Duncan Robinson, one of several Heat players affected by health issues this season, said on Friday that – based on the medical feedback he has received – he has no reason to believe that his back issue will “linger or last,” per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Robinson missed nine of the team’s final 14 regular season games due to the injury and played a limited role in the postseason.
The Heat were among the teams most affected by injuries for a second straight season in 2023/24, setting a new franchise record by using 35 different starting lineups. Speaking to reporters on Friday, head coach Erik Spoelstra said the team will do its homework this offseason to see if anything can be done to reduce its players’ injury risk going forward.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Spoelstra said, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “Because it’s not all apples to apples. I think what we do in terms of getting guys ready and in shape helps with soft tissue stuff. It’s the other stuff that we have to take a dive into. Two seasons ago, we were good. The last two seasons are a little bit skewed based on guys that missed the entire season that weren’t fully in our rotation. But that doesn’t also absolve it. We want to look at all the different angles on this.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- During their end-of-season media sessions on Friday, unrestricted free agents Haywood Highsmith and Delon Wright both expressed a desire to re-sign with Miami, according to Jackson and Chiang. “Definitely want to stay in Miami. My family lives here, my daughter lives here. That’s a priority to be around my daughter a lot,” Highsmith said, adding that he appreciates the Heat for being “all about winning” and feeling like a family. Highsmith has been with the team since 2021, whereas Wright just arrived in February, but the veteran guard has enjoyed his experience in Miami. “I definitely would like to come back,” Wright said. “I felt like I got a snippet of what it could be. With a full training camp, I will have a better understanding of what Spo wants out of me.”
- Jaime Jaquez said on Friday that he doesn’t plan to play for Mexico in this summer’s Olympic qualifying tournament, per Jackson and Chiang. The Mexican national team will be in Puerto Rico vying for one of the four remaining spots in the men’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics.
- Cole Swider‘s two-way contract is expiring, but the Heat have let him know they want to keep him around and he intends to be part of Miami’s Summer League team, he told reporters on Friday. “The Heat, a lot of these undrafted guys, did a great job developing them,” Swider said, according to the Herald. “I hope to be one of their success stories. I know they know what they’re doing. “I’ve improved defensively, learning the concepts of the Heat, how we play. I’ve proved I can play in the NBA.”
- Dave Hyde of The South Florida Sun Sentinel advises the Heat against extending Jimmy Butler this offseason, suggesting that the cost would be too great for a player entering his late-30s when the extension would begin. Butler’s contract situation will be worth watching — in separate stories for The Athletic today, both David Aldridge and John Hollinger alluded to whispers that the 34-year-old’s long-term future may not be in Miami.
- Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel takes a player-by-player look at the Heat’s roster, assessing what’s next for everyone who finished this season under contract with the club.
Time to let Himmy go
“All about winning”, when have they ever done that?
All about winning is the FOCUS of the team from top to bottom. Coaches players back office etc. One for all.
You could say every team is focused in the same way but I think the heat are especially effective in that regard.
Best coach in the league and constantly developing players who are cast aside and making them effective NBA players that you can give minutes to.
That’s a lot of word when you could’ve just answered with “nothing”
Oh, only the 3 NBA championships they’ve won this century, in addition to 3 additional seasons as runner-ups. Not to mention, how often do we talk about Miami as a team to watch out for in the postseason?
I’m not even a Heat fan, but I can at least respect their recent history of success. If you’re going to troll, at least try a little harder
They haven’t “won” anything in 11 years. They certainly haven’t “won” anything since Highsmith has been there. If they’re “all about winning”, as he said, they’re really bad at it. It’s not a troll, it’s a fact.
Dude, c’mon. You know what he meant.
By that definition, only 5 or 6 NBA teams are “about winning,” which certainly isn’t true
Exactly, you just proved my point. The Heat aren’t “all about winning” because they haven’t won squat
Okay so every team in the league that does not win the championship is a losing franchise. Got it.
Does every team in the league have players that say “they’re all about winning”? Does every team in the league talk about “-team name- culture”?
Heat culture is about competitiveness. Why are you so mad about it?
Just as I knew we would lose Strus and Nnamdi, I always knew the Heat were losing Caleb and Highsmith. I held put a little hope for Caleb, before the terrible Lowry+somehow a pick for Rozier trade, but that deal pretty much cemented that Caleb will get paid elsewhere, which I’m super happy for him about, but also super sad to see him go. Had they not done that, I couldnhave seen a world where they resign Kyle for 2 years at a lower amount, and offer Caleb close to the $18mil a year he probably at least gets. Heat had their bird rights, so it was plausible, but now they have Rozier’s money on their cap, and the fit isn’t as strong, unless you can somehow move Rozier, or Herro, maybe in a package with Jovic. Like anything from $14-20 mil AAV would be nice to keep Caleb if it were possible,
As I’ve previously said, I could see a world where this might be the time they have to include Duncan Robinson in a deal, for salary matching, and more likely, looking for what they can package Rozier/Herro, Jovic, and picks for, hopefully not at guard
There are options in FA for the Heat, and they have the 15th and 43rd picks, so depends what they do there, and in summer league, but there are more than several FA options I think make sense.
Highsmith should have played last year, and I think I’ve now been proven correct there, but the Heat do have things available to replace him.
They’ve had multiple guys the last couple of years they haven’t used that can play in that spot, so they could get more looks as well. I’m super behind Jamal Cain, and assume he will be convented to the standard roster, which he should have been instead of Patty mills to end this season. If not, again, they still have the draft, summer league, and many FA options
I haven’t started my draft research yet. Anyone have ideas of 2/3s or 4/3s, or 2 way combo guards, potentially available in their draft ranges?
This is my current list of FA targets for the Heat (reasonable, potentially gettable ones), before considering draft picks (Heat have 15 and 43), and summer league guys. Clearly plenty of options for them, after getting my #1 wishlist guy last year with Richardson
This is under the assumption the Heat keep Josh Richardson, Kevin Love, Jamal Cain, Delon Wright (wpuld be a really big deal, and surprising), and Dru Smith, and lose Caleb and Highsmith (and 1 or both of Bryant/Orlando Robinson). List could change if anyone else is added, trades are made, or probably after the draft/during summer league (which is when I usually post this)…Heat currently need a 2/3, 4/3, and someone that can maybe play 1-3/a 2 way combo guard that can catch and shoot and doesn’t need the ball in his hands…another option at smallball 5 could be interesting as well, but they currently have Jaime and Jovic (if he doesnt get traded), and Kevin Love is useful in most matchups as a spacer at the 5 next to defenders
Royce o’neal, Nicolas Batum, Miles Bridges, Kyle lowry, de’anthony melton, delon Wright, Jae Crowder, Lindy Waters III, Aaron Wiggins, kyle anderson, Joe Ingles, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Xavier Tillman, Robert Covington, Wesley matthews, Gary harris, shake milton, Jae’sean Tate, Frank ntilikina, justise Winslow, shaq harrison, Marcus Morris, Taurean Prince, Oshae Brisset, KJ Martin, Derrick Jones jr, trendon watford, Torrey Craig, Keita bates-diop, Dalano banton, naji Marshall, usman garuba, dylan Windler, Kelly Oubre, Kris dunn, nerlens noel, isaiah roby, Aaron holiday, Stanley Johnson, rodney mcgruder, alec burks, romeo langford, jamychal green, chuma okeke, Cam Reddish, David Duke, Daquan Jeffries, Trevelin Queen, Charlie Brown jr, Daishen Nix, Lindell Wigginton, terence davis, Mac mcclung, Justin Jackson, Juan Toscano anderson, Lamar stevens, Dereon Seabron, ish Wainright
Swider over Peterson was a poor decision so let’s double down…
The Heat overpaid Robinson on his contract extension. Played for a contract, got a big payday and then relaxed in comfort.