Miami Heat Blog – Page 17 – NBA Blog

Heat still determining scope of Victor Oladipo’s injury

The Heat are still trying to determine how bad the injury is to their new shooting guard, Victor Oladipo. Via the Sun Sentinel:

Coach Erik Spoelstra offered a limited update upon the Miami Heat’s Saturday arrival in Portland, Ore., on where the team stands with sidelined guard Victor Oladipo.

Oladipo was the lone Heat player not to make the trip for four-game trip that opens Sunday night against the Trail Blazers, after injuring his right knee in Thursday night’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at AmericanAirlines Arena.

“We’re still in information-gathering stage right now, so I don’t have a new update for you,” Spoelstra said. “But he’s not with us on this trip, and he won’t be here [Sunday], and that is what we were focused on today, who’s available in the gym today.”

Heat sign center Dewayne Dedmon

The Miami Heat have signed center Dewayne Dedmon.

Dedmon, a seven-year NBA veteran, appeared in 44 games (18 starts) last season between the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks averaging 5.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 17.6 minutes while shooting 40 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the foul line. He scored in double-figures 10 times, including a season-high 18 points at Philadelphia on November 27, 2019. He grabbed double-figure rebounds seven times while posting three double-doubles. Additionally, he posted 11 multi-block games and five multi-steal games.

Dedmon has appeared in 394 career NBA games (194 starts) and averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 18.3 minutes while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. He holds single game career highs of 24 points (done twice), 17 rebounds (2/10/17), seven assists (1/11/19), four steals (done six times) and six blocks (done twice).

He will wear number 21.

Heat will reportedly add center Dewayne Dedmon

The Heat will reportedly soon add to their frontcourt depth. Via the Miami Herald:

The Heat plans to sign veteran center Dewayne Dedmon, giving Miami insurance behind Bam Adebayo, according to two sources briefed on the situation.

The deal, which is expected to be for the remainder of the season, is contingent on Dedmon going through COVID protocols successfully and passing a physical.

Rockets trade Victor Oladipo to Heat for Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk

The Houston Rockets today traded guard Victor Oladipo to the Miami Heat for guard Avery Bradley and forward Kelly Olynyk.

The Rockets also receive the right to swap first round picks with Miami in 2022, using their own pick or the one owed to Houston by Brooklyn.

Oladipo, a two-time NBA All-Star, has appeared in 29 games (all starts) this season between the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers averaging 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.34 steals and 33.4 minutes while shooting 41.1 percent from the field, including 25.6 points on 43.3 percent from the field over his last eight games. He has recorded 18 20-point games this season, including six-straight from February 26 – March 16, tying the second-longest streak of his career, while adding three 30-point performances. He has connected on multiple three-point field goals 21 times this season and has currently hit at least one trey in 11-straight games. Additionally, Oladipo has been the only player in the NBA to average at least 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.90 steals over the last three combined seasons.

Olynyk (6-11, 240) was originally the 13th overall pick by Dallas in the 2013 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by Boston. In 543 career games with 141 starts, Olynyk is averaging 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.

Dating back to 2017-18, Olynyk is the only player in the league to have averaged at least 10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, and 1.5 3-pointers made in fewer than 28.0 mpg. He has the fourth-most 3-pointers made (645) of any player in NBA history listed 6’11” or taller.

Bradley (6-3, 190) was originally the 19th overall pick by Boston in the 2010 NBA Draft. In 581 career games with 494 starts, he is averaging 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.01 steals.

Last season, Bradley started 44 games for the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers prior to the NBA restart in Orlando. He earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors in 2015-16 and was a Second Team selection in 2012-13.

Heat trade Moe Harkless and Chris Silva to Kings for Nemanja Bjelica; Kings waive Jabari Parker

The Miami Heat have acquired forward Nemanja Bjelica in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Moe Harkless and Chris Silva.

And in a subsequent roster move, the Kings have waived forward Jabari Parker.

Bjelica, a six-year NBA vetreran, has appeared in 26 games (one start) with the Kings this season averaging 7.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 16.9 minutes while shooting 46 percent from the field. He has scored in double-figures eight times this season, including one 25-point performance. Bjelica holds a career 38.8 shooting percentage from three-point range, and has shot over 40 percent from downtown in each of his three previous seasons.

“We are pleased to add Maurice and Chris to the team and welcome them to Sacramento,” said Kings General Manager Monte McNair. “Each player brings depth, defensive presence and athleticism to the wing and frontcourt. We also thank Nemanja for his contributions to the team during his career in Sacramento. His veteran presence has been invaluable, and we wish the very best for him and his family.”

During the 2020-21 season, Harkless has averaged 1.4 points (.385 FG%, .455 3pt%), 1.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 11.3 minutes per game in 11 games (3 starts). Through his career, the former St. John’s player has accrued averages of 7.0 points (.478 FG%, .326 3pt%, .610 FT%), 3.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 22.8 minutes per game in 548 games (327 starts) across nine NBA seasons with the Orlando Magic (2012-15), Portland Trail Blazers (2015-19), LA Clippers (2019-20), New York Knicks (2019-20) and Heat (2020-21).

This season, Silva has averaged 2.7 points (.692 FG%, .733 FT%), 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 7.5 minutes per game in 11 games (0 starts). In two seasons with Miami, Silva’s career averages are 3.0 points (.626 FG%, .686 FT%), 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 7.8 minutes per game in 55 games (0 starts).”

Thunder waive Meyers Leonard

The Oklahoma City Thunder has waived forward/center Meyers Leonard, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Leonard was originally acquired from the Miami Heat on March 17, 2021. He was traded by the Heat after getting caught spewing an antisemitic slur during a live video game stream.

He can now sit at home, where he’ll have more time to play video games.

Heat SG Duncan Robinson not shooting so great this season

Miami Heat shooting guard Duncan Robinson hasn’t taken a step upward this season. Via the Sun Sentinel:

I had been downplaying this for a while now, citing how Duncan Robinson has expanded his game, including cuts to the basket, finishing at the rim, upgrading his overall defense. And I still believe there have been significant upgrades in those areas. But the reality is that what made Duncan so special last season largely has been missing this season: the ability to go on game-changing 3-point streaks. So what the Heat have to figure out ahead of free agency are two things: Have NBA defenses figured out Duncan Robinson? And even if they have, is his impact on those defenses still impactful from the perspective of freeing up others on offense? On one hand, you hate to allow players to simply walk in free agency. On the other, can the Heat afford to go eight figures annually on a player, who, at the moment, is 73rd in the NBA in 3-point percentage, albeit tied for 10th in 3-pointers per game?

Robinson is 6th on the team in scoring this season, averaging 12.7 points, shooting 41.9% FG and 38.5% 3FG.

Last season, he averaged 13.5 points, shooting 47% FG and 44.6% 3FG.

Heat struggling from three-point range this season

The Heat have an issue that needs fixing. Via the Sun Sentinel:

The Heat (22-20) made nine of their 34 3-point attempts (26.5 percent) in their 137-110 loss to the Pacers, wrapping up a week in which they shot 28.3 percent from beyond the arc on 36.3 attempts per night across four games.

The recent 3-point showings only further displayed one of the more perplexing developments for the Heat this season: how they went from one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooting teams just a year ago to one of the league’s worst this season.

The Heat are 22-20 this season, which is the 4th best record in the Eastern conference.

Duncan Robinson is taking 8.5 three-pointers per game and hitting 38.5% 3FG. Kelly Olynyk shoots 5.7 threes per game, hitting 32.8% 3FG. Tyler Herro shoots 5.6, hitting 32.9% 3FG. And Kendrick Nunn shoots 5.5, hitting 35.1% 3FG.

The team is shooting 34.5% from three this season, which ranks them just 27th in the NBA, ahead of the Wizards, Cavs and Rockets.

Heat trade Meyers Leonard, draft pick to Thunder for Trevor Ariza

The Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday acquired a 2027 second-round draft pick, forward/center Meyers Leonard and generated a trade exception in a trade with the Miami Heat for forward Trevor Ariza.

Leonard, who was recently caught on a live video game stream spewing an antisemitic slur, will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organization.

Oklahoma City will have one year from today to exercise the trade exception.

As part of the announcement, the Heat issued the following statement: “Meyers was a key part of our team that made a run to the NBA Finals and we will always be grateful for his contributions and leadership last season. His recent comments were very hurtful and disappointing, but, we are encouraged that he has spent this last week meeting with community leaders, Rabbis and Holocaust survivors to greater understand the impact of his words and we hope that his education will continue. We wish Meyers and Elle the best of luck in the future.”

Ariza, a 16-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 1,064 career NBA games (731 starts) averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.49 steals and 29.7 minutes while shooting 42.3 percent from the field. He split last season between Sacramento and Portland, appearing in 21 games (all starts) most recently with the Trail Blazers averaging 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.62 steals and 33.4 minutes while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 87.2 percent from the foul line, helping Portland to a postseason berth. He scored in double-figures 19 times last season, including four 20-point performances. He recorded 22 multi-steal games, including a season-high six against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 31. Ariza, who was born in Miami, has made nine postseason appearances where he helped the Lakers win the 2009 NBA Championship after appearing in 23 games (all starts) in their playoff run.

Heat center Bam Adebayo set to return

Star Heat center Bam Adebayo is set to return after playing just one game so far in March. Via the Sun Sentinel:

For Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, the past two weeks have provided the unlikely combination of boredom and joy.

He said Tuesday that is why he is glad to be back in the mix after missing four games with knee tendinitis.

Asked after the morning shootaround at AmericanAirlines Arena what it was like to be reduced to spectator, having not previously missed a game due to injury the past two seasons, he said, “bored as hell.”

But he said the Heat going 4-0 during that span took away some of the edge.

“I mean, obviously seeing my teammates win and have that joy, you want to be part of that,” he said. “So, I was sitting there and I’m bored as hell.”

The 21-18 Heat, after a slow start to the season, are on a roll as of late.

Adebayo this season is averaging 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. He last played on March 2, in a loss to the Hawks.