Last part of the season's going to be fun, man. This team when healthy can beat anyone in the East. The backcourt rotation should actually settle in now after all the shuffling that was happening. They'll be super flexible: Dragic-Wade, Chalmers-Wade, or Dragic-Chalmers. May even play all three of em together on occasion for some small ball - Dragic is used to that even if he hated it... Napier will be pretty limited, I would guess. I'd send him back to the D-League for a few weeks to get extended floor time and roll with TJohnson as that 4th guy (though Napier did have a couple solid performances recently, in Cleveland especially). That might be the best route for development. But the real development now is going to have to be with James Ennis. It's time! Bottom line is that we're talking three guys who are top-5 at their position, plus a legit (top 10?) PG who can attack, distribute, and score from all over the floor (he's got a sneaky midrange game and he's surprisingly good near the rim). This starting 5 is going to be awesome.
Apparently the picks are 2017 pick top 7 protected, and 2021 pick unprotected. wtf they accepted a 2021 pick? LOL
We managed to keep Bird? Yo, Broussard. Where ya sources, bruh? Spoiler Our starting lineup... Goran, Dwyane, Hassan, Luol, Chris ...looks like a No-fly List circa 2002, plus a crazy white guy named Chris
Apparently Brandon Knight has already said he doesn't like playing combo guard, so Phoenix just ran into the same issues they had with Goran. Oh well, not our problem.
Totally missed the Double Dragic pun opportunity. I think someone tried to tweet that at me earlier. I found this on the internetz.
Haven't seen a lot of Dragic, but I'm glad the Knicks didn't get him....clouds bigger issues imo. I wonder why they haven't moved THJ.
One issue to me is the Heat just traded away three players that actually play in the rotation for one player that will play in the rotation. They should be acquiring another piece that will play, no? Not via trade since the deadline is done but maybe a 3 that's free to sign?
Shawne williams never really saw the floor anyway. Hasn't play at all in any of our 5 games in Feb. and in all of Jan he played in 11/13 games averaging 13 minutes. We can replace those minutes i'm sure with someone on the roster.
IMO the biggest need/concern is someone off the bench who can shoot. Plain and simple. You can mitigate some of those issues by rotating the three guards around (playing Dragic more with both units, namely), but still they need someone who can hit jump shots at a decent rate. I like Chalmers and Bird, but they aren't shooters. Ennis is going to play a lot more, but he's a maybe at best in that dept. He's going to have to step up bigtime. I think they should send Napier down to the D-League and hope that with more minutes he can find the offensive game that got him drafted. Of all the guys on the bench he probably has the best jumper, oddly enough, if he can figure his sh-t out in terms of playing within the offense and finding the best ways to get his shot off. It'll be interesting to see if the bench group can space/threaten the whole floor well enough to be somewhat decent on the offensive end.
Just seen all the trades. Miami did well. Can't believe Brandon Knight was available. That was a shocker. He needs to be a Rocket. Not sure what to think of Rockets' trades. I like Mcdaniels, gives us more bench scoring. I know nothing about Prigioni, but hopefully this all means the end for Jason Terry getting any minutes, which is a GREAT thing. Only gave up a few 2nd round picks and Canaan. Not bad.
Dragic obviously replaces Cole (and then some) in the rotation. Williams wasn't really in the rotation as of late. Granger was in the rotation, but didn't bring a whole lot. I would assume Ennis now gets more minutes, but Dragic is a 30+ min guy so he will make up for some of Granger's minutes as well. I would expect the Heat to be active with some of the buyout players. Another beautiful aspect about this deal is keeping McBob means keeping the roster exemption. So they still have that money to spend on a player that gets bought out. Boozer makes a ton of sense with his connection to Nick Arison. I'm really hoping for Kevin Martin, though. If he does get bought out, he could be a big piece off the bench.
I agree that shooters are needed. I do think Chalmers can shoot. He was shooting from three really well when LeBron was around. I just don't think he does as well now that he's asked to create so much. They can find him in the corner more often now I would think. I'm guessing if no moves are made then they'll just have Ennis step up his minutes. Been pointed out that Shawne Williams hasn't been playing in a month, which is true. So you have Ennis step in for Granger more, and Dragic himself is going to be a minutes hog I would think.
There might be cuts and buy-outs for the Heat to get some quality bench and rotation players. Maybe Khem Birch will get signed to a 10 day contract and see what he can do.
Dragic takes Cole's place in the rotation...Hamilton is not in the rotation.....Ennis takes over for Granger..and we will see more conventional lineups which means that Williams is not needed as much. They need to find somebody for 10-15 minutes.
You will like prigioni. He's a winning player who unselfish almost to a fault. And his steals rate is through the roof compared to other PGs. Also even at 37 sports vu technology clocked him at 4.5MPh, 2nd fastest on the Knicks.
ok...now the Heat go to Ray Allen and ask if he wants to play here...what does he say? There is your shooter.
Dave Hyde and others bring up a good point on twitter. Would Ray Allen consider signing with the Heat now? He's exactly what they need. EDIT: Beat me to it -
Man I could swear I saw tweets announcing that Ray Allen decided to join the Cavs. You know that's who it will come down to, the Cavs and Heat.
/r/nba has this as the final trade, don't know if 100% accurate: Heat get: Goran Dragic, Zoran Dragic, John Salmons Suns get: Danny Granger, Justin Hamilton, Two 1st-round picks Pelicans get: Shawne Williams, Norris Cole
That's what I thought too, but keep seeing conflicting reports. Seen Cole to Phoenix and Williams to NO too. No idea what's the official final trade.
Oh baby, that'd be the icing on Riley's marvelous cake here. Cause even at his age and even with the time off, you KNOW Ray Allen's in top shape and probably shooting 100+ jumpers a day right after breakfast. He's that dude.
Were the pelicans even needed for salary to match, or did Riley just want to get rid of Cole that bad? If salmons goes to phx then that makes sense why they were included.
Ethan Skolnick said something along the lines of this is the most legitimately enthusiastic he's seen the people in the Heat front office any time in the last seven months.
So wait a minute. The Pelicans are going to waive Shawne Williams. I'm guessing his being part of the trade has something to do with the mysterious and unfathomable folds of the NBA salary cap of which I shall never achieve a full grasp, much like the female anatomy. But serious question now. Once that happens, can the Heat just sign Shawne Williams back to some one year deal?
YouTubing Dragic's stuff...and getting pumped as hell. WTF was Phoenix doing playing him the way they have been this season? He just won Most Improved Player! Just dumb. This guy is SO well-rounded as a PG. Jeez. It's pretty clearly his natural position - just the way he probes with the dribble and moves the ball with such quick touches as a passer. Things just flow. He can get his own shot on these little stepbacks he's got (esp on baseline), can shoot or attack off the PnR because he threatens anywhere below the foul line with the pass too, drives and kicks, finishes at the rim like a boss, pushes and dishes in the open floor, pops 3s once in a while. His defense looks pretty good, too. Damn. This is exciting stuff. No more weird backcourt lineups for him to be forced into. With this 5 he'll be back at his natural position alongside a true 2-guard, a 4 who can spot up (imagine the options when he runs PnP/PnR with Bosh!), and a long athletic anchor in the paint. Spo's going to be able to do so much from an X's and O's standpoint now. I mean...I just can't wait.
So am I right here? Hamilton/Granger/2 picks <---> Dragic, Dragic, & Co. Cole <---> Salmons Wow, we just solved a bunch of issues.
