Miami Heat Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Confirm Erik Spoelstra Signed Extension

December 30th, 2016 at 5:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra signed a contract extension during the offseason to remain with the franchise, the club officially confirmed today, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. The deal wasn’t announced at the time of its completion, though summer reports indicated it was considered a formality.

“I would like to thank the Arisons and Pat [Riley] for their continued confidence in me and my staff and are humbled in their trust in me as head coach,” Spoelstra said in a statement. “It has been an incredible 22 years being part of the Miami Heat family and we will look to continue our goal of winning NBA championships.”

The announcement may be a belated one, but it doesn’t come as any real surprise. As Winderman notes, Spoelstra’s voice within the organization has grown in recent years, as he has become more involved with personnel decisions and filled out the team’s coaching staff with his own hires. The team didn’t reveal the terms of Spoelstra’s new extension, but it’s safe to say that the Heat view him as the long-term fit for the job, even as they go through a rebuilding phase.

Spoelstra – who was an assistant for more than a decade in Miami before his promotion – is currently the NBA’s second-longest-tenured head coach, trailing only Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. Over the course of his career with the Heat, Spoelstra has led the team to a 673-409 (.608) mark during the regular season. He has also enjoyed significant success in the playoffs, with a career postseason record of 70-43 (.619), including four Finals appearances and two titles.

Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical first reported in June that Spoelstra and the Heat were nearing an extension, while Riley confirmed in July that the two sides were working toward a new deal.

Heat Notes: McRoberts, Winslow, Beasley, Whiteside

December 30th, 2016 at 2:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Josh McRoberts will almost certainly choose not to opt out of his contract after suffering a foot injury this week, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. A stress fracture was discovered Tuesday in McRoberts’ left foot that will keep him off the court indefinitely. That virtually eliminates any chance he will hit the open market and try to improve on the more than $6MM the Heat owe him for next season. With McRoberts’ salary on its cap, Miami will have about $40MM in space this summer if Dion Waiters and Willie Reed both opt out as expected.

There’s more news today out of Miami:

The Heat are concerned that Justise Winslow‘s shooting problems will prevent him from ever becoming a great player, Jackson notes in the same story. Winslow ranks last in shooting percentage among the 85 players averaging at least 30 minutes per game, connecting on just 35.2% of his shots from the field and just 20% from 3-point range. “It’s tough,” Winslow said after going 0 for 9 in Thursday’s loss to the Hornets. “I try to rebound, defend. You have to find other ways to make an impact. Just one of those nights.” Miami has already picked up Winslow’s option for 2017/18 and will give the 10th pick of the 2015 draft plenty of time to work out his shooting woes.
The Heat continue to be haunted by their decision to take Michael Beasley ahead of Russell Westbrook in the 2008 draft, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel. Beasley lasted just two seasons in Miami before being traded to Minnesota for cash and two second-round picks. Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, a former assistant with the Heat, said there were plenty of warning signs before the draft. “I’ll never forget the year they were drafted,” he said. “Not to call out Bease, but we had to drag Bease out of the bed in Vegas to get him to the gym to work out. And Russell Westbrook had already been in that same gym for two hours, full sweat. And [Miami coach Erik Spoelstra] asked Bease, ‘Where you been?’ And it was like, ‘Oh, man, is this how this kid really is? And [Westbrook] went a whole other hour going at the speed that you see him play.”
Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who signed a four-year, $98MM deal over the summer, tells Winderman in a separate story that he doesn’t worry about trying to live up to that contract. “No different than before,” Whiteside said. “The pressure of being cut when I first got here on a non-guaranteed [contract] was a little more pressure than it is now for me.”

No Rush For Heat To Move On From McRoberts

December 28th, 2016 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

With Josh McRoberts sidelined indefinitely due to a foot injury, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel explores the Heat‘s options, concluding that it probably doesn’t make sense for Miami to cut the veteran forward anytime soon. The Heat could stretch the cap hit for McRoberts’ 2017/18 player option ($6MM+) over multiple seasons if they were to waive him, but there’s no immediate need to clear a roster spot, so it makes sense to stick with him for now.

When he was on a minimum salary contract, Hassan Whiteside‘s production was considered a bonus, but as a maximum salary player, the Heat center has had to adjust to new expectations. Shandel Richardson of The South Florida Sun Sentinel takes a look at how Whiteside has dealt with the transition from relative unknown to face of the franchise.

Heat Notes: Draft, Dragic, Conditioning

December 27th, 2016 at 2:45pm CST by Luke Adams

The Heat announced earlier on Tuesday that Josh McRoberts will be out indefinitely due to a stress fracture in his left foot. However, that’s not the only item out of Miami worth passing along today. Here are a few more Heat-related notes to round up:

As our reverse NBA standings show, the Heat’s record currently sits at 10-21, putting the team in a tie for the fifth-worst mark in the NBA, and setting the franchise up for a high draft pick in what projects to be a strong draft class. With that in mind, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald takes a closer look at some of the guard and forward prospects that the team may be targeting in the 2017 draft.
If the Heat are taking the long view in their retooling process, the fact that Goran Dragic will be 31 heading into next season should be taken into consideration, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. Given all the promising point guards expected to be available in the draft, Winderman thinks it makes sense for Miami to wait until June to make a decision on the position.
Pat Riley and the Heat have placed a strong emphasis on fitness and conditioning, and it’s having an impact even on players who sign one-year free agent contracts with the club and don’t necessarily expect a long-term stay. Winderman has the details in a piece for The Sun Sentinel.

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Miami Heat

Josh McRoberts Out Indefinitely With Foot Injury

December 27th, 2016 at 12:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Heat may get two injured players back tonight, with both Wayne Ellington and Rodney McGruder aiming to return to the court against the Thunder. However, the team will be missing another rotation player, having announced today (via Twitter) that Josh McRoberts will be out indefinitely due a stress fracture in his left foot.

McRoberts, who will turn 30 in February, first fractured his left foot in last season’s playoffs, and had his debut this season delayed as he recovered from a stress reaction. It’s not clear if he has re-injured that same foot, or if he’s simply still dealing with the effects of that old injury. Either way, there’s no timetable for his return at this time.

In 22 games (14 starts) for the Heat this year, McRoberts has averaged just 4.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 2.3 APG, and continues to struggle with his shot. After shooting a career-worst 37.2% from the field in 2015/16, McRoberts is at 37.6% this season, though he has made 41.9% of his three-pointers.

McRoberts has been viewed as one of many potential trade candidates on Miami’s roster, but he didn’t have a ton of trade value when he was on the court, and if he’s sidelined for an extended period, his value will only diminish further. As Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel writes, the Heat tried unsuccessfully to move McRoberts during 2016’s free agent period. The veteran forward is making $5.782MM in 2016/17, and has a $6MM+ player option on his deal for next year.

The Heat, who have been without Chris Bosh all year due to health concerns, have seen several other players miss time with injuries. Miami appeared to be on the verge of getting healthy with Ellington and McGruder on the way back, but McRoberts will now join Dion Waiters on the team’s list of injured players.

Waiters May Find Playing Time Limited; Could White Be In Team's Future?

December 26th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Heat guard Dion Waiters may find his playing time limited when he returns from a groin injury, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Waiters’ isolation game was useful when the team was shorthanded, but Winderman states that ball movement is now being emphasized and the development of Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson at the wing spots is key to the team’s future. Waiters is considered very likely to opt out of the second season of his contract, and Winderman believes Miami may trade him before he can make that decision.
The Heat should consider unloading Luke Babbitt or Derrick Williams to make room for a younger prospect at power forward, Winderman suggests in the same piece. One possibility is Okaro White, who was cut by Miami in training camp and currently plays for the team’s D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls.

Magic May Try To Trade Vucevic, Payton

December 24th, 2016 at 5:38pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Magic would like to find a taker for center Nikola Vucevic, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Appearing on a podcast with Zach Lowe, Windhorst said Orlando is hoping to make major changes that may also include point guard Elfrid Payton.

After trading for power forward Serge Ibaka over the summer and signing center Bismack Biyombo, the Magic are off to a disappointing 14-18 start. Coach Frank Vogel made some lineup changes last month that included sending Vucevic to the bench. Vucevic, who protested the demotion, is now averaging 27.8 minutes per night, the fewest in his five years in Orlando. His scoring has dropped dramatically, from 18.2 points per game a year ago to 12.8 this season.

Vucevic signed a four-year extension in 2014 and still has two more seasons and $25MM left on his contract.

The Magic are also “down” on Payton, Windhorst adds. The third-year point guard lost his starting job to D.J. Augustin in the November shakeup. Payton is still on his rookie contract and is under team control through the 2017/18 season.

Windhorst says Payton caused a lot of friction between the Orlando front office, which traded two first-round picks to acquire him, and former coach Scott Skiles, who didn’t believe he was good enough to play. The reporter adds that the Magic could be a potential destination for Goran Dragic if the Heat decide to move him.

McRoberts' Player Option Hurts Value; Dragic Happy In Miami

December 24th, 2016 at 8:47am CST by Austin Kent

Goran Dragic doesn’t know where the rumors started that suggested he was “open to a trade,” writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The 30-year-old guard insists that he is happy with the Heat.
If the Heat can find a taker for forward Josh McRoberts, he won’t come with much of a price tag adds Windermere in his latest Ask Ira feature. Windermere cites McRoberts’ 2017/18 player option worth $6MM as the biggest deterrent limiting the veteran’s value.

Goran Dragic Open To Being Traded?

December 23rd, 2016 at 1:58pm CST by ChrisCrouse

DECEMBER 23, 1:58pm: Asked about the report that he’s open to being moved, Dragic told reporters that it didn’t come from him, and that it’s not true (video link).

DECEMBER 22, 4:00pm: Rival teams have called the Heat about Goran Dragic‘s availability and found that Miami is open to dealing the point guard, sources tell Chris Mannix of The Vertical. Mannix adds that Dragic is also open to being moved. Minnesota is a team to keep an eye on regarding a potential Dragic trade, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com speculates in his latest podcast.

Two seasons ago, the Heat acquired Dragic believing that he was the missing piece needed in order to compete with the Cavs for the Eastern Conference crown. Since then, the team lost Chris Bosh because of his health issues and it lost Dwyane Wade to the Bulls in free agency, which left Dragic to lead a roster of young, unproven players. Mannix argues that if the Heat are going to rebuild around their young core, the team would be better off trading the point guard.

Earlier in the week, Pat Riley said that any rebuild would happen quickly. “We’ve [rebuilt] twice, first with the addition of Shaq back in 2005, then again in 2008,” Riley said. “And we’re in it again. In this league, you need flexibility. And we have that, so we’re able to make a move quickly. We’ve rebuilt before and we’re going to do it again quickly.”

The Heat, owning a record of 9-20, are in the midst of a disappointing campaign, though Dragic has been a bright spot for them. He’s averaging 19.1 points and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 41.6% from behind the arc. He owns a player efficiency rating of 18.2, which is well above the league average of 15.0.

Deng Didn't Believe Heat Made Him A Priority

December 22nd, 2016 at 10:32am CST by ChrisCrouse

The Heat thought they had a chance to re-sign Deng this summer, but they couldn’t compete with the Lakers’ offer, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News writes. “We thought there was a chance we would get him at a way smaller number,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There was that discussion that he wanted to come back and we wanted him to come back. But we obviously weren’t in a position to make that kind of deal.”
Deng said he wanted to re-sign with the Heat if he didn’t receive the offer from Los Angeles, but he believes the team wasn’t going to make bringing him back a priority, Medina relays in the same piece. “It’s not like I would’ve gone there,” Deng said. “They probably would have had the money and gotten someone else better.”