We are over two weeks into free agency. So far, the Miami Heat’s biggest (and only) moves have been acquiring Simone Fontecchio for Duncan Robinson in a sign-and-trade and flipping Kyle Anderson plus Kevin Love for Norman Powell, opening up a roster spot.
Though the latter expanded an already-big hole in the team’s frontcourt: The Heat don’t have an established backup big man behind Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware, who started 36 games last season. That’s an issue.
While you could argue that Ware could head back to the bench (in favor of, say, Nikola Jovic) to help stagger more minutes, you still need a reliable insurance option behind both. And one recently waived big man could help provide that.
Heat should entertain taking a flyer on Richaun Holmes:
I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and say that the free agent market for centers is good — it’s not. After Myles Turner signed with Milwaukee — which was an unrealistic option for the Heat anyway — the most ideal way to acquire a backup big was via trade.
That can still happen, but the Heat should kick the tires on Holmes first.
Miami has an open roster spot and is currently $1.6 million above the tax, according to Yossi Gozlan’s capsheets. The Washington Wizards waived Holmes Monday because his contract was only $250K guaranteed. The Wizards are overstocked with available roster spots, meaning moves need to be made before the new season.
Holmes, 31, averaged 7.4 points and 5.7 rebounds across 17.2 minutes per game with the Wizards last season; on a per 75 possession basis, his numbers average out to 15.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. The 6-foot-10 big man played his best basketball with the Sacramento Kings from 2019-22, averaging 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 27.2 minutes (150 games; 136 starts).
At his best, Holmes, an athletic big man, can protect the rim, reward his teams multiple chances on the offensive glass and shred opposing big men with an elite push floater.
I doubt the Heat would push themselves deeper into the tax before removing themselves from it, but I expect them to dip under the tax ahead of next February’s deadline, at the latest. More work still needs to be done, but buying low on Holmes gives their frontcourt more insurance while giving them a playable option. He may not wow you with impact or production, but the Heat need a steady option behind Ware and Adebayo — and they currently don’t.
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The next three seasons in Zion Williamson’s contract are not fully guaranteed. Twenty percent of Williamson’s salary for each season becomes guaranteed if he passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the prior season, another 40 percent if he plays in at least 41 games in the previous season, an additional 20 percent if he plays in at least 51 and the final 20 percent if he plays in at least 61 games. If the Pelicans had placed Williamson on waivers before today, they would’ve been on the hook for only a portion of his $39.4 million salary for the upcoming season. The final two seasons of his contract would have also been wiped off the books. He has three years remaining on his contract.
PG/SG Dejounte Murray is reportedly continuing rehabilitation for a ruptured right Achilles tendon suffered in January 2025. This injury ended his 2024-25 season with the New Orleans Pelicans. While he has been observed walking without a boot, signaling progress in his recovery, his availability for the beginning of the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season is currently uncertain. Reports suggest he might not be back on the court until after the calendar turns to 2026. However, there it is possible he may rejoin practice in late summer or early fall, followed by a gradual increase in workload during training camp. He has three years remaining on his contract.
I know these next proposals are risky. As the saying goes: “if there is no risk, there is no reward.”
What if Miami offers Herro, Wiggins, Fontecchio, Highsmith and a 1st round pick for Williamson and Murray? In addition, Miami offers Rozier and a second round pick to Sacramento for DeRozan (2 years left) and Saric (expiring contract).
Possible lineup:
Murray, Powell, Williamson, Bam, Ware
Mitchell, Larsson, DeRozan, Jovic, Saric
Jacucionis, Johnson, Highsmith, Goldin? and ?
Any thoughts?
A lot of them. I dont know where to start.
Lets say, that I have doubts that Murray can stay on the floor for the whole season, as Williamson away form burgers a month.
Fair enough. I thought it was worth a shot. Looking for a ss/difference maker. Maybe trade just for Zion. I think Miami would be able to get the most out of him re: conditioning, diet and durability. He needs the discipline that Miami could provide.
Message to Kel’el Ware:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
It’s hard to learn persistence. Hopefully he has some in him.
Persistence is a choice. How bad does he want it and how hard is he willing to work for it?
I thought Miami was keeping a spot open for Lillard, in case he decided to do his year of rehab with the Heat and play the second in Miami all on Milwaukee’s dime (with Miami paying him a veteran’s minimum only).
I would prefer to see Miami trade for a back-up big who is not part of a team’s future plans. There are a few teams out there. Also ones that have more bigs than they need and are looking to fill other positions.
This is not the time for impatience. “All things come to he who waits.” The season is still over 3 months away.
GO HEAT!!!
Who would you prefer over the likes of Holmes, Bryant, Bol Bol?
Via free agency or trade. Vucevic, Horford, Nurkic, Missi, Filipowski, Kesler, Landale, Saric, Clowney, Zach Collins, Bitadze, Jalen Smith.
He played in Dallas years ago. I m not sure he is the best option from a group of Bryant, him and Bol Bol.
I thought the same thing once I saw he was being waived. The issue is the Heat saving that extra spot for any potential Terry or Wiggins trade.
They need SOMEBODY to back up the bigs. I hope this doesn’t turn into an ANYBODY. Slim pickings out there.
Right. But even ANYBODY is better than NOBODY. I don’t like the idea of playing Bam at C again and even less playing Niko as a small ball center. In that case I prefer ANYBODY.
It is my opinion that unless Niko has made some strides towards improvement, Holmes is an upgrade, and also is better than Bryant or Bol Bol. Somebody is preferable to nobody.
But, I read that Niko is much different now, notably bulked up, and thus, I think he has a higher ceiling than Holmes, maybe a lot higher.
That is really slim pickings for backup bigs. As Jakob Dylan (Bob’s son) would say, “There’s gotta be something better than this.”
Niko is like Ben Simmons, big but with the mind of a point guard. Not mean or physical enough to play PF or C. For his height, he should be pulling in more than 3.9 rebounds a game.
This is what I think, too. And this is why I wouldn’t like to see Niko being used as one. Not getting a reliable backup or starting center would be a mistake. We have played a couple of seasons without a PF and with Bam playing C and it was a struggle. I don’t want that to repeat.
Amen!
ben simmons cant shoot a lick great around the rim.niko has a good stroke 2 different players.niko in serbia would be a ss in the states at best a rotaional player.hes a 6 10 2 guard
👍 for referencing this song, one of my favourites. It is even fitting to the current Heat situation. “nothing is forever, there’s got to be something better than in the middle”. And I am similarly hopeful that the Heat will rise from the current situation and improve over the middling results and performances of the last two seasons.
My pleasure. I was a classic rocker, music from the late sixties and seventies, and missed until much older on most of the 80’s era, the hair bands. But, then my kids were into alternative and I got into that era too, so a lot of my references are from then.
Yes, the middle has been the Heat’s story lately. We all talk about it, how frustrating it is to root for a team that never tanks and ends up drafting around #15-20, and eventually can’t bring in the high end player needed to win the close games or get deep into the playoffs. After awhile, we become victims of our own success.
Eventually, no matter what you do, eventually you bottom out. I thought that was what we were headed for this year, I even accepted it and thought it was for the best. But, then somehow Pat pulled off the Powell trade and here we are back in the middle again, hoping for that one more big trade.
My pleasure. I was a classic rocker, music from the late sixties and seventies, and missed until much older on most of the 80’s era, the hair bands. But, then my kids were into alternative and I got into that era too, so a lot of my references are from then.
Hey 30, I agree. The Powell trade changed the Heat’s paradigm from “Gap Year” to a season of possibilities. I still think with a couple of strategic trades, Miami could be knocking on the door again in the playoffs. Hope springs eternal.
Your reference to your music and the music of your kids triggered many memories about years gone by.
Since the early 1960’s, I have followed only 3 teams:
Again, anything is possible, if we have courage enough to dream. Take a look at my trade proposals on my earlier comment and let me know what you think.
GO HEAT!!!
41 years. Amazing.
51 if you count the others. I was just getting the hang of it with the first 2.
Well, good to be still alive and kicking.
Music and basketball. The fun of blogging is you never know where the conversation will lead.
Congrats on finding the love of your life. I went thru divorce too and now am happily married again but compared to you we are newlyweds at 18 years.
Thanks guys. To quote Tom Petty: “Even the losers get lucky sometimes.
Wow. Thanks Sun and 30 for sharing your personal comments! Life sure can bring beautiful moments and give us great memories and experiences that we can benefit from and enjoy.
Hey, we just saw Ringo Star and the All Star Band (members of Toto, Average White Band, and Men At Work), and will see The Who in a few weeks. Both my gal and I are passionate music lovers. We love almost all music, but especially the 50s through the 90s.
If anybody is somebody like Bryant or some other marginal player like that, I would pass.