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Eastern Conference Playoff Seeding

April 11th, 2018 at 9:38pm CST by clarkcrum

9:38pm: The Heat have beaten the Raptors, meaning we know the playoff pairings and seeds for the Eastern Conference.

  • Raptors (No. 1) vs. Wizards (No. 8)
  • Celtics (No. 2) vs. Bucks (No. 7)
  • Sixers (No. 3) vs. Heat (No. 6)
  • Cavaliers (No. 4) vs. Pacers (No. 5)

9:32pm: The Magic have beaten the Wizards.  We now know the following.

  • The Wizards are the No. 8 seed, which means the only seeds still up for grabs are the 6 and 7 seeds.
  • If MIA wins, they are the No. 6 seed and MIL is No. 7.
  • If TOR wins, MIL is the No. 6 seed and MIA is No. 7.

9:05pm: Philadelphia now leads Milwaukee by 34 points with less than eight minutes remaining. Safe to say, the Sixers aren’t losing this game. As such, we now know the following.

  • The Sixers are the No. 3 seed.
  • The Cavaliers are the No. 4 seed.
  • The Heat will be the No. 6 seed with a win over the Raptors.

8:18pm: At halftime of both games, the Knicks lead the Cavs by 20 and the Sixers lead the Bucks by an all-but insurmountable 36 points. Barring an epic turnaround, the Sixers will be the No. 3 seed and the Cavs will be the No. 4 seed.

6:07pm: While not as undecided as the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference still has some seeding implications in tonight’s games as well. Like the top two seeds in the West, both the Raptors and Celtics are locked in to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the East, respectively.

Likewise, the Pacers will be the No. 5 seed regardless of tonight’s results. However, seeds three, four, and six through eight are still up in the air, as follows:

Sixers: 3 or 4

Cavaliers: 3 or 4

Bucks: 6, 7, or 8

Heat: 6, 7, or 8

Wizards: 6, 7, or 8

As we did for the Western Conference, here are some initial notes that are not conditional upon other game results:

  • The Sixers will be the No. 3 seed with a win over the Bucks.
  • The Cavs will be the No. 4 seed with a loss to the Knicks.
  • The Bucks will be the No. 6 seed with a win over the Sixers.
  • The Wizards will be the No. 8 seed with a loss to the Magic.

We will be updating the Eastern Conference playoff seeding scenarios as the night goes on, so stay with us throughout the evening. The playoff seeding should be set by the time we sign off.

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Pat Riley Fumed, Then Realized LeBron ‘Did Right Thing’

April 9th, 2018 at 9:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Heat president Pat Riley was furious when LeBron James bolted Miami and returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 but now feels James ‘did the right thing.’ That’s one of the revelations by Riley to author Ian Thomsen in his new book “The Soul of Basketball: The Epic Showdown between LeBron, Kobe, Doc and Dirk that Saved the NBA” which was excerpted in a Jackie MacMullen story for ESPN.

Riley came to that conclusion slowly, as he fumed for months over James’ decision to go back to Cleveland. He ultimately understood that James would never be truly accepted in his home state again unless he won a championship there.

“My beautiful plan all of a sudden came crashing down,” Riley told Thomsen. “That team in ten years could have won five or six championships. But I get it. I get the whole chronicle of [LeBron’s] life. While there may have been some carnage always left behind when he made these kinds of moves, in Cleveland and also in Miami, he did the right thing.”

Other notable revelations in the interview included:

  • James hinted early in his first Heat season during a meeting among Riley and the Big Three of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and James that he wanted Riley to return to coaching and replace Erik Spoelstra. “I remember LeBron looking at me, and he said, ‘Don’t you ever get the itch?’ I said, ‘The itch for what?’ He said, ‘The itch to coach again?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t have the itch.’ He didn’t ask any more questions, and I didn’t offer any more answers. But I know what it meant, and I always go back and wonder about what he was thinking at that time. “
  • The public outcry after James’ announcement that he would be “taking my talents to South Beach” shook up James when he headed to Miami.  “That night at three in the morning we met him at the airport. … They got off the plane, and I remember walking right up to LeBron. He was worn-out. He was just worn-out. He almost had tears in his eyes.”
  • Riley had no contact with James until Game 7 the 2016 NBA Finals, when Riley texted him. “As soon as he hit the floor, I sent a text to him. I said, ‘Win this and be free.’ He never got back to me with a response.” Riley and James continue to be at odds, according to MacMullen.
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Kelly Olynyk Poised To Secure $1.4MM In Bonuses

April 4th, 2018 at 12:06pm CST by Luke Adams

Kelly Olynyk is poised to cash in a pair of bonuses included in the contract he signed with the Heat last summer, as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. Olynyk’s deal, which included a base salary of about $10.61MM for 2017/18, featured a $400K bonus if Miami secured a playoff berth — the team clinched its postseason spot on Tuesday night.

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Latest On Heat Center Hassan Whiteside

April 2nd, 2018 at 8:02pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Heat center Hassan Whiteside expressed regret on Monday over his postgame tirade on Saturday in which he ripped coach Erik Spoelstra, Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel reports. Whiteside was upset when he didn’t play in the fourth quarter and overtime during a loss to the Nets. “The minutes have been like that all year. It’s really frustrating. … It’s crazy. I don’t understand it,” he told reporters afterward. After meeting with Spoelstra, Whiteside said he didn’t handle the situation the right way.

“I was just frustrated, man,” Whiteside told Richardson and other reporters. “I was frustrated that we lost. I really wanted to get that game … I could have handled it different. But I got so caught up in wanting to get that win. I get real competitive. I really want to be out there. But I just trust coach’s decision.”

Whiteside was fined for his tirade and Spoeltra said the issue has been resolved. “We’re moving on. It’s behind us,” he said. “You can tell right now by the mood of the gym that’s long gone.”

Whiteside has played an average of 25.6 MPG, 7.0 less than last season. Whiteside has two years and $52.4MM remaining on his  contract after this season but can opt out after next season.

Florida reporters weighed in on Whiteside’s future:

  • Tensions between Whiteside and the team can only hurt his trade value, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel opines. It’s now uncertain whether Whiteside will remain on the team after this season but the Heat sent a message by fining him that they’re fed up with him and will no longer coddle him, Winderman adds.
  • Whiteside will get traded after the season despite his efforts to end the controversy, Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel anticipates. He has constantly frustrated the team with his inconsistent play and rookie Bam Adebayo can take over at center with a more unselfish mindset, Hyde adds.
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Whiteside Blasts Coaches Over Playing Time

April 1st, 2018 at 5:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

5:57pm: The Heat have fined Hassan Whiteside for what they deem “comments detrimental to the team,” an ESPN report states.

9:00am: Frustrated all season by reduced playing time, Heat center Hassan Whiteside launched a tirade against the coaching staff after Saturday’s overtime loss to the Nets, relays Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

Whiteside played just 20 minutes in the 53-minute game and didn’t get off the bench in the fourth quarter and overtime as the team was using a small-ball lineup to match up with Brooklyn.

“It’s annoying,” he said to reporters. “We shouldn’t. Why are we matching up? We’ve got one of the best centers in the league. Why are we matching up? A lot of teams don’t have a good center. They are going to use their strengths. … There are a lot of teams that can use a center.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra, who spoke to reporters before Whiteside did, said the center’s limited minutes Saturday are part of an effort to rebuild his stamina. Whiteside was in his second game back after missing nine with a hip flexor.
It has been a season-long trend for Whiteside, who has missed 28 games due to injury and is averaging 25.4 minutes per night, a significant cut from 29.1 and 32.6 the past two years. Whiteside had two private conversations with Spoelstra about his playing time, but the situation boiled over Saturday night.

“I don’t know if it’s because I’m on a minutes restriction,” he said. “The minutes have been like that all year. It’s really frustrating. It’s been frustrating. It’s tough. I don’t know, man. It’s crazy. I don’t understand it.”

When asked if the reduced minutes made him doubt if he has a future in Miami, Whiteside responded, “I don’t know. Maybe,” before a Heat public relations official ended the interview.

Whiteside has one year left on his contract at $25.4MM, then can opt out of a $27MM salary next summer. Jackson notes that if he does opt out, the Heat would have to unload another significant salary to be competitive in a star-studded free agent market. He adds that Whiteside’s comments may make Miami’s front office more likely to consider trading him before that option year arrives.

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Durant, Whiteside Set To Return From Injuries On Thursday

March 28th, 2018 at 8:46am CST by Luke Adams

Two injured stars are set to return from injuries on Thursday, according to reports. Kevin Durant is expected to get back on the court for the Warriors vs. Milwaukee, while Heat center Hassan Whiteside is on track to play against Chicago.

Chris Haynes of ESPN has the details on Durant, who has been sidelined for the last two weeks with a right rib injury. As Haynes writes, head coach Steve Kerr said his star forward will “probably” be activated for the game against the Bucks, while Durant offered a more emphatic update. “You can tell them I’m playing Thursday,” the reigning NBA Finals MVP told ESPN.

With all four of their All-Stars battling various ailments, the Warriors have been slumping — Tuesday’s loss to Indiana represented the club’s sixth loss in nine games. However, reinforcements appear to be on the way. Draymond Green, who missed Tuesday’s game with flu-like symptoms, seems close to returning, and Klay Thompson said on Tuesday that he should be back “soon” too, adding that he’ll probably just miss “one or two more games” (Twitter link via Janie McCauley of The Associated Press).

Meanwhile, in Miami, Whiteside has been on the shelf for nearly three weeks, last playing for the Heat on March 8. According to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel, Whiteside was pushing to return on Tuesday from his hip flexor injury, but Thursday now looks like the target date. The veteran center will participate in Wednesday’s practice, and if he looks good, he’s expected to be activated the next day.

The Heat have held their own up front during Whiteside’s absence, with Bam Adebayo handling starting duties and Kelly Olynyk playing well off the bench. However, Adebayo is currently dealing with an injury of his own – his sprained ankle forced Jordan Mickey into the starting lineup on Tuesday – so Whiteside’s return will come at a good time.

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Keeping Wayne Ellington May Mean Luxury Tax

March 25th, 2018 at 10:21am CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat would almost certainly have to go into the luxury tax to re-sign Wayne Ellington, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Ellington will be a free agent again after accepting a one-year, $6.3MM deal last summer. He has a chance to set the franchise record for 3-pointers in a season, but team president Pat Riley operates under a policy of only paying the tax when the Heat can contend for a title. Miami will be well over the salary cap next season, with more than $116MM already committed.

The Heat may not have a significant role for Ellington even if he does re-sign, Winderman adds. Dion Waiters should be fully recovered from ankle surgery, and Dwyane Wade will probably return for another season. Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, Rodney McGruder and Justise Winslow will also be competing for wing minutes.

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Spoelstra Likes Two-Way Contracts; Johnson Playing Well

March 23rd, 2018 at 6:52pm CST by clarkcrum

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is excited about the prospect of getting the team’s two-way players, Derrick Jones Jr. and Derrick Walton, back with the team this weekend, reports Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel.

With the G League regular season concluding tomorrow, the 45-day restriction upon two-way players is lifted, freeing them to return to the NBA for the remainder of the regular season. Jones Jr. is back with the Heat for tonight’s game against Oklahoma City, with Walton joining the team before Sunday’s game in Indiana. As for the two-way system itself, Spoelstra is a fan, even though he thinks a few issues need ironing out.

“The system is a little bit clumsy, but I’m sure we’ll iron that all out in years to come. I’m a big fan of the two-way contract. I think it’s good for teams, it’s good for the player. We’ve seen the benefits of developing our guys with us (the Heat), but also getting those guys a lot of game reps in our culture, in Sioux Falls.”

Jones Jr., 21, is averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in 29.1 minutes per game this season for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat’s G League affiliate, while also starting eight games for the Heat during the team’s struggle through injuries. Asked whether his development is of importance to the team, Spoelstra said of course:

“Absolutely. We always envision where a player can go. We do that with an open mind and a commitment to our player development. He’s improved this year with us and that’s worth noting, because he’s committed to our (the Heat’s) process. I think he has to break into this program as a defensive-minded player. That’s really where his potential is. It’s been very intentional that we try to get him on the best wing opponent every night and really embrace that challenge regardless of how many minutes he plays and what his offensive responsibility is. He has to guard, he has to be able to impact on that side of the floor. And that got better. It still has a long ways to go, but he’s starting to understand where he can break through.”

As we’ve noted generally before, neither Jones Jr. nor Walton are playoff-eligible for the Heat unless signed to a standard contract before the final game of the regular season. This is unlikely as Miami already has 15 players on its roster.

  • Just in time for the playoffs, James Johnson is finally realizing the level of play the Heat expected when they signed him to a lucrative contract this summer, Winderman adds in another piece.
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Riley: Heat Roster Has 'Everything We Need'

March 6th, 2018 at 11:11am CST by Luke Adams
  • Despite slipping to a tie for seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, the Heat like their roster and are confident they’ll finish the season strong, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We have everything we need,” said team president Pat Riley. “We have shot blocking. We’ve got pick-and-roll bigs who can catch lobs. We’ve got pick-and-roll bigs who can catch layups. We’ve got shooters, defenders. We’ve got a lot of versatility. … I think Coach (Erik Spoelstra) has done a great job in developing a system that’s for everybody. And so let’s get on with it.”
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Deadline Looming For Disabled Player Exceptions

March 6th, 2018 at 10:01am CST by Luke Adams

Teams that still have disabled player exceptions at their disposal for the 2017/18 season have less than a week to make use of those exceptions. Typically, disabled player exceptions must be used by March 10 of a given league year, but since that date falls on a Saturday this year, the deadline is extended until Monday, March 12. If a team doesn’t use its DPE by that date, it will expire.

As we detailed earlier this season in a glossary entry, a disabled player exception can be granted by the NBA when a team has a player go down with an injury deemed to be season-ending. The exception gives the club some extra cap flexibility to add an injury replacement by signing a player to a one-year contract, trading for a player in the final year of his contract, or placing a waiver claim on a player in the final year of his contract.

The deadline for teams to apply for a disabled player exception was January 15. Seven clubs received DPEs this season, with three of those clubs having used them already. Here’s that list:

That leaves just four teams that still have their disabled player exceptions. These four clubs will see their DPEs disappear if they’re not used by March 12:

While it’s still possible that one or two of these teams will use their disabled player exceptions, those exceptions are less useful at this point in the season. The trade deadline has passed, ruling out the possibility of using the DPE in a trade. And any player placed on waivers at this point wouldn’t be eligible for the postseason, limiting the appeal of using the DPE for a waiver claim.

That leaves free agents, and there simply aren’t there many unsigned players out there who would be worth more than the minimum salary. Veterans like Derrick Rose and Tony Allen remain available, but they started the season on minimum salary deals before being waived, so it’s not as if they’d warrant more lucrative contracts now.

Ultimately, it seems likely that the remaining four disabled player exceptions will expire without being used, but we’ll keep an eye on them through next Monday, just in case.

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