Miami Heat Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Eastern Notes: Thibodeau, Allen, Durant, Sixers

January 25th, 2016 at 9:28am CST by Chuck Myron

The Cavs would have given strong consideration to hiring Tom Thibodeau if they’d made a coaching change this past summer, a league source told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, but now, management has faith in Tyronn Lue, McMenamin writes. They’ve seen him manage to remain loyal to David Blatt while developing relationships of his own with the team’s stars, and they’re confident that Lue will command a level of effort from the team that they believe wasn’t always present under Blatt, McMenamin adds. See more from the Eastern Conference:

The Heat have had a standing offer to Ray Allen since the 2014 offseason, but he remains unmoved and that’s no surprise, given his frustration with the team during the 2013/14 season, his last one in Miami and last to date in the NBA, writes Ethan Skolnick of the Miami Herald. All of the former teammates and other acquaintances of Allen’s to whom Skolnick has spoken expect him to remain out of the game, though Allen said this past summer that he had no plans to officially retire.
Agents from around the league insist that the Nets are “in the mix” for soon-to-be free agent Kevin Durant, even though they look like long shots, writes Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com. Durant’s free agency, expected to be one of the major storylines of the 2015/16, has largely been a backburner issue in large measure because Durant has spoken little about it and has rarely given any indication that he wants to leave the Thunder.
Meddling from owners who aren’t basketball personnel experts is most damaging when it affects draft decisions, which is why a report that Sixers ownership was worried about how fans would react to Kristaps Porzingis and pushed the team to draft someone else instead is troublesome, contends Derek Bodner of Philadelphia magazine. Sixers CEO Scott O’Neil says the report isn’t true, however (Twitter link).

And-Ones: Bryant, Clippers, Heat, Celtics

January 24th, 2016 at 12:58pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Kobe Bryant still believes that AAU basketball is hurting the game, Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com writes. “I hate it because it doesn’t teach our players how to play the right way, how to think the game, how to play in combinations of threes,” Bryant said following the Lakers’ loss to the Blazers on Saturday. The 37-year-old added that he is thankful for his international upbringing. “My generation is when AAU basketball really started [to go downhill],” Bryant said. “I got lucky because I grew up in Europe and everything there was still fundamental, so I learned all the basics.”

Here’s more from around the NBA:

If the Clippers are going to trade away Chris Paul, the only plausible scenario would be sending him to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving, Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com argues in a piece that examines the team’s most valuable trade assets.
Lance Stephenson is the Clipper who is most likely to be traded, Pelton opines in the same piece. The shooting guard has played just a total of 41 minutes in the month of January and the team reportedly feels it would be better off in the long run if it could unload the 25-year-old. Pelton suggests that the team look to deal Stephenson to the Suns for P.J. Tucker or to the Blazers for Gerald Henderson.
Making a push for the playoffs is the only option for the Heat, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel argues. The team will send its first-round pick to the Sixers if it falls outside the top 10. If the pick does not convey, Philadelphia will receive Miami’s 2017 first-round pick regardless of where it lands, and Winderman believes that is a scenario to avoid due to the uncertainty surrounding this team during the upcoming offseason. Hassan Whiteside will be an unrestricted free agent. Dwyane Wade, who will turn 35 next season, will also be a free agent and it’s unclear how much of a burden that he will be able to carry should he re-sign with Miami.
The Celtics have recalled R.J. Hunter, Terry Rozier and James Young from the D-League Maine Red Claws, per the team’s Twitter feed.

And-Ones: Del Negro, Lue, D-League

January 23rd, 2016 at 4:20pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The rash of injuries the Heat have suffered this season are taking a toll on the players, who have been asked to log significantly more minutes than normal as a result, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders writes. “The toughest part about it is that you always worry about the health of your teammate, first and foremost,” Chris Bosh said. “You always want guys to be as healthy as possible, but when it’s another guy going down, it’s just tough. Two weeks ago, we were going into a West Coast road trip, really trying to prove ourselves with a whole roster and now we’ve got six guys out. It’s just a tough pill to swallow.”

While the situation is far from ideal, Bosh did note that the team’s younger players were benefiting from the increased playing time, Kennedy adds. “We’re constantly just trying to digest what’s going on, take the hit on the chin and then regroup,” Bosh continued. “Our young guys are trying [to fill in], but they’re inexperienced and they’re really learning on the fly. I think the best part about it is it’s going to help us in the long run because these guys are getting minutes under stressful situations, and that’s how it’s going to be later on.”

Here’s more from around the league:

Celtics big man Jared Sullinger is a big fan of new Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, and he raves about the former Boston assistant’s demeanor and knowledge, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes. “I like Ty Lue,” Sullinger told Blakely. “He knows a lot about the game. He helped me out big-time when he was here, as far as helping me stay calm, staying confident and just staying ready at all times.”
Vinny Del Negro expects to coach in the NBA again, as he told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports in an appearance on the “The Vertical” podcast. Del Negro confirmed that he has had interviews with the Pelicans, Timberwolves, Nuggets and Cavaliers since the Clippers let him go in 2013, adding that he had extensive player personnel duties in his final year with L.A. “From Jamal Crawford to Matt Barnes to Chauncey [Billups] to Grant [Hill] to everyone, doing the sign-and-trade for Willie Green, everything that was involved. All the front office did was the paperwork,” Del Negro said (audio link, scroll to 28-minute mark).
The Rockets have assigned Montrezl Harrell and K.J. McDaniels to their D-League affiliate, the team announced. This will be Harrell’s third trek to Rio Grande Valley and McDaniels’ fifth on the season.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Southeast Notes: Fournier, Gordon, Temple

January 23rd, 2016 at 3:18pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Magic will likely need to decide between shooting guards Evan Fournier and Victor Oladipo in the near future, with both players set to hit restricted free agency over the next two summers, Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders writes. Fournier, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer, may be an attractive trade option for other teams since they would possess the right to match any offer sheet Fournier were to ink this offseason, Taylor notes. Oladipo won’t be eligible for free agency until the summer of 2017, but his trade value is currently low given his struggles this season and injury concerns, Taylor adds.

Here’s more from out of the Southeast:

Magic second-year forward Aaron Gordon is biding his time as he awaits a larger role with the team, but he desperately wants to do more to help a slumping Orlando squad, John Denton of NBA.com writes. “It’s hard, but you just have to do what you can do and control what you can control,’’ Gordon said. “I’m a firm believer in that and if I just do that, I’ll be ready when it’s my time. I’m just trying to be solid and be someone that [coach] Scott [Skiles] can count on to be in the right spots and make plays for our team. Really, my heart is pure and if I’m not playing well or doing what I’m supposed to, then I am the hardest one on me. I just need to continue to improve and do what I can to help this team.’’
Garrett Temple feels a deep loyalty to the Wizards organization because they gave him an opportunity in the NBA when other teams wouldn’t, writes Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders. “[Washington] called me to work on out on the 17th of December in 2012 and I went back home because they didn’t sign me,” Temple told Brigham. “Then right before Christmas, they called me and told me they were going to sign me up. And that showed how much [the Heat] wanted me because when Washington came after me, Miami reached out and was like, ‘Well, we want you to come back here.’ But it was a nah-you-had-your-chance type of thing with them. Washington was the one that gave me the opportunity, so I wanted to be loyal to them. Everything happens for a reason, and I’ve been very happy here.”
The Hornets have recalled Aaron Harrison from the D-League, the team announced.

Southeast Notes: Hennigan, Spoelstra, Hawks

January 21st, 2016 at 8:05pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Despite the Magic experiencing a recent rough patch, GM Rob Hennigan is pleased with the progress made by the young team, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel relays. “Clearly our play over the past few weeks has been choppy and inconsistent, which has been frustrating,” said Hennigan. “We’re continuing to search for that balance and rhythm that we had earlier in the season. We’ve shown we’re capable of doing it. Now it’s a matter of harnessing it consistently and executing the plan that Scott and his staff are laying out each night. But if you take a step back and look at the big picture, I’d say, by and large, we’ve made considerable progress. The next step for us is obviously doing a better job of closing out those games, and I think the key thing to remember is we’re doing it primarily with players in their first, second, third, fourth and fifth years.”

The GM also indicated that Orlando would be active at the trade deadline, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the team will make any trades, Robbins adds. “We’ll be very active in our discussions,” said Hennigan. “It’s our job to constantly search for ways to improve the team. It doesn’t mean that those discussions will necessarily lead to action. We’re in a position where a lot of teams like our players, and so we’ll certainly have options. If something makes sense for us, we’ll be aggressive. But it needs to make sense for both the long and short terms. So we’ll stay equally as disciplined in our decision-making as we are active in our discussions.”

Here’s more out of the Southeast Division:

In his latest mailbag, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel opines that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has been stubborn about adapting his gameplan and turning Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside loose more on the offensive end, but the team’s lack of outside shooting may be partially to blame for the coach’s sometimes questionable rotations.
The Hawks are still recovering the scandal brought on by the racially insensitive remarks of former GM Danny Ferry and former owner Bruce Levenson, but the franchise is excited about the inroads made in the community regarding tolerance, Charles Odum of The Associated Press writes. “Because of this city, because of what happened, we have an opportunity to do something amazing and that’s what excites me,” Grant Hill, who is part of the team’s ownership group, said. “Don’t get me wrong. We want to win … but the chance to make an impact on this city, that’s what excites me.“

Southeast Notes: Hardaway, Nene, Harrison

January 21st, 2016 at 2:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

Tim Hardaway Jr. barely played the first two months of the season as Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer kept him either on the bench or on D-League assignment, casting doubt on the wisdom of the decision that Budenholzer, in his role as president of basketball operations, made when he traded for him this past summer. The 23-year-old shooting guard has since found his way into the rotation, and Budenholzer credits his perseverance, as Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution relays.

“I think he really put in time in the weight room,” Budenholzer said. “He missed a little bit of the summer with his [injured] wrist. His athleticism, his pop, which is one of the things that intrigued us about him, has returned. Then, he’s just working defensively. He’s getting over screens, fighting through screens. He just really understands how important it is to be good defensively and you see it when he’s playing. He’s communicating. He’s talking. He’s working. On the offensive end, he’s just letting it come to him.”

Still, Hardaway has seen action in only 12 NBA games this season, and while he’s eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer, that seems a long shot, at best. Here’s more from the Southeast Division:

The Wizards briefly paired Marcin Gortat and Nene on the floor in Monday’s game, and the inauspicious results showed why the team has been right to avoid putting them together this season, contends J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic.com. Nene, who moved to the bench this year after having started alongside Gortat in years past, is a free agent at season’s end.
The results of the first half of the season indicate the Heat have a roster that’s better in theory than in reality, with a style of play that doesn’t fit Goran Dragic and an over-reliance on Gerald Green‘s outside shooting, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald examines.
The Hornets have assigned Aaron Harrison to the D-League, the team announced. He’ll play for the Thunder’s affiliate, since Charlotte doesn’t have a D-League partner of its own. Earlier, I examined previous instances of NBA teams sending players on D-League assignment to the affiliates of other NBA clubs.

Heat Check On Tony Wroten, Dorell Wright

January 21st, 2016 at 11:58am CST by Chuck Myron

The Heat have reached out to Tony Wroten and Dorell Wright, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, who cautions that the team was merely performing due diligence with both and hasn’t made any offers. Wroten became a free agent last month after the Sixers waived him while Wright is playing in China and won’t become available until at least next month. Several other teams have greater interest in Wright than the Heat do, Jackson adds.

Miami already has 15 players, but the team is eligible to apply for clearance to add a 16th player via the hardship exception because Josh McRoberts, Goran Dragic, Chris Andersen and Beno Udrih have all missed the past three games, as salary cap expert Albert Nahmad points out (on Twitter). However, Dragic and Udrih have talked about the possibility of playing Friday, notes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, and the NBA wouldn’t grant the hardship if their injuries aren’t expected to linger (Twitter link).

The Knicks reportedly have interest in Wroten, too, though it’s unclear if that interest in much stronger than Miami’s. It appears Wroten would be unlikely to go to New York anyway, preferring a destination that would better suit a long-term stay.

Wright had talks with the Heat this summer before he signed to play in China, Jackson reported then. The 30-year-old who spent his first six seasons in the NBA with the Heat is averaging 21.2 points in 29.5 minutes per game across 30 appearances for Beijing after having spent the past two years with the Trail Blazers.

Heat Rumors: Whiteside, Deng, Wade

January 18th, 2016 at 6:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Heat center Hassan Whiteside doesn’t need flashy numbers to get a huge contract this summer, according to Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post. His statistics are impressive enough — averaging 12.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and four blocks per game through the first half of the season — but teammates say the 26-year-old can help himself more by playing smart, team-oriented basketball. “If Hassan is healthy, he’s gonna get paid,” said Dwyane Wade. “It’s not even necessarily about numbers in today’s game; it’s about what a team feels you can bring to them and how you can fit into their system. But I also just allow Hassan to be Hassan. You can’t change him to be what you want him to be. You have to allow him to be him and help him along the way.” Whiteside, who was out of the NBA for two seasons before signing with Miami midway through last season, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

There’s more news out of Miami:

It was a decision to choose the D-League over a guaranteed, multimillion-dollar offer from China that led Whiteside back to the NBA, writes Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. Those were the choices Whiteside faced in November of 2014 after being released by the Grizzlies. He spent time with the Iowa Energy before getting his shot with the Heat. “If I went, I might have just stayed in China,” Whiteside said. “I wasn’t chasing the dollars, though. I was chasing the dream of becoming an amazing NBA player. All of that comes, obviously. The contract, the fame. Even before I knew anything about money, I was a little kid and I didn’t know how much these players made. I wanted that – to be on TV, to have people looking up to me.”
The Heat should consider trading Luol Deng‘s expiring contract for help on offense, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. He also suggests that if the franchise isn’t concerned about paying the luxury tax, it should consider releasing Jarnell Stokes or trading one of its excess big men for a productive wing player as soon as possible.
Whiteside and Wade were the only players to get A’s from Winderman in his midseason report card for the Heat. However, his grades for both players dropped to B’s when considering the team’s current mix of talent.

Heat Rumors: Udrih, Whiteside, Wade

January 17th, 2016 at 11:51am CST by Arthur Hill

Beno Udrih‘s improved play may force the Heat to shake up their rotation once Goran Dragic returns from injury, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Udrih, who was acquired in a November 10th trade with Memphis, has taken over as the starting point guard with Dragic out of action. Dragic was sent home from the team’s current road trip with a calf strain. He will be re-evaluated after the Heat return home tonight, but there is no timetable for his return. Winderman speculates that if Udrih continues to play well, he could turn Tyler Johnson from a combo guard into just a shooting guard and perhaps eat into the minutes of Gerald Green and Justise Winslow.

There’s more Heat-related news today:

An ideal situation for Miami would be for free agent center Hassan Whiteside to accept an Early Bird salary of about $6MM next season and then receive a maximum deal the following year, Winderman writes in the same piece. However, the columnist adds that there’s virtually no chance of that happening, as Whiteside can expect at least an $80MM offer this summer.
That payday will be extra sweet for Whiteside, according to Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders, as the 26-year-old center spent two full years out of the NBA before getting a chance with Miami midway through last season. Now that he has a shot at a huge contract, Whiteside listed a few basic things he will be looking for. “I want to go to a team that’s about winning,” he said. “[A team] that has a good understanding of what it takes to win and a good city with a good fan base.” Blancarte expects the Hawks, Celtics, Hornets, Bulls and Lakers to compete with the Heat for Whiteside.
Earning an All-Star spot is still important to Dwyane Wade at age 34, writes Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post. Wade, who signed a one-year, $20MM deal with the Heat last summer and is headed for free agency again, is fifth in the overall voting with two days remaining. He said the results show he has staying power with the public. “I’m turning 34 years old, and the fans still want to see me in the All-Star Game,” said Wade. “It’s a pretty cool thing. Besides my first All-Star, it probably means the most.”

Heat Rumors: Stokes, Udrih, Wade

January 16th, 2016 at 5:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat have recalled Jarnell Stokes from their D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls, the team announced today. The center/forward has appeared in 14 games over four trips to the D-League, averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds. He has scored at least 20 points nine times and has recorded seven double-doubles. Stokes, who was part of the November 10th trade that also brought Beno Udrih to Miami and sent Mario Chalmers and James Ennis to Memphis, could be a player to watch, writes Ethan J. Skolnick of The Miami Herald. He hasn’t appeared in a game yet for the Heat, but injuries to Josh McRoberts and Chris Andersen could provide an opportunity. However, an illness will force Stokes to miss Sunday’s game at Oklahoma City, tweets Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Stokes is expected to join the Heat when they return home Tuesday.

There’s more news out of South Beach:

Many Heat fans are complaining about the loss of Chalmers, even though Udrih has arguably put up better numbers since the trade, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The 33-year-old point guard is averaging more assists per 36 minutes, fewer turnovers and has a slightly better shooting percentage than Chalmers since they switched teams. Udrih takes a philosophical approach toward a journeyman NBA existence that has seen him land with seven teams in 11 seasons. “The contracts I have had have been easy to trade,” he said. “Sometimes I was thrown into a trade; sometimes I was traded because the other team wanted me.”
Dwyane Wade, who will be a free agent again this summer, ranks among the most productive 34-year-olds in league history, Jackson writes in a separate story. Wade is averaging 18.4 points through 38 games this season, third best among active players who have reached age 34 and the 26th-highest mark of all time. Wade inked a one-year, $20MM deal last summer.