Miami Heat Blog – Page 36 – NBA Blog

Heat re-sign James Johnson

The Miami HEAT have re-signed forward James Johnson.

“James Johnson epitomizes everything that the Miami HEAT is about,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He came in, made a promise to us and then fulfilled that promise by becoming a world class athlete thus leading to the best season he has had in the NBA. Today, he is being rewarded for the fulfillment of that promise. We will continue to push him to get him to an even higher level. His signing today, for me personally and the coaching staff, is one of our happiest signings. We are happy for James and his family as we look for him to have an even greater year next season.”

Johnson appeared in 76 games (five starts) with the HEAT last season and averaged 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.13 blocks, 1.00 steals and 27.4 minutes while shooting 47.9 percent from the field. The eight-year NBA veteran set single-season career highs last season in every major category including points (975), rebounds (376), assists (276), steals (76), blocks (86), field goals made (368), three-point field goals made (87) and free throws made (152). He led the team in plus/minus (+138) and his improvement from 2015-16 to last season in Miami was the largest in the NBA when factoring points, rebounds and assists per game averages, nobody in the league improved in each of those three categories more. Johnson was Miami’s leading scorer off the bench 27 times and topped the HEAT reserves in assists a team-high 43 times, in blocks on 38 occasions, in rebounds a team-high 31 times and in steals 28 times. He posted nine 20-point games as a reserve, tying for the fourth-most during a single-season in HEAT history, as Miami totaled 22 such games off the bench, the most in team history. He tallied 884 points, 341 rebounds and 248 assists as a reserve, and along with Tyler Johnson, they became the only set of teammates in the entire NBA to each record at least 600 points, 250 rebounds and 200 assists off the bench. On the defensive end, Johnson was in isolation situations 53 times last season, giving up just 22 percent (9-of-41) shooting to the player he was guarding, marking the second-lowest percentage in the entire NBA by player with at least that many isolation situations. Additionally, he gave up just 0.49 points per isolation possession (26 total), also the second-lowest in the league with at least 53 isolation situations.

Johnson has appeared in 474 regular season career games (145 starts) and averaged 7.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 19.7 minutes while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor.

Heat re-sign Dion Waiters

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have re-signed guard Dion Waiters.

“Dion Waiters proved to us last season that we have found one of the best two guards in the NBA and we are happy today to be able to sign Dion to a long-term contract,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We love his game and competiveness. He is an attacker and an excellent three-point shooter as well as a defender. He is a player that has no fear in taking the last shot regardless of the outcome. We believe that continuity has shown to be one of the important things that we do by keeping a team together. Having Dion back in the fold is a big factor in keeping that team chemistry together.”

Last season, Waiters appeared in 46 games (43 starts), helping Miami to a 27-19 (.587) record in those games. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 30.1 minutes while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and a career-high 39.5 percent from three-point range. He tied his career-high of 33 points vs. Golden State on January 23 while also tying his career-high of 13 made field goals in a game in which he hit the game-winning three-point basket to help defeat the Warriors, 105-102. He scored at least 17 points in eight consecutive games from January 21 through February 4, marking the second-longest such streak of his career. Waiters, who was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on January 30, led the HEAT in scoring 12 times, in assists 14 times, in steals on 13 occasions, in minutes 12 times and in plus/minus on eight occasions while recording 16 20-point games, including two 30-point performances, on the year.

Waiters has appeared in 335 regular season games (153 starts) during his five-year career averaging 13.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.00 steals and 28.6 minutes while shooting 41.3 percent from the floor and 34.6 percent from three-point range.

Miami Heat sign Kelly Olynyk

The Miami HEAT they have signed power forward Kelly Olynyk.

According to multiple reports, the contract is for four years, paying around $50 million.

“As soon as Kelly Olynyk became an unrestricted free agent, we pursued him,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He is not only a post player, he can also play away from the basket. What we like the most is that he is a playmaker, tough defender and rugged rebounder. At just 26 years old, he fits in perfect with our young core that will play together in their primes.”

Olynyk appeared in 75 games (six starts) with Boston last season and averaged 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 20.5 minutes while shooting 51.2 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from three-point range and 73.2 percent from the foul line where he set single-season career highs in assists (148), defensive rebounds (288), field goals made (260), field goal percentage, minutes (1,538) and games played. He became just the second seven-footer in NBA history, joining Dirk Nowitzki, to total at least 200 made three-point field goals and dish out at least 400 assists during his first four seasons in the league.

During last season’s playoff run, Olynyk appeared in 18 postseason games (two starts) and averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 19.2 minutes of action. In Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against Washington he scored 26 points, all off the bench, on 10-of-14 shooting in under 30 minutes to help give his team the win and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Olynyk, a two-time All-Star Rising Stars Challenge selection, has appeared in 278 regular season games (36 starts) during his four-year NBA career and averaged 9.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 20.7 minutes while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three-point range and 74.3 percent from the foul line. He has made the playoffs in three of his four seasons appearing in 26 postseason games (two starts) and averaging 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 19.2 minutes while shooting 51.2 percent from the field.

Heat trade Josh McRoberts to Mavericks

The Miami Heat have traded forward Josh McRoberts, a 2023 second round draft pick and cash considerations to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for center AJ Hammons.

McRoberts (6-10, 240) played 22 games with 14 starts for the Miami Heat last season and averaged 4.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists in 17.3 minutes. He suffered a stress fracture in his left foot on 12/23 and missed the remainder of the season.

The 10-year career veteran has played for six teams (Portland, Indiana, L.A. Lakers, Orlando, Charlotte and Miami) after getting drafted 37th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007. He has career averages of 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 19.2 minutes in 431 games (179 starts) while shooting a clip of 46.4% from the field and 70.5% from the line.

Hammons (7-0, 250) appeared in 22 games for Dallas as a rookie last season, averaging 2.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 7.4 minutes per game.

The 46th overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft also appeared in 15 games (14 starts) for the Mavericks G-League affiliate Texas Legends and averaged 12.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 25.7 minutes.

The center finished his four years at Purdue ranked on many of its all-time lists including rebounds (3rd), blocks (2nd) and scoring (17th). Hammons garnered Second Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors as a junior and was named Big Ten All-Freshman Team in his first collegiate season.

The Gary, Ind., native attended high school at basketball-power Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) where he was named a McDonald’s All-American.

NBA news: Miami Heat waive Chris Bosh

The Miami Heat have officially waived forward Chris Bosh.

“Chris changed his life and basketball career when he came to Miami,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “And he changed our lives for the better, in a way we never would have imagined, when he joined the Miami HEAT. We will forever be indebted to CB for how he changed this team and led us to four trips to the NBA Finals and two NBA Championships. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise. The number “1” will never be worn by another player and we can’t wait to someday hang his jersey in the rafters. Today, we are both moving on but we wish Chris, Adrienne and their family nothing but the best. They will forever be part of the Miami HEAT family.”

Bosh was an NBA All-Star in each of his six seasons with the HEAT and has been an NBA All-Star 11 times in his 13-year NBA career. He was an integral part of two HEAT championships in 2012 and 2013, and the team’s four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals from 2011-2014. He famously grabbed an offensive rebound with 6.3 seconds remaining in regulation of Game 6 on June 18, 2013 and fed Ray Allen for his game-tying three-pointer, forcing overtime and eventually leading to the 2013 NBA Championship.

Bosh appeared in 384 games for the HEAT over six seasons, and averaged 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 34.2 minutes, while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor, 34.4 percent from three-point range and 80.5 percent from the foul line. He ranks among the HEAT’s all-time leaders in free throw percentage (3rd), double-figure scoring efforts (4th), points (5th), scoring average (5th), free throws made (5th), defensive rebounds (5th), field goal percentage (6th), field goals made (6th), free throws attempted (6th), total rebounds (6th), starts (6th), field goals attempted (7th), blocked shots (7th), minutes (10th), three-point field goals attempted (10th), double-doubles (11th), offensive rebounds (11th), games played (11th), steals (11th), three-point field goals made (tied-14th) and assists (20th).

Bosh appeared in 893 games during his NBA career and made 881 starts, averaging 19.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.04 blocks and 35.8 minutes, while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor, 33.5 percent from three-point range and 79.9 percent from the foul line. He scored in double-figures 815 times, grabbed double-figure rebounds on 332 occasions and was selected as the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week nine times and Player of the Month once throughout his career.

Heat: Bam Adebayo NBA rookie bio

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed center/forward Bam Adebayo to his NBA rookie contract.

Adebayo appeared in 38 games (all starts) as a freshman at Kentucky and averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.50 blocks and 30.1 minutes while shooting 59.9 percent from the field. He was selected to the All-SEC Second Team and the All-SEC All-Tournament Team after helping the Wildcats win the SEC Championship. He led the team in rebounds (304), blocks (57) and double-doubles (8) and finished second on the team in free throws made (154) and minutes (1,145) and third in points (494). He recorded 101 dunks, the most for a single-season by any Kentucky player under head coach John Calipari, surpassing Anthony Davis’ 92 in 2011-12 as it also ranked as the second-most in the NCAA last season. He tallied back-to-back 15-rebound games after posting a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double at Missouri on February 21 and then a 18-point, 15-rebound double-double vs. then #13 Florida on February 25, becoming the first Wildcat since Jared Prickett in 1994 to post consecutive 15-rebound games and the first time it was done during SEC games since Sam Bowie in 1984. Additionally, he grabbed 18 rebounds in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Northern Kentucky, the third-most ever by a Kentucky player during March Madness, helping the Wildcats advance to the Elite Eight.

Adebayo was selected in the first round (14th overall) by the HEAT in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Heat, Chris Bosh may soon part ways

Chris Bosh is still technically a member of the Miami Heat, but the future between the two sides is clearly one of separation. Here’s ESPN.com with the latest:

The Miami Heat, Chris Bosh and the players’ association have tentatively agreed to a resolution that would allow all parties to move on, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

Bosh, 33, hasn’t played since February 2016 because of blood clot issues. He has remained on the Heat roster as the sides have worked through complex medical and legal issues in this delicate and unique situation.

The agreement hasn’t been finalized as Bosh and his family, agents and lawyers are still reviewing documents…

Bosh is guaranteed $52 million over the next two seasons, though a significant portion of that is covered by insurance. But he has remained on the Heat’s salary cap, limiting their ability to replace him. This agreement is expected to remove Bosh from the cap and allow the Heat to move on with their team.

Josh McRoberts elects to return to Heat

Here’s the Palm Beach Post with a report on forward Josh McRoberts and his Heat contract decision:

Josh McRoberts is back on the Heat’s books.

McRoberts has exercised his opt-in to return to the Heat for $6 million next season, agent Mike Conley told the Palm Beach Post on Tuesday. It’s the final season of the four-year, $22 million contract he signed with Miami in the summer of 2014 — the same summer the organization lost LeBron James to Cleveland.

Now that McRoberts is not eligible to be a free agent this summer, he is eligible to be traded by the Heat to create more cap space. Miami reportedly tried to trade the 30-year-old forward last offseason, but it was not able to find a match.

Justise Winslow shooting ability still a work in progress

Justise Winslow is an intriguing young player for the Heat, but he still has a long way to go to prove himself as a starter-level player who can be counted on in a big-time situations. Here’s the Miami Herald with more:

Two NBA scouts insisted over the past several months that even though he’s a terrific defender and smart player, Winslow would need to become a more efficient perimeter shooter to become a quality starter on a good team.

And Heat people strongly believed that was going to happen this season after his work last summer with shooting coach Rob Fodor.

But injuries derailed his season, and his 7 for 35 three-point shooting in 18 games wasn’t a fair gauge because a wrist injury affected him before the season-ending shoulder surgery.

“It held me back a little bit,” Winslow said when asked whether the troublesome wrist hurt his ability to incorporate Fodor’s mechanical changes.

Chris Bosh still hopes to resume NBA career

Here’s the Miami Herald with the latest on Chris Bosh, who is technically still a member of the Heat but whose NBA career is currently in limbo:

Chris Bosh still hopes to resume NBA play

He hasn’t been around the team all season, not since he failed a physical in the preseason following his third blood-clotting episode since he was first hospitalized with one after the All-Star break in 2015.

But Bosh did speak to Larry King recently. In clips from an interview on “Larry King Now” on the Ora.tv digital network posted Sunday night, Bosh said he still believes he will return to the NBA one day, but made no promises it will happen.

He also sounded much more at peace than he had in the past about Pat Riley’s decision back in September to no longer work towards his return and to eventually recoup the 11-time All-Star’s $25.2 million salary cap hold for next season, giving the Heat money it can spend elsewhere to improve the team.

“I understand what they have to do as a team,” said Bosh, who is signed through the 2018-19 season. “It is a business. I know we as athletes and owners and people involved with the NBA never want to say that it’s a business and things like that. It is a business. And hurt does come in with that. But, as president of the Miami Heat, I understand what he has to do.”