Miami Heat 2015 Offseason thread: Reload, Retool, and most importantly, Recover

[He Who Posts Well]

The Heat are bringing in Joshua Smith for a workout this week and he could get the last camp invite, meaning no Beasley Supposedly he dropped 20 lbs last month and they want to get another look at him



Whittington and Benson are just camp bodies. I watched a few highlights on Hawkins and Weber, Hawkins has a little Mo Williams to his game, and Weber reminds me a little of Patrick Beverly on the defensive end, not quite as stocky. They'll be two interesting prospects to watch at camp, Ennis is definitely going to have competition.

So who do you think is getting the last roster spot?

 

[Primetime21]

So who do you think is getting the last roster spot?

I think Ennis is the front runner. Still want to see what Hawkins/Weber can bring to the table, wouldnt want to see another patrick beverly type slip away but ennis ability to play the 2/3 + seniority makes him the favorite

 

[He Who Posts Well]

David Locke: Mario Chalmers had 44% of his 3 attempts with no defender within 6 feet and shot 30% from 3 last year.
– via Twitter Lockedonsports
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat

 

[Green Ranger]

Miami Heat has creative plans for top pick Justise Winslow

Justise Winslow can play small forward or shooting guard and even could be cast as a point guard at times John Raoux AP
BY BARRY JACKSON

After getting a feel for Justise Winslow’s unique skill set during NBA Summer League, the Heat coaching staff is concocting creative ways to use its first-round draft choice.

“It’s going to be good. The way they’re using me I think is going to be really special, really going to help me showcase a lot of my skills,” Winslow said Wednesday at a team event at Carnival Corp. headquarters in Doral.

During Summer League, the 6-6 Winslow displayed defensive acumen, deft ball-handling skills and an ability to beat his man off the dribble. Winslow said he believes coach Erik Spoelstra will entrust him with some ball-handling duties.

“If not playing a lot of point, then playing a lot with the ball in my hands,” he said.

His jump shot needed work, and Winslow committed himself to improving it this summer, both inside and outside the three-point line.

He said coaches have tinkered a bit with the technique on his jumper but “there haven’t been any major changes. Just trying to become more consistent with the shot.

“I definitely feel comfortable shooting from three-point range but it’s working on everything: pull-ups, mid-range, posting up, finishing. There has been a huge emphasis on my shooting mechanics, trying to get everything more fluid and more natural so I can become a better three-point shooter. But there hasn’t been an over-emphasis on three-point shooting.”

Winslow shot 48.6 percent overall and 41.8 percent on threes at Duke, but those numbers slipped dramatically in Summer League, with Winslow closing at 34 percent from the field (14 for 41) and 3 for 12 on threes.

In the wake of a strong performance in Orlando (11.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2 assists in 25 minutes per game), a sprained ankle and “general soreness” limited Winslow’s availability during the Las Vegas portion of Summer League.But Winslow said he has worked past those physical ailments.

“I took some time off,” he said. “Really just strengthened my body so I can last a full season.”

Winslow can play small forward or shooting guard and even could be cast as a point guard at times, but he said the Heat hasn’t told him where it intends to use him primarily.

One key, he said, is “trying to find spots where if I’m in a game with [Dwyane] Wade, [Goran] Dragic and [Chris] Bosh, where I can be most efficient.”

Winslow, who said securing a rotation spot is important to him, spent time bonding with Heat veterans in Los Angeles last week, a group that also included Wade, Bosh, Mario Chalmers and others.

“It was fun being out there,” Winslow said. “A lot of what we did wasn’t even on the court. But the work on the court was great — some basic drills, getting to know the guys. Just being around each other was probably the biggest takeaway. Starting to build a chemistry.”

At 220 pounds, Winslow said he doesn’t want “to put on too much weight so I can still move. It’s not necessarily about building a lot of muscle, but just getting stronger.”

The Heat rejected an offer of six draft picks from Boston to draft Winslow, but Winslow said that doesn’t create any more pressure.

“There were nine teams that passed on me,” he said. “You use that as motivation.”

Winslow said he doesn’t “go down to South Beach too much. I spend most of my time in the arena [and] looking for apartments.”

 

[Alexander The Great]

Winslow definitely looked his best in summer league when they used him as the primary ball handler

would be interested to see a lineup of

Whiteside
Bosh
Deng
Winslow
Richardson

probably the 6 best defenders on the team

 

[Sohh_lifted]

Winslow definitely looked his best in summer league when they used him as the primary ball handler

would be interested to see a lineup of

Whiteside
Bosh
Deng
Winslow
Richardson

probably the 6 best defenders on the team

Spo wouldnever play that line up

 

[intruder]

Winslow definitely looked his best in summer league when they used him as the primary ball handler

would be interested to see a lineup of

Whiteside
Bosh
Deng
Winslow
Richardson

probably the 6 best defenders on the team

I dont think Richardson is ready to be primary ball handler on such a poor ball handling line up

When your PG isnt a GREAT ball handler (yet) you can't put him out with a line up of people who NEED someone else to create for them.
As much as i like Winslow I dont seen him being consistently being able to create his own shot yet against quality NBA SFs

Bosh, Deng, and Whiteside all need someone to create for them. You really think Richardson is ready to carry that kind of load

 

[Alexander The Great]

Spo wouldnever play that line up

I dont think Richardson is ready to be primary ball handler on such a poor ball handling line up

When your PG isnt a GREAT ball handler (yet) you can't put him out with a line up of people who NEED someone else to create for them.
As much as i like Winslow I dont seen him being consistently being able to create his own shot yet against quality NBA SFs

Bosh, Deng, and Whiteside all need someone to create for them. You really think Richardson is ready to carry that kind of load

yeah I wasn't advocating playing them in the 4th quarter of the ECF. I meant during training camp/pre-season really.

 

[intruder]

yeah I wasn't advocating playing them in the 4th quarter of the ECF. I meant during training camp/pre-season really.

Looking at Richardson's ball handling he can begin by running point when there is another ball handler on the floor with him (Wade, Dragic). I'd love to see him out there in a small ball lineup with Wade and Winslow or Dragic and Winslow or Wade and Winslow.
Just saying if he's running point he'll need another handler on the court in case he gets pressured and jammed up

 

[Alexander The Great]

Looking at Richardson's ball handling he can begin by running point when there is another ball handler on the floor with him (Wade, Dragic). I'd love to see him out there in a small ball lineup with Wade and Winslow or Dragic and Winslow or Wade and Winslow.
Just saying if he's running point he'll need another handler on the court in case he gets pressured and jammed up

yeah trust me I know, which is why everyone trying to get Rio outta here need to CHILL. he's the only other tested PG on the roster after Dragic. I know that.
The heat do want to work Richardson and Winslow as ball handlers. they did that in Summer league, both were ok at it. and when both were on the court together their perimeter defense was really good.

 

[HiphopRelated]

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

Man the kid is gonna turn a lot of heads this season

 

[Primetime21]

Riley sees Heat as contender, addresses wooing Wade back

Pat Riley on Tuesday said he expects the Miami Heat to be a contender, while also acknowledging he had concerns this offseason about losing guard Dwyane Wade during free agency.

The Heat president, who appeared on ESPN Radio, expressed optimism about rebounding from last season's lottery finish, having added Duke swingman Justise Winslow in the NBA draft and Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green in free agency.

"I think this team has the opportunity and the possibilities of being a contender," he said, having yet to address the additions of Stoudemire and Green beyond a statement in a press release. "And that's where you start with a team like this."

He also offered insight into having concerns about losing Wade a summer after losing LeBron James in free agency in 2014 back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Riley confirmed that owner Micky Arison and lead Heat executive Nick Arison brokered the agreement for Wade's return.


"There was a time when I said anything is possible because of what had happened with LeBron," Riley said, with Wade in June utilizing various platforms to address opting out of the final year of his previous contract and then entering free agency.

"Yeah, I had some concern because we have lost players before and my dream, or our dream, or whatever it was that we had put together in 2010, had not shattered, but had changed."

Wade agreed to a one-year, $20 million contract in July, to return to free agency next summer. The Heat did not hold a media session in the wake of Wade's return, nor did Riley previously address those negations beyond issuing a statement.

That has Wade back in what likely will be a starting lineup with Chris Bosh, Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic and Luol Deng. Dragic was re-signed this summer, with Deng bypassing an opt-out.

"I think this team has all of the elements of a championship team," Riley said. "Now, whether or not you could ever win a championship will depend on a number of factors, and here we go."

The Heat open camp Sept. 29, with their preseason opener Oct. 4 against the Charlotte Hornets and their regular-season opener Oct. 28 against the Hornets at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"It's going to come down to this: health. It's going to come down to this: performance. It's going to come to this guy and that guy. And it's going to come down to: can you make shots?" Riley said.

Riley spoke as if hearkening back to a previous era, when he coached the team.

"I just looked at it as, when I was coaching, and it probably got me in trouble, I always looked at it a simply getting down into the trenches, it was hand-to-hand combat, you keep people out of the paint, you rebound the ball, you defend with passion, you come every day because you loved your job and you loved to compete and you can't wait to get to the next game."


After four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals with James, Wade and Bosh, and then after last season's dip into the lottery, Riley stressed renewal.

"We have an opportunity to create a new first," he said. "Every single day you have that opportunity and so that's how I feel about this team."

 

[intruder]

Man the kid is gonna turn a lot of heads this season

Im in Wait-and-see mode for now

If he turns into a star we'll be set at C for a while if/when we re-sign him. And if Winslow turns into an even quality SF we'll have a young nucleus to build around as Wade ages

 

[He Who Posts Well]

yeah trust me I know, which is why everyone trying to get Rio outta here need to CHILL. he's the only other tested PG on the roster after Dragic. I know that.

Pay $5 million to have someone bring the ball up brehs