Heat center Omer Yurtseven is expected to undergo surgery on his injured left ankle this week, barring a last-minute change in plans, reports Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
As we relayed on Thursday, Yurtseven is reportedly dealing with a bone spur issue in his ankle and was weighing the possibility of a surgical or non-surgical approach to the injury, having sought out multiple opinions. While the 24-year-old would likely be facing an extended absence either way, there was a belief that undergoing surgery could end his season.
According to Chiang, there’s now hope that Yurtseven will stay be able to play this season even if he goes under the knife. The expectation is that the big man be sidelined for about three months after surgery, meaning he’d have a chance to return by March.
Yurtseven has yet to play at all in 2022/23 after suffering his ankle injury during the preseason, but was productive when given playing time as a rookie last season. During one 10-game stretch as a starter with Bam Adebayo sidelined, he averaged 13.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steal in 30.9 minutes per contest.
Yurtseven is in a contract year and will be eligible for restricted free agency in the summer of 2023.
Having Yurtseven unavailable until well into the second half of the season will leave the Heat a little shorthanded, since they’re only carrying 14 players due to luxury tax concerns and aren’t particularly deep at center.
Dewayne Dedmon has been a regular contributor off the bench when healthy this season, while Udonis Haslem has also gotten into a couple games. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has leaned a little more heavily on Adebayo, who’s averaging a career-high 34.9 minutes per night so far.
Heat desperately need help at smallball 5
Miami has no back-up defensive core. They are short in physical, defensive, 2’s 3’s, 4’s. Robinson flamed out, Lowry is not his Toronto self, and Oladipo was starting to look like a bright spot, but got injured. Now Miami looks like a subpar season, not a tanking season, but lower than expected. No sense in playing Butler & Adebayo to death if a championship isn’t realistic. I’d trade for Crowder if Phoenix is asking a fair price ASAP
There is no way for the Heat to match salaries in a deal for Crowder, so I dont get why they’ve been linked to him.
The problem is they wont add a 15th man b/c of potential repeater luxury tax a couple of years from now, and they wasted a spot on Jovic, who should have either been stashed or not drafted at all, instead of adding someone at the 4/5 they were actually willing to use. They have guys that can fill in at the 4, even though I preferred, and still do, someone ahead of them, but they refuse to play those guys. So now you’re looking at a roster with essentially 10 guys b/c of injuries, and guys they wont let play.
Highsmith and Duncan Robinson should be starting over Herro and Caleb. Highsmith and Strus switching off at the 4, depending on matchup.
Still, the most obvious issue this year so far, which has contributed to at least 4 of the losses, is an extremely desperate need at smallball 5, in which they have zero options. Dedmon cant matchup against certain teams, and then they have nothing behind Bam, and no options as a floor spacer there either, and if Bam gets in foul trouble, then they’re really stuck.
They had Days on a 2 way, who is capable at the 4/5 spots, but let him go to keep Jamal Cain, who isn’t as good as DJ Stewart jr, who they let go last year, and have back in the G-league now, and he is also capable as a depth option at the 4 behind Highsmith, Strus, and Butler, but they wont let him play either…though obviously that doesnt help with the issue at the 5
Jovic may be playable in certain matchups for small stretches, but they haven’t been willing to give him that chance, and it’s understandable, but as of now, he is theoretically the only option they have to use there, unless they use Butler at small ball 5 in certain matchups, which is a bold move, but if they were going to try that, the last 3 minutes of that Portland game last Monday would have been the time, with Winslow and Grant at the 4/5 when Portland made their run
I was wondering if they would consider peeling off Martin/Highsmith, or similar combination to bring in Crowder. You’re right about that Tax. I forgot, this is Riley, and if the Heat aren’t in it, he is not paying the tax. For the cost, I’m not sure Crowder would solve the problems, and make them a top 5 team in the league. Plus, sending off future talent is never appealing when your trying to shore up the roster a little. Phoenix is going to want something of value
I wouldn’t want to move Caleb, and I’m pretty sure they still fall short in making a trade financially…
Again though, this is why I’d like to at least see them use what they have and see how that goes, and figure it out later. They will be able to add that 15th guy later in the season, and right now, there are a lot of people that look to be available still by then (there are still options right now).
I do think they could get away with what they have at the 4, if they use those guys (highsmith, strus, butler, cain, caleb), but it’s that small 5 spot I dont know how long they can get away without
Sign Whiteside
Is he still available ….. wow
You think Howard could have helped Heat. I truly don’t get why teams don’t value Howard. Especially at the minimum …..
He would only make some kind of sense if Bam was injured