high 21 points on 66.7% field goal shooting.
- Several current and former Magic players expressed their excitement when the news broke today that Orlando would be hiring Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley to be the club’s new head coach, writes Chris Hays of The Orlando Sentinel. “I’m happy for him,” Magic forward Jonathan Isaac told Hays. “He’s been faithful to the grind and the league for many years.” Former Magic guard J.J. Redick, who was coached by Mosley in Dallas this season, tweeted “Love this!!”
- The Wizards, who have the No. 15 pick in the 2021 draft, will hold pre-draft workouts for six draft candidates on Monday, per a team press release. Richmond guard Blake Francis, Florida guard Tre Mann, Avtodor Saratov forward Nikita Mikhailovskii, Tennessee swingman Yves Pons, Stanford forward Oscar Da Silva, and Coppin State wing Koby Thomas will all get a look from Washington’s brain trust.
Wizards should never draft or sign any more Europeans!! Avdija, Bertans and Wagner are or were terrible fit for this team. Stop thinking that every European kid is the next Luka! Keep it real!
Let’s be honest, the Heat last year success was a fluke and the bubble thing contributed to that. They should think about rebuilding and stop handing out contracts to old veterans like Dragic or Iggy. They’ won’t compete with Bucks, Hawks, Nets or 6ers unless they sign a Kawhi or Beal.
The entire Finals last year was a fluke. The Lakers are no longer serious contenders anymore with LeBron having already entered into his twilight years. The Heat made a huge mistake by letting Crowder go to Phoenix, he proved that by reaching the Finals again this year.
I cannot disagree with that!
Any season where the Rockets don’t make the finals is a fluke
Any relation between
Terrance Mann and Tre Mann
Donovan Michell and Davion Michell
They’re not related. They just have the same last names.
The heat were not Jae Crowder away from winning that series, lol.
No kidding..I mean if only they kept Jae Crowdee then…what?
Role players are the difference makers in playoff series. Stars cancel each other out. It’s foolish to think a player like Jae Crowder wouldn’t have a great impact. There are bigger reasons for losing to the Bucks than that, but losing a glue guy has an effect on the rest of the team.
I wonder if it occurs to Giannis Antetokounmpo that if he signed his extension only 1 week earlier… Crowder would be playing for the Heat right now not annoying him for the Suns… then again that Heat team with Crowder beat him only 10 months ago sooo lol