With the extended NBA All-Star break officially coming to a close, the Miami Heat are back in action. It was an action filled week for the team’s All-Star Tyler Herro, who also brought some hardware back to the 305 as the 3-point contest Champion.
However, it is right back to business, and Miami has plenty of work to do. They have yet to win a game with their new-look lineup that has featured Andrew Wiggins with the starters. Wiggins was unavailable in the Heat’s last game against the OKC Thunder due to the contagious stomach bug that hit the group’s locker room.
But the 29 year-old forward is off the injury report and ready to go. Herro is the only Heat player on that report— listed as probable due to shoulder soreness.
It is still unknown if coach Erik Spoelstra will look to change his rotations, especially if he has a fully healthy rotation. There has been some talk about Duncan Robinson returning to the first unit, which would move the gritty Davion Mitchell to a bench role to balance out the rotation.
Bam Adebayo will look to pick up where he left off with his recent dominant stretch of play. The 3X All-Star big man also sat out in Miami’s last game due to knee soreness.
As for tonight’s matchup, the Toronto Raptors are coming into the game with a 17-38 record, sitting at 13th seed in the Eastern Conference. Their newly acquired star Brandon Ingram will not suit up tonight as he recovers from an ankle injury.
The Heat are in the midst of a season-worst four game losing streak and should be motivated to get things back on track.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro (shoulder soreness) — PROBABLE
- Kevin Love (personal reasons) — OUT
- Keshad Johnson (g-league) — OUT
- Josh Christopher (g-league) — OUT
- Isaiah Stevens (g-league) — OUT
- Dru Smith (Achilles) — OUT
Toronto Raptors:
- Brandon Ingram (ankle) — OUT
- Jakob Poeltl (hip) — OUT
- Ulrich Chomche (knee) — OUT
- AJ Lawson (g-league) — OUT
- PJ Tucker (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro, G
- Duncan Robinson, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
- Kel’el Ware, C
Toronto Raptors:
- Immanuel Quickley, G
- Gradey Dick, G
- RJ Barrett, F
- Scottie Barnes, F
- Jonathan Mogbo, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 PM EST
- TV: Fanduel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
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We don’t know what you got in your bag of tricks Spo (and Riles), but we hope it works these last 29? games. Meanwhile Spurs might be trying to get Flagg also?! lol
Since everyone (other than Love and Smith) is healthy, it will be interesting to see if Spo tries something new or continues to go with line-ups that haven’t worked well. It’s apparent Miami has too many rotation quality players and not enough minutes. If players are not performing at the expected levels, it will be up Spo to bench them and play those who are performing, regardless of contract status.
Hopefully, as contracts expire, draft picks are selected, trades are made and undrafted players are signed, Miami can continue re-tooling with younger players (on less expensive contracts) beginning this summer. This will free up more money to bring in a high scoring PG (hopefully with good defensive skills) and a good rotation two-way PF/C to team with Bam and Ware.
duncs guaranteed pt although he only plays half the ct
The Heat can opt out and pay him $9,888,000 before next season or keep him for $19,888,000 and try to trade him. If they buy him out for $9,888,000, that goes against the salary cap. If another team pays him the $10,000,000 difference, they will save the $9,888,000 that Miami has already paid and he won’t lose a penny.
nobodys giving him 19 mil or 9 mil maybe 2 mil
love is taking up a roster spot can he just leave period
Players don’t just leave when there still is money on the table. They are either bought out or traded. Not including rookies and two-ways/ G Leaguers, the following salaries can come off the books after the 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 seasons:
2024-2025
Mitchell: $6,451,077
Burkes: $2,087,519
2025-2026
Love $4,150,000.
Rozier $26,643.031.
Highsmith $5,616,000.
Anderson $9,219,512 (if Miami opts out after 2025-2026)
Robinson $19,888,000 (if Miami opts in before 2025-2026).
Wiggins $30,169,644 (if player opts out after 2025-2026)
That’s over $104M total. Therefore, unless Miami makes major trades before next season’s trade deadline, the team can’t make a major splash until after (2025-2026). Meanwhile, the Heat can draft, trade for and develop players that better fit the team’s needs in order prepare the team to be more competitive in 2026-2027.
yeah hes totally waste of a riley spot 4 mil down the drain jeez pat is done what a loser now roz 26 unc 19 wiggy 30 wow wow 3 terrible contracts .jeez sun man your in the wrong profession.can pat be bought out send him to carnival cruise line program director