Category: Miami Heat Blog

Heat blog – Miami Heat blog

Miami Heat re-sign Gabe Vincent

The Miami Heat yesterday re-signed guard Gabe Vincent.

“Gabe has proven to us that he is more than just a point guard,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He’s a two-way guard that can run the offense, make threes and pretty much defend any guard in this league. It’s good to have him as part of our young core of players that we feel blend perfectly with our veterans.”

Vincent appeared in 50 games (seven starts) for the HEAT last season and averaged 4.8 points, 1.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. He ranked second on the team in charges drawn (12) and topped the HEAT in steals six times, plus/minus four times and assists twice. He was Miami’s leading scorer off the bench three times and also led the HEAT reserves in steals and plus/minus six times each, assists four times, minutes three times and blocks once. He scored in double figures six times, including a pair of 20-point games, handed out double-figure assists once and recorded one double-double.

Originally signed by the HEAT to a two-way contract on January 8, 2020, Vincent has appeared in 59 NBA regular season games (seven starts) during his two-year NBA career in Miami and has averaged 4.5 points, 1.2 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 12.5 minutes. He has appeared as a reserve in four playoff games and averaged 1.3 points in 4.8 minutes. Additionally, he recently competed in the Tokyo Olympics as a member of the Nigerian National Team and averaged 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.33 steals and 24.7 minutes.

Miami Heat sign Markieff Morris

The Miami Heat have signed forward Markieff Morris.

“Markieff Morris has been a player that we’ve followed closely for a number of years,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He can play multiple positions, shoot the three, defend and post-up. To be able to add him to our nucleus was a big move. I want to thank Markieff for coming to Miami.”

The contract is reportedly a one-year, league minimum deal.

Morris spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in 61 games (27 starts) and averaging 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 19.7 minutes. As a starter, he averaged 10.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 26.1 minutes. He scored in double figures on 19 occasions and pulled in double-figure boards twice, both of which were good for double-doubles.

Per the Miami Herald, the “commitment from Morris helps bolster the Heat’s frontcourt, which wasn’t a strength last season. Miami was outrebounded 236-169 and outscored in the paint 188-148 during its first-round sweep from the playoffs at the hands of the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.”

A 10-year NBA veteran, Morris has appeared in 698 games (375 starts) for the Suns, Wizards, Thunder, Pistons and Lakers and averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 25.0 minutes while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from three-point range and 77.6 percent from the foul line. The one-time Western Conference Player of the Week has scored in double figures 392 times, including 78 games with at least 20 points and four games with at least 30 points. He has also tallied double-figure rebounds 53 times and posted 48 double-doubles. A 2020 NBA Champion, Morris has appeared in 49 career postseason games (22 starts) and averaged 7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 21.2 minutes while reaching double figures in points 12 times, rebounds five times and registering nine double-doubles.

Miami Heat re-sign Duncan Robinson

The Miami Heat have re-signed forward Duncan Robinson.

“Duncan is the epitome of everybody who’s ever had a dream about being a great NBA player,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “I have never been around a player who worked as hard, fastidiously working on what he needed to do in order to improve his game. Not just his shooting, but his overall game. Having Duncan back was very critical for us.”

Per the Miami Herald, “Robinson got what he wanted, agreeing to a five-year deal worth $90 million to return to the Heat early in free agency on Monday. The total value of the contract is the largest ever for an undrafted player.”

Robinson was the lone HEAT player to play in all 72 games (all starts) last season with the HEAT, averaging 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. He ranked among the NBA leaders in three-point field goals made (4th) and attempted (4th), three-point field goal percentage (38th) and minutes played (15th). He also led the HEAT in three-point field goals made and attempted, three-point field goal percentage, four-point plays (6), charges taken (13), games played, starts and minutes.

Last season, Robinson connected on his 300th career three-point field goal vs. Boston on January 6 in just his 95th career game, recorded his 400th career three-point field goal vs. Orlando on March 11 in his 125th career game and hit his 500th career three-pointer at Cleveland on May 1 in his 152nd career game, needing the fewest number of games in NBA history to reach each milestone. He also hit multiple treys in a team-record 25 consecutive games and hit at least one three-pointer in 71 of the 72 games. He closed the season by hitting a trey in each of the final 48 games; the third longest streak in franchise history.

More from the Herald: “So far in free agency, the Heat has added Lowry, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, and retained Robinson, Dewayne Dedmon, Victor Oladipo, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.”

Robinson has appeared in 160 NBA regular season games (141 starts) during his three-year NBA career (all with Miami) and has averaged 12.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 28.7 minutes while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor, 42.3 percent from three-point range and 86.9 percent from the foul line. He owns the top two HEAT single-season marks for three-point field goals made (270 in 2019-20 and 250 in 2020-21) and holds the franchise records for treys in a quarter and a half. He also owns the NBA single-season record for three-pointers by an undrafted player. In his short time with the HEAT, Robinson ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in three-point field goal percentage (4th) and three-point field goals made (6th) and attempted (7th).

Miami Heat re-sign Max Strus

The Miami Heat have re-signed guard/forward Max Strus.

“As one of our young developing players, Max proved he can be very productive for us,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He stepped up when needed last season and produced. His shooting and overall game is going to help our team immensely.”

Strus came off the bench in all 39 games in which he appeared for the HEAT last season and averaged 6.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game. He topped the HEAT in plus/minus four times, steals twice and blocks once and was Miami’s leading scorer off the bench eight times. He also led the HEAT reserves in plus/minus 13 times, steals six times, minutes four times, assists three times and rebounds and blocks once each. He scored in double figures six times, including a pair of 20-point games, handed out double-figure assists once and recorded one double-double.

Originally signed by the HEAT on November 30, 2020, he had the two-way conversion option in his contract exercised on December 18, 2020. In 41 NBA regular season games over his two-year career, he has averaged 5.9 points, 1.0 rebounds and 12.5 minutes while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, 33.6 percent from three-point range and 68 percent from the foul line.

Miami Heat re-sign center Dewayne Dedmon

The Miami Heat have re-signed center Dewayne Dedmon.

Per multiple reports, it’s a one-year minimum deal.

“We love Dewayne and his aggressive attitude at the center position,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He’s a great screener, rebounder and can stretch the floor. He came in after missing most of the season and had a tremendous impact for us. His veteran presence and physicality are going to help anchor our defense and with a whole year under his belt, he will be even better.”

After being signed as a free agent on April 8, 2021, Dedmon played in 16 games for the HEAT last season, averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game. He was third on the team in plus/minus (+68) and topped the HEAT in blocks four times. Additionally, he was Miami’s leading scorer off the bench twice and also led the HEAT reserves in rebounds 12 times, steals and plus/minus seven times each, blocks four times and assists twice.

In his eight NBA seasons, Dedmon has appeared in 410 regular season games (194 starts) and has averaged 6.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game.

Miami Heat exercise contract option on Goran Dragic

The Miami Heat have exercised their team option on Goran Dragic.

Per the Miami Herald, “just a few hours before the deadline, the Heat ultimately decided to exercise the $19.4 million team option in Goran Dragic’s contract and declined the $15 million team option in forward Andre Iguodala’s contract. The Heat was already considered one of the favorites to land Kyle Lowry in free agency before Sunday’s news, but the decision to exercise Dragic’s option solidifies Miami’s spot as the frontrunner to add the veteran guard, according to league sources. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Monday at 6 p.m. and officially begin signing free agents on Friday at 12:01 p.m.”

Dragić appeared in 50 games (11 starts) last season with the HEAT and averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 26.7 minutes while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from three-point range and a new career high 82.8 percent from the foul line. The 13-year NBA veteran has appeared in 867 career regular season games (522 starts) and averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 28.0 minutes while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three-point range and 76.6 percent from the foul line.

Should the Heat pursue Spencer Dinwiddie in free agency?

Here’s the Sun Sentinel answering one of their reader’s questions, on if Nets free agent guard Spencer Dinwiddie would be a good addition to the Miami Heat:

I believe he would be an excellent fit . . . if fully healthy. Among the reasons Spencer Dinwiddie might fall to the Heat’s price point in free agency would be the fact that he is coming back from a partially torn ACL. Still, he is confident enough to the point that he elected to bypass his $12.3 million player option from the Nets. For the Heat, the question becomes whether they can afford another risk on a player with such a recent injury, after coming up short in their move with Victor Oladipo. At least with Oladipo, the Heat have the direct medical reports. When signing an outside player, it’s even riskier. But yes, Spencer can play on the ball and off the ball, which helps in the Heat’s system with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. And at 6-5, there is decent size, as well. But if Dinwiddie, then no Kyle Lowry. So it also could come down to how that sits with Butler, or if Kyle will opt to sign elsewhere. Basically, Spencer could be one of many moving parts for the Heat this offseason, including potentially in a sign-and-trade.

A look how how the Miami Heat use their G League affiliate team

Here’s the Sun Sentinel on how the Miami Heat have made use of their G League affiliate squad, the Sioux Falls Skyforce:

The Heat have taken a mixed approach with their two two-way slots since the inception of the program in 2017-18, sometimes with an eye toward added depth to the NBA roster, other times for full developmental-league immersion.

The Heat in 2017-18 opened with Matt Williams Jr. and Derrick Walton Jr. as their two-way players, before replacing Williams in that role with Derrick Jones Jr.

In 2018-19, the Heat’s two-way players were Duncan Robinson and Yante Maten.

In 2019-20, when the G League shut down for the season in March due to the pandemic, the Heat opened the season with Daryl Macon and Chris Silva as their two-way players, before moving on to Gabe Vincent and Kyle Alexander.

This past season, Vincent and Max Strus held the team’s two-way slots.

Former Miami Heat trainer Ron Culp has died

The original head athletic trainer of the Miami Heat has passed away. Via the Sun Sentinel:

Banners commemorating the careers of six members of the Miami Heat hang above the team’s court. Ron Culp is one of them.

Tuesday, the team noted the death of the franchise’s first athletic trainer, on June 9, at the age of 75.

Unlike the retired jersey numbers of former Heat players Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, which hang from the west rafters of the facility now known as FTX Arena, Culp’s banner stands as a tribute to his 21 seasons with the team, featuring the words “Head Athletic Trainer.”

Heat shooting guard Duncan Robinson set to enter free agency

Miami Heat shooting guard Duncan Robinson will be a restricted free agent this summer. Will his time on the squad extend to future seasons? Via the Miami Herald:

“Just trying to get all the information possible so I can make the best decision possible,” Robinson said Monday afternoon when asked to look ahead at free agency, as the Heat held exit interviews at AmericanAirlines Arena after it was swept out of the first round of the playoffs. “In terms of the different factors that contribute, all of them do to some extent. First and foremost, the fit. A place where I can really feel comfortable. Winning is obviously a priority for me, as well. Then of course, it’s also a business and there’s an opportunity to make money to take care of the people I love the most. That’s also a priority, as well. Any place that can offer all of those is a destination that I would be excited about.”

The Heat will have the right to match any offer Robinson receives from other teams, assuming Miami extends a qualifying offer as expected. His 2021-22 cap hit for the Heat will be modest (about $4.7 million), but his salary easily could top $15 million per season after playing on a $1.7 million salary this past season…

“Obviously, I’ve had an incredible experience here and love this organization for many different reasons. So yeah, we’ll see,” Robinson said of the Heat. “For the most part, I haven’t really shifted my focus toward that just yet. But the next weeks, months, it will be mostly just about gathering information and trying to make the best decision possible.”