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Miami Heat expanding the Vice theme this season

I’m all in on any Vice-related themes the Miami Heat utilize this season and beyond. So, there’s some good news, from the Miami Herald:

The Heat is expanding its Vice campaign to include a Vice-themed court this season.

After unveiling its black “Vice Nights” City Edition uniform Monday, the Heat unveiled a new court Tuesday to go along with the very Miami look. The Heat will play on the Vice-themed court in the 14 home games it’s scheduled to wear the alternate uniforms…

This season’s black uniform is “with the classic Heat silhouette from 1988 colored in laser fuchsia and blue gale, and features the original Miami Arena script across the chest and a re-imagined Heat ball and flame logo sporting the Vice Nights color combination,” according to a press release issued by the team.

And here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel with more:

The twist this season is that there will be the matching court as part of the theme.

“That’s the coolest thing,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. “It’s not just the jersey, but to be able to go all in, all the way around. That makes it even more a special night, when we get the opportunity to get on the court.

“I think it’s going to bring some excitement to even the players. So it will be cool to the fans, definitely, to come in and feel a different environment, a different vibe. So look forward to it.”

Coolness.

Heat waive Jarnell Stokes, Briante Weber, Rodney Purvis and Raphiael Putney

The Miami HEAT have waived Jarnell Stokes, Briante Weber, Rodney Purvis and Raphiael Putney.

Purvis, who was signed on October 6, appeared in one preseason game on October 12 vs. Atlanta, totaling two steals in 4:44 minutes of action.

Putney, who was signed on October 6, appeared in one preseason game on October 12 vs. Atlanta, totaling one rebound in 4:44 minutes of action.

Stokes, who was signed on August 27, appeared in three preseason games, averaging 5.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.00 steals and 11.2 minutes while shooting 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from the field.

Weber, who was signed on August 21, appeared in five preseason games, averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 assists, 2.60 steals, 1.8 rebounds and 16.4 minutes while shooting 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from the field, 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from three-point range and 83.3 percent (15-of-18) from the foul line.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 14, plus two two-way contracts.

Heat sign Justise Winslow to contract extension

The Miami HEAT have signed forward Justise Winslow to a multi-year contract extension.

Winslow, who was originally selected by the HEAT in the first round (10thoverall) in the 2015 NBA Draft, appeared in 68 games (25 starts) last season with Miami and averaged 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 24.7 minutes while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range. He set new career highs last season in points, assists, blocks, field goals made, field goal percentage, three-point field goals made and three-point field goal percentage. He also connected on a career-high four three-point field goals against Brooklyn on December 9, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from downtown and posted a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double against Philadelphia during the playoffs on April 19, marking as just the ninth double-double off the bench in HEAT postseason history. Additionally, he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2015-16, after appearing in 78 games with the HEAT to become just the fifth rookie to lead the team in games played during a single-season.

Heat sign Rodney Purvis and Raphiael Putney, waive Charles Cooke and DeAndre Liggins

The Miami HEAT have signed guard Rodney Purvis and forward Raphiael Putney and waived Charles Cooke and DeAndre Liggins.

Purvis split last season between the Orlando Magic and their G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic. He appeared in 39 games (all starts) with Lakeland, averaging 20.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.41 steals and 38.0 minutes while shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from three-point range and 77.8 percent from the foul line where he was named to the 2018 G League All-Star Team and was an All-Rookie First Team selection. He also appeared in 16 games (two starts) with Orlando and averaged 6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 18.1 minutes of action. He led the team in scoring twice, including a 19-point game vs. Philadelphia on March 22.

Putney appeared in 46 games (36 starts) with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League last season and averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.33 blocks, 1.7 assists, 1.17 steals and 28.8 minutes while shooting 45.7 percent from the field. After his stint with the BayHawks, he played professionally in Puerto Rico and France, appearing in 15 total games (12 starts) averaging 11.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.80 blocks and 23.0 minutes while shooting 45.7 percent from the field.

Charles Cooke, who was signed by the HEAT on October 7, appeared in one preseason game with Miami on October 10 vs. New Orleans, totaling one point, two rebounds and a block in 10:37 minutes of action.

DeAndre Liggins, who was signed by the HEAT on October 7, appeared in one preseason game with Miami on October 10 vs. New Orleans, totaling 10 points, two assists and a steal in 16:13 minutes of action.

Heat sign Charles Cooke and DeAndre Liggins, waive Marcus Lee and Malik Newman

The Miami HEAT today signed guards Charles Cooke and DeAndre Liggins and waived Marcus Lee and Malik Newman.

There’s a good chance that both deals will end by the time preseason wraps up.

Cooke, who signed a two-way contract with New Orleans on August 1, 2017, split last season between the Pelicans and the Greensboro Swarm and the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League. In 25 G League games (10 starts) last season, he averaged 12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.40 steals and 25.3 minutes while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. He also appeared in 13 NBA games with the Pelicans, totaling six points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 38 minutes of action.

Liggins, a five-year NBA veteran, split last season between the Milwaukee Bucks and the New Orleans Pelicans, appearing in 58 games (four starts) averaging 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12.5 minutes of action. He previously spent time with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, from 2013-16, appearing in 76 games (74 starts) averaging 13.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.36 steals and 39.2 minutes while helping the Skyforce to the 2016 G League championship.

Marcus Lee, who was signed by the HEAT on August 15, appeared in one preseason game with Miami on October 2 at Charlotte, totaling 10 points, six rebounds and an assist in 12:42 minutes of action.

Dion Waiters still recovering from ankle surgery

Dion Waiters played just 46 games for the Heat two seasons ago, and just 30 games last season. Both seasons combined, he started all but three of those games, Clearly a core member of the team when healthy, though he struggled with his shot in 2017-18 (39.8% FG, 30.6% 3FG). Where’s he at now? Still on the Heat, still recovering from ankle surgery, and perhaps a few pounds bigger than he’d want to be. Here’s the Miami Herald reporting:

With photos of Dion Waiters going around social media, Spoelstra was asked if the guard is in the type of shape the Heat would expect as he works to return from January ankle surgery.

“Taking everything into consideration, yes,” Spoelstra said Thursday. “He’s working. Either you’re going to be on the court with us … if you’re healing from something, we’re going to find something you’re able to do to work your cardio and be smart about it. That’s the biggest thing.”

Spoelstra said Waiters is meeting the expected conditioning thresholds. Waiters continues to miss practice, but he is with the team at FAU for training camp.

Full article

Heat, Timberwolves discussing a Jimmy Butler trade

Jimmy Butler wants out of Minnesota. The Timberwolves are looking into making it happen. Here’s the Miami Herald with the latest:

The Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves continued discussing a trade involving disgruntled guard Jimmy Butler on Wednesday amid a New York Times report that Butler has informed the Timberwolves that he would prefer to be traded Miami.

The Heat, Wolves and other teams have discussed various permutations in the Heat’s aggressive pursuit of a trade for the four-time All-Star, who has asked for a trade and informed the Timberwolves that he would not re-sign with them as a free agent next summer.

An executive with another Eastern Conference team said he believes Miami is the leading contender for Butler but that wasn’t based on anything the Wolves have told him.

Full article

Heat name Anthony Carter Player Development Coach

The Miami HEAT have added Anthony Carter to their coaching staff, as Player Development Coach.

He will be involved in all aspects of player development for the HEAT and implementing Miami’s player development and mentorship programs with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

The former HEAT guard was recently an assistant coach with the Skyforce the last two seasons after serving as assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings (2015-16) and the Austin Spurs (2013-15). Carter, whose career spanned 13 years and 623 games (181 starts), spent his first four NBA seasons with the HEAT, appearing in 246 regular season games (80 starts). He helped Miami to a pair of postseason appearances where he set the record for the most assists in a three-game series against the Detroit Pistons in the 2000 First Round matchup. After his stint in Miami, he went on to play with San Antonio, Minnesota, Denver, New York and Toronto.

Dwyane Wade will return for another season

Dwyane Wade isn’t hanging up his sneakers yet. The future Hall of Famer has announced that he’ll play one more NBA season, and will stick with the Miami Heat.

Wade for weeks has stated openly that if he were to return for another NBA season, it would only be for Miami.

Here’s the Miami Herald on Wade’s decision:

This will help the Heat. After all, Wade was the only Heat player to finish last season’s five-game playoff run with a positive plus-minus while leading the team to its only playoff victory in Game 2 in Philadelphia with 28 points in 26 minutes.

But at 36 years old, how much will Wade really help the Heat this season?

“This decision is bigger than the game of basketball,” Wade said in the video posted Sunday night. “This decision don’t have nothing to do with the talent I have in my body. Yeah, I’m not as quick as I used to be. Yeah, I don’t jump as high as I used to. Yeah, I don’t. Yeah, I don’t. Yeah, I don’t.

“But there are things in this game that I have that I can write a book on, that I can still do and I can still accomplish with the right organization, with the right individuals, with the right coach and in the right situation.”

Full article

The Heat won’t be a contender this season, but they’re a solid team, and it’ll be cool to see fans get to applaud D-Wade on his retirement tour.

At the same time, the Heat’s primary need is to figure out their future. So this won’t be an all-about-Wade type of season the way Kobe Bryant’s final Laker season was all about him. The Heat will compete. Wade will contribute to that. And there will be lots of standing ovations in the process.

Heat await Dwyane Wade decision

Here’s the Miami Herald with the latest on Dwyane Wade, who may retire, or may play another season with the Heat. There’s no reason to think he’ll have a big impact on their win-loss total this season, but it would still be nice to see him head out there for another season before calling it a career:

With the Sept. 25 start of training camp inching closer, the Miami Heat still has one open spot on its 20-man preseason roster.

It will remain open as Dwyane Wade decides whether to retire or return for a 16th NBA season. And on Thursday night, Wade made it clear that he still hasn’t made up his mind.

“I wish I had that answer for you. I don’t have it today,” Wade said alongside Heat forward Udonis Haslem during an appearance to celebrate their new restaurant, 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen, in Aventura that’s scheduled to open Sept. 20.

Wade does know if he decides to continue his playing career, it will be with the Heat.

Full article