Miami Heat Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Rumors: Workouts, Beasley, Battier

September 9th, 2013 at 2:01pm CST by Luke Adams

2:01pm: Former Ohio State guard Je'Kel Foster will work out for the Heat as well, reports Charania. As our international tracker shows, Foster played in Germany last season.

1:33pm: In addition to the players mentioned below, the Heat also plan to work out free agents Julyan Stone and Vander Blue this week, according to Winderman.

1:15pm: Word broke over the weekend that the Heat may be considering the possibility of bringing back former second overall pick Michael Beasley, following his release by the Suns. While Miami's apparent level of interest varied from report to report, you can certainly make the case that Beasley would be a low-risk addition on a minimum-salary contract. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel acknowledges as much in his latest mailbag, but notes that the Heat have been reluctant to add other potential off-court distractions such as Stephen Jackson and DeShawn Stevenson, making a reunion with Beasley a long shot.

Here's more on the Heat:

Former Heat swingman Yakhouba Diawara expects to sign a deal with a Eurocup team this week, but will work out for Miami before then, according to Shams Charania of RealGM.com. The Pepperdine product has been weighing NBA and overseas options, and will work out for the Magic as well, but is likely to continue his career in Europe. As our international player movement tracker shows, Diaware played for Venezia in Italy in 2012/13.
Justin Holiday, released earlier this offseason by the Sixers, will also work out for the Heat, reports Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Holiday, who is set to work out for the Jazz as well, aims to earn an NBA roster spot, and views an overseas contract as his Plan B, as he tells Haynes. Although he played in the D-League last season, Holiday isn't currently considering that possibility.
Shane Battier will contemplate the possibility of retiring when his current contract expires in 2014, but isn't ruling out free agent opportunities yet, as Winderman details at the Sun Sentinel. "This door is always open," Battier said of continuing his career for multiple years. "This is not a farewell tour, no. But if it is, it is. And I'll enjoy this year and try to make the most of it."
2012 second-rounder Justin Hamilton confirmed that he has signed with the Heat, via a tweet. We heard yesterday that Hamilton would be in camp with the team.

Eastern Notes: Heat, Pistons, Pierce, Williams

September 8th, 2013 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

We learned earlier today that the Heat are bringing Justin Hamilton to camp, which wasn't a huge surprise since the former LSU big man has been working out at AmericanAirlines Arena for the last few weeks. Hamilton had his moments with the Heat during the 2012 offseason, after he was acquired in a draft-night trade with the 76ers, leading some on the Heat staff at the time to see him as a more promising prospect than Jarvis Varnado. However, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes that Hamilton still faces long camp odds with Greg Oden already something of a long-term developmental project and the Heat possibly keeping the minimum of 13 players to start the year. Hamilton's chances of making the team could also rest on the Heat's ability to move Joel Anthony's pesky contract. Here's more out of the Eastern Conference..

The Central Division is one of the most fascinating divisions in the NBA because of the expectations of competitiveness from each team, writes Zach Harper of CBSSports.com. For the Pistons, their best-case scenario will be seeing Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith become bona fide NBA stars. For the Bulls and Pacers, their ceilings see them as real championship contenders.
John Havlicek told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (Sulia link) that he believes the departed Paul Pierce is the greatest one-on-one Celtics player of all-time.
Former Nets big man Jordan Williams signed with Spanish club Bilbao Basket last week but was waived over the weekend, according to HoopsHype (via Twitter).

Southeast Rumors: Drew, Jardine, Turkoglu

September 8th, 2013 at 12:59pm CST by Chuck Myron

It's the time of year when the choice for some players is a spot at the end of an NBA bench or an overseas excursion. Three players appear to be teetering on the edge of playing with a Southeast Division team or seeking employment with another circuit. Here's the latest:

Undrafted point guard Larry Drew II will audition for the Heat this week, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Drew was supposed to join the Heat in summer league, but a quad injury derailed that plan. He's the son of Bucks coach Larry Drew.
A report in July said undrafted point guard Scoop Jardine would likely wind up in Bobcats camp, but the former Syracuse mainstay has signed with KK Zadar of Croatia, tweets Mark Porcaro of Secret Rival.
Hedo Turkoglu remains under contract with the Magic, but his camp is continuing talks with Fenerbahce Ulker in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Mirsad Turkcan tells Niki Bakouli of Eurohoops.net. The overseas club reportedly extended a $3.4MM offer to the veteran forward.

Heat Open To Signing Michael Beasley?

September 7th, 2013 at 5:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

5:38pm: CBS Sports' Matt Moore believes the Heat are in the unique position where they can gamble on Beasley despite his on- and off-court issues, just like they have with Greg Oden despite his injury history.

Meanwhile, HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler is surprised at the reported interest from the Heat after what the Team said following his trade to the Timberwloves to free up "Big Three" cap space in 2010 (Twitter). But fellow HoopsWorld scribe Alex Kennedy reminded Kyler about the three beat reporters who have denied the initial report from Woj (Twitter).

Kyler also tweets that Beasley could work out if the Heat veterans are on board with the deal, and he buys into his role with the team since he still possesses the talent that made him the No. 2 pick in 2008.

3:43pm: The Heat are engaging in "due diligence" on Beasley, but they haven't talked to him yet, tweets Chris Mannix of SI.com.

3:09pm: A source tells Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald that there's no chance the Heat would sign Beasley, and a Heat insider tells Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel that there's no truth to Wojnarowski's report (Twitter links)

3:04pm: The Heat are considering bringing back Michael Beasley, their former No. 2 overall pick whom the Suns bought out this week, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports. Several of the team's top players support the idea, and Beasley has interest in rejoining his original NBA team, according to Wojnarowski.

Beasley was never better than when he was with the Heat, as Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel pointed out today, but it's been a steady drop-off since then, with his PER declining in each of the four seasons since his rookie year. Beasley's arrest in August on a charge of marijuana possession is the latest chapter in his extensive history with the drug, and the Suns cited the need for a culture of professionalism when they let him go. Still, Phoenix is just a year removed from signing him to a three-year, $18MM contract, so it's clear that some within the league have been willing to overlook his faults.

Hoops Rumors readers are split on whether signing the 6'9" forward would be prudent for any team. The Heat have their $3.183MM taxpayer's mid-level exception available, but I'd be surprised if Beasley signed with them for more than the minimum, particularly considering the team's tax issues.

Spencer Lund contributed to this post.

Heat Notes: Beasley, Odom, Melo, Arroyo

September 7th, 2013 at 10:05am CST by Zachary Links

Here's a look at the latest out of South Beach..

It may surprise some to hear, but Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel says that Michael Beasley's production was never better than at the outset of his career with the Heat. The former No. 2 overall pick saw his PER drop annually from 17.1 as a Miami rookie in 2008/09 to 16.1 in his second and final season with the Heat, to 15.5, 13.0 and 10.8 over the past three seasons. For all of his struggles, he's managed to earn $33MM over the course of his career, to date.
In today's mailbag, a reader asks Winderman what he would do if he were in Pat Riley's position and could add Lamar Odom, Beasley or Fab Melo to the Heat roster. Winderman's answer – none of the above. In his mind, the team doesn't need the drama that could come with any of those three free agent opitons.
Another reader asks if Carlos Arroyo return would make sense as the Heat look to add a third point guard to their roster. Arroyo, however, has done his best work on the international stage rather than in the NBA. Furthermore, Miami needs a one guard in the mold of Garrett Temple who can be a strong defender.
Winderman caught up with former Heat veteran Rasual Butler, who says that he is quite hopeful about his chances of getting back to the NBA for the first time since 2011/12 when he was with Toronto. The 34-year-old is in camp with the Pacers, who are in need of shooting off the bench.

Categories:
Miami Heat

Teams With Preseason Cap Decisions

September 6th, 2013 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

Most NBA teams will have to make a handful of personnel decisions next month, paring down their roster sizes from the 20-player summer max to the 15-man regular season limit. However, just because a camp invitee earns a spot on the regular season roster doesn't mean his contract automatically becomes guaranteed.

For most players on non-guaranteed deals, the date of truth won't come until January 7th. January 10th is the day that all full-season contracts become guaranteed for the season, so if players aren't released on or before the 7th, clearing waivers by the 10th, they'll be assured of a full-season salary. Until that point though, teams can release non-guaranteed players and only pay a pro-rated portion of their salaries.

That January 7th deadline doesn't apply to everyone on non-guaranteed deals though. As our schedule shows, a few players have contracts that specifically included earlier guarantee dates, with many coming by the end of October. So while many teams will only face preseason decisions on who to keep and who to cut, this handful of clubs will be facing decisions on larger commitments. Let's break them down, case by case….

Oklahoma City Thunder: Ryan Gomes
Currently guaranteed for $25,000.
Becomes guaranteed for $50,000 if not released on or before October 1st.
Becomes guaranteed for $75,000 if not released on or before October 30th.

Gomes' bonuses are awfully insignificant in the big picture, but for a small-market team hovering right around the tax line, they're not entirely inconsequential. I imagine OKC will guarantee Gomes at least $50K, allowing him to try to earn a roster spot in October, but if he doesn't impress, the team could save a little cash by cutting him before October 30th.

Denver Nuggets: Quincy Miller
Currently guaranteed for $150,000.
Becomes fully guaranteed ($788,872) if not released on or before opening night (October 29th).

Miller is just entering his second year and is on a minimum-salary contract. We've also seen the Nuggets carry projects at the end of the bench before, such as Julyan Stone. But there's also a new GM and coach in place, and Miller's production last year was extremely limited — he appeared in just seven games for the Nuggets, and didn't blow anyone away in 26 D-League games either (11.3 PPG, .391 FG%). Without an impressive preseason, Miller could be in danger of being cut before Denver's regular-season opener.

Orlando Magic: Kyle O'Quinn
Becomes fully guaranteed ($788,872) if not released on or before opening night (October 29th).

Unlike Miller, O'Quinn gave his NBA team some solid minutes last season, recording a 15.8 PER in 57 contests (11.2 MPG). Based on his rookie season and the fact that the Magic aren't exactly in win-now mode, O'Quinn looks like a safe bet to remain on the regular-season roster and earn a fully guaranteed salary.

Miami Heat: Jarvis Varnado
Becomes guaranteed for $250,000 if not released on or before opening night (October 29th).

Varnado earned a championship ring with the Heat last season, but with the team more conscious of cutting costs due to increasing tax penalties, he may become a cap casualty this time around. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel views Varnado as a long shot to stay with the club long enough to earn that $250K bonus.

Philadelphia 76ers: James Anderson
Becomes fully guaranteed ($916,099) if not released on or before October 31st.

Sixers GM Sam Hinkie nabbed Anderson and Tim Ohlbrecht off waivers from his old team in Houston earlier this summer, and based on Philadelphia's free agent activity since then, there's no reason to think both players don't have a great chance to earn roster spots. A poor camp could derail Anderson's chances, but with the Sixers prioritizing player development over playoff contention for 2013/14, the ex-Spur is in good position for a guaranteed salary for now.

Portland Trail Blazers: Terrel Harris
Becomes guaranteed for $150,000 if not released on or before October 31st.

Because Harris was a throw-in for salary-matching purposes in the three-team deal that also sent Robin Lopez to Portland, it's possible the Blazers always intended to cut him eventually. That became more of a certainty after he was suspended for violating the NBA's drug policy. Now, it sounds like Harris won't even start camp with the team, let alone finish it.

Utah Jazz: Jerel McNeal
Becomes fully guaranteed ($884,293) if not released on or before October 31st.

Despite never actually appearing in a regular-season game, McNeal has spent parts of two seasons on NBA rosters, meaning he could be in line for a fully guaranteed third-year salary before he even makes his NBA debut. And like the Sixers, the Jazz aren't a team that will cut young players to ensure that veterans get playing time, so I would guess McNeal earns a regular-season roster spot, barring a disastrous camp or injury.

Knicks, Bucks, Heat Eyeing Hassan Whiteside

September 4th, 2013 at 3:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent big man Hassan Whiteside hasn't appeared in an NBA game since April 2012, but is drawing some attention from NBA clubs, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Kennedy tweets that the Knicks, Bucks, and Heat have expressed interest in the former Sacramento big man.

Whiteside, 24, was drafted 33rd overall by the Kings in 2010, but only appeared in 19 games for the club before he was released. The seven-footer spent most of last season in the D-League, making the most of limited minutes for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In just 11.8 minutes per contest (36 games), Whiteside averaged 6.6 PPG and 5.3 RPG.

As our 2013/14 roster counts show, New York, Milwaukee, and Miami all have 15 players under contract, but for the Knicks and Heat, not all of those deals are fully guaranteed, meaning there could end up being roster openings. The Bucks, on the other hand, are carrying 15 guaranteed contracts, so if Whiteside receives multiple camp invites, he may opt for a situation where he has a better chance to earn a roster spot.

Eastern Notes: Ayon, Cavs, Heat, Bucks

September 4th, 2013 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

While the Heat, Pacers, Bulls, Nets, and Knicks are generally viewed as locks to earn postseason spots in the Eastern Conference, those final three spots are up for grabs, and Lang Greene of HoopsWorld argues that the Raptors are being overlooked as a contender. In his NBA AM piece, Greene takes a look at the Raps, writing that they'll be competing with clubs like the Pistons, Hawks, Wizards, Cavs, and Bucks for those last few playoff berths in the East. Here are a few more Wednesday items out of the conference:

Even when he was released by the Bucks, Gustavo Ayon didn't consider returning to Europe, as he tells Gonzalo Aguirregomezcorta of ESPNDeportes.com. The Hawks ultimately claimed Ayon off waivers, and the Mexican big man is looking forward to trying to carve out a larger role in Atlanta.
The Cavaliers are still working to finalize the details, but they'll hire Steve Hetzel to coach their D-League squad, the Canton Charge, according to Bob Finnan of the News-Herald. Hetzel has served as the Pistons' player development coach for the last several seasons.
Ira Winderman's Wednesday mailbag for the South Florida Sun Sentinel is an all-Michael Beasley edition, but Winderman can't fathom the Heat looking into bringing back its former second overall pick.
The Bucks have officially announced the assistant coaches who will be a part of Larry Drew's staff in 2013/14.

Eastern Notes: Sixers, Haddadi, Knicks, Bulls

September 3rd, 2013 at 1:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The 76ers' roster is currently light on veterans and heavy on young talent, which should make for a competitive training camp and preseason. GM Sam Hinkie tells Tom Moore of The Intelligencer that he thinks that competition will be good for the team.

"Everyone starts with a blank slate," Hinkie said. "That’s refreshing in a lot of ways. It’s less what you’ve done and more: what can you do from here? I think all of our players will sense an opportunity to play, show what they can do and expand their game one way or another. It’s important for the future of the Sixers and their own careers."

Here's more on the Sixers and the rest of the Eastern Conference:

Within the same piece, Moore notes that an NBA source says the league's minimum required payroll won't have an effect on the Sixers' roster moves, since there's no real penalty for falling short of the salary floor. I suggested as much when I examined the situation a few weeks ago.
The Knicks don't currently have interest in signing free agent big man Hamed Haddadi, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter).
Gonzalo Aguirregomezcorta of ESPNDeportes.com caught up with Luis Scola, who says he's looking forward to playing for a Pacers team that he considers to be a "serious title contender."
The Bulls have promoted Adrian Griffin to lead assistant on Tom Thibodeau's staff, reports Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.
In his latest mailbag for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman explains why starting the season with a 13-man roster and potentially adding another player or two before the playoffs could make the most sense for the Heat.
The Hawks and Bulls are unlikely to be too active on the trade market this season, writes Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.

Eastern Notes: Bobcats, Melo, Raptors, Celtics

September 2nd, 2013 at 2:47pm CST by Zachary Links

In today's look at NBA trade candidates, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld examined the Bobcats and found that they could have some interesting trade chips for when February rolls around. The $13.2MM owed to Ben Gordon certainly isn't palatable to teams right now, but, if he's playing well, he could draw interest when roughly 70% of that has been paid off. Ramon Sessions, who will make $5MM, is in a similar position. Here's more out of the Eastern Conference..

In today's mailbag, a reader asks Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel if there's a chance that Fab Melo could return to South Florida with the Heat. Winderman sees it as unlikely given the way that the big man looked in front of Heat decision makers while playing for the Celtics' summer league team. Melo is a free agent after clearing waivers yesterday.
Someone in the know tells Doug Smith of the Toronto Star that he doesn't expect the Raptors to fill their remaining vacant roster spot. Toronto's roster dropped to 14 after cutting Quentin Richardson last week.
In a piece for Celtics Hub, Michael Pina weighs the pros and cons of the Celtics offering Avery Bradley an extension before November 1st.