The Miami Heat have been one of the most successful organizations since Pat Riley took over in 1995, winning seven Eastern Conference titles while hanging three championship banners inside Kaseya Center in 2006, 2012 and 2013.
However, while Riley doesn’t have as much control as he once used to, he’s one of the premier faces of the organization. And one thing the front office, collectively, hasn’t done a great job with is managing their assets to the nth degree–whether it’s attaching second round picks to get off of contracts, not selling high on certain players or simply collecting assets when you’re not anywhere close to contending.
However, one thing that vice president of basketball operations Adam Simon mentioned in his post-draft press conference on Wednesday was making a pick–and not trading it, which has been a contentious subject–because the player would be on a rookie scale contract.
Obviously, how good said player is matters too. In Kasparas Jakucionis’ case, he was a top-7 player in the class for me, and Simon hinted that he was a top-8 player on their board, too.
I’ve long tried to speak the importance of having good players on cheap or cost-controlled contracts. They’ve never been more valuable for a roster to have, especially in today’s two-apron era, where every single dollar matters.
The board also fell to the Heat as good as it possibly could have, given who was picked ahead of them; outside of Jakucionis (who didn’t make “my guys” list because it felt unrealistic), Rasheer Fleming, Nique Clifford, Danny Wolf, Ben Saraf, Asa Newell and Jase Richardson were all there for the taking.
Players on inexpensive contracts matter, especially when you’re trying to field high-end depth, which is incredibly important in today’s NBA. Among those on cheap contracts for the Heat are Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Keshad Johnson, Pelle Larsson and now Jakucionis, who was one of the best lead guards in this year’s class.
We will see if they will stick to their guns and learn from their previous mistakes in terms of attaching assets (picks) to underwhelming assets, or if what we’re buying is fool’s gold.
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If Miami was starting the 2025-2026 season right now, this would be the possible line-up (assuming they Mitchell is re-signed):
Mitchell, Herro, Wiggins, Bam, Ware
Rozier, Robinson, Jaquez, Jovic, Anderson
Smith, Larsson, Jakucionis, Johnson, Love
That dog will not hunt! Presuming there are no major injuries, that is a 41-41 team, at best and the Heat will again be a play-in team (for the 4th straight season if you are counting). Too good to tank and too bad to get past the first round of the playoffs (assuming they can get out of the play-in round).
Rookie contracts: Ware, Jaquez, Jovic, Smith, Larsson, Jacionis, Johnson
Core veteran(s): Bam
Expendable veterans: Herro, Wiggins, Rozier, Robinson, Anderson, Highsmith, Love
At least 5 of the veteran players listed above should be gone by the time the summer is over or by the trade deadline. At very worst, if Riley does absolutely nothing, contracts for 5 of the players will expire.
Riley has one year to clean up his mess by putting together the foundation for a competitive team by the beginning of the 2026-2027 season or he should step down. Period.
that will never happen sun there will be changes god forbid nothing happens.i expect 6 new players next year.
The problem, in case you haven’t noticed, is it has been difficult to find takers for some of our players. It’s almost like we have to pay a penalty to move them, either in draft picks, or attaching them to better players. We are in a real dilemma that will become more apparent as this year progresses.
By the trade deadline, some may be more attractive to teams looking at their expiring contracts to reduce future payrolls. That’s why I said this season is needed for cleaning house by allowing contracts to expire and 2026-2027 is the year Miami can make significant upgrades. Any trades Riley makes now should be players for players, not players plus draft picks for players (unless a ss falls into his lap).
I have to disagree…. 42-40 😂
If no further trades are made, I predict 30-52. Riley should already be gone. Period, exclamation point. Mic drop.
Look at the draft. Look how well run some of the other franchises are. They manage to do everything right. And we should stop making excuses for a guy who has to let contracts expire or give away those players in unequal for us packages, and who is still near second apron, and who has few draft picks, and who has glaring holes in his roster.
I don’t think any of us is making excuses. We are just realists. Riley isn’t going anywhere in the immediate future so we need to deal with what is in front of us.
Steve Settle iii exhibit 10. 6’11’ forward
A 6’10” wing who shot 41.6% from three on 3.6 attempts per game seems almost too good to be true. Technically it isn’t. Settle did this last season for Temple while averaging 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and one steal per game.
The ai version. I caught that too. Who will be the next diamond in the rough?
Vlad Goldin , 7’1” center signed to 2-way. He’s (cough) Russian.
Heat signing? Back up C?
At least g-league. Looks aggressive. Good size.
Ranked #54 in mock. Goldin was a three-year starter under Coach Dusty May at Florida Atlantic and followed him to Michigan for his graduate season, where he posted career-highs in points (15.5), assists (1.8), and field goal percentage (64.6%) … He started all 36 games for the Wolverines in 2024–25 and finished with 1,468 points and 910 rebounds across 154 career games … Goldin projects as a traditional, low-usage big who can provide efficient post scoring, rim protection, and physical rebounding in a backup role … His lack of range and foot speed may cap his upside, but his motor, size, and consistency give him a path to contribute on an NBA roster, particularly in second units built around structure and halfcourt execution … He may not be flashy, (or young) but Goldin’s experience, durability, and two-way efficiency make him one of the more dependable bigs in the class …
hes pretty mobile for a 7 footer watched him play little bit at fau.on tv.went to michigan didnt see him play at all.fau made it to final 4 he was their best player
nah according to some…good players arent enough. you need a 2-way athletic black dude. you failed them Pat and Adam. you should step down and give in to these fans cries.
on another topic…Heat dont have a 2nd rd pick?
No, which is a shame as this draft has lots of talent. That being said, there are still some guys worth a roll of the dice that will be available in UDFA market. Heat get tons of calls from agents once the draft is over, so I expect a few guys who will be worth the follow.
Name a few so I can look them up (please)
Haha, don’t stir up that hornets nest again. And, correct, no 2nd round pick.
you know what, I just realized that dude is not a real Heat fan. Just here to stir up trouble, try to trigger us trying to be relevant coz no one is paying attn to him in another site. nuf said…
GO HEAT!!!
If he would just chill out a bit, he’d be fine.
The is my shocked face :/
Which site is ignoring him, Utah Jazz?
One of the teams Heat terrorized in the past. I’d say he lost big money and can’t get over it lol
It’s not classified information, right? You can tell us so we don’t have to look up 29 teams.
Only a guess…but one of the east teams hehehe.
not sure if hes a heat fan but he pretty much tells it like it is with a rough edge to it which is not necessary .as 2qbn says a tough guy on the internet.i asked him if hes a heat fan months ago he never responded.
You say anyone ‘tells it like it is’ as long as they agree with you.
dude knows hoops so do u 2qb 30 sun big etc..only hard core fans go to this site.casual guys not present here.hhh4l i believe is not a heat fan just here to stir it up.think he has a grudge against the heat.maybe hes a closet knicks fan
I guess he never learned that profanity is the crutch of an inarticulate mf’er. 😬
This quote is gold, Sunman.
i know hoops rc eyes dont lie.my infamous slogan u and 2q use to mock me.2q hasnt mocked me in a while ive been waiting for his bartles and james slogan got a bottle right next to me waiting to pop it open.btw is duncan playable lol
Yes, I am in awe of your brilliance. And I admit I really enjoyed watching your Lakers-Cavs finals. Hopefully as much as you enjoyed watching my Boston-OKC finals.
its not being racist.we want the best most athletic dudes for the heat.dont think pat has fulfilled that obligation lately
I know you want the best for the Heat.
He tells it like it is?! Implying that Heat fo are racist?! I don’t have problems with bold and even absurd criticisms but to comment that way…stepping out of bounds bro
bros have the hops we dont .fact.