(Photo via Myron Gardner IG)
Earlier on Wednesday, the Miami Heat had finally filled their 15th and final roster spot. After earning an increase in minutes as of late on a two-way contract, Myron Gardner has been converted to a standard deal.
Following, the Heat called up Trevor Keels from the Sioux Falls Skyforce to fill the vacant two-way spot left behind from Gardner’s promotion, per Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
Gardner is currently averaging 4.2 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist per game on 46.4% shooting. Recent injuries have paved a way for the 24-year-old wing to fill in under coach Erik Spoelstra. The numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, but Gardner has provided encouraging defense, energy and hustle in his minutes over the past month or so.
At 6-foot-6, he has the length to be able to play any of the shooting guard, small forward or power forward positions and has shown that he can hold his own defensively when given the opportunity. Gardner submitted a career-high 14 points on February 3 in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Additionally, he recorded a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double in his first career start a few days prior versus the Chicago Bulls.
Gardner’s effort and versatility has led to earning a real roster spot as the Heat close in on a playoff push. As presently constructed, this also essentially takes Miami out of the buyout market entirely— as each of the 15 standard spots are now filled. There has been no indication that Terry Rozier would be waived as of now to potentially free up another spot, as his near $25 million salary is set to cleanly expire at the end of the season.
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great news. Gardner is a keeper.
Btw, I have mentioned new 2-way signee Trevor Keels a few times this season. He has been lighting it up on the SkyForce, including a 46 point 12/12 3 point effort earlier this season. He is solidly built, athletic, 6’4-6’5”, 220, can defend. A Lugentz Dort style player.
CONGRATULATIONS Myron Gardner! Good move by the Heat! This kid brings it every play!
Tanking and gambling are both rampant in the NBA (Yardbarker)
“Silver told reporters that tanking, meaning overt behavior by teams to lose games to improve draft position, was “worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory.”
That was the stated reason that the league fined the Utah Jazz $500K for repeatedly benching star Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarter, and why the Indiana Pacers drew a $100K fine for sitting starters, albeit on a back-to-back game.
NBA insider Ben Golliver, formerly of the Washington Post, claimed:
“We know how much the NBA has gotten in bed with gambling… If coaches are just willy-nilly not playing guys the entire game and they’re not letting people know in advance… you’re going to have a lot of angry gamblers and a lot of angry gambling companies.”
Talking about gambling, WTF is Silver doing to rectify the Rozier fraud perpetrated aqainst the Miami Heat? Pissed off Heat fans want to know!
WTF Wednesday!
Excerpts from article on Norm Powell in FANSIDED entitled: Heat’s playoff run could hinge on Norman Powell’s durability down the stretch
“As a leader, the first thing you got to do if you want to make change and be the example for the team and how we need to play and what we want to go out and accomplish, you got to look inward,” Powell said, according to the Miami Herald.“And so I’ve already had some thoughts and talks with my trainer…how I need to come out mentally, and what I need to do to get this team on track.”
~ Norman Powell ~
Powell has been Miami’s catalyst all season, averaging 23 points on 47% shooting and 39.6% from three. The fact that he has accepted a prominent leadership role with the team shows how valuable he is in Miami. His All-Star experience was his first, but it’s over now, and the Heat need Powell to carry them onward, which, in hearing his comments, he’s ready and willing to do so.
So, WTF is going on with Powell’s extension? Like Wiggins, he wasn’t traded before the deadline so Miami is left with two choices: 1) attempt to extend him -or- 2) allow his contract to expire and hope to salvage something in a sign and trade with Lakers, Warriors or whichever team decides to pursue him in free agency.
What’s going on in Miami’s front office? Are the lights on but nobody home? All hat and no cattle? One taco (and an enchilada) short of a combination plate?
GREAT NEWS FOR GARDNER!
In other news, here’s an excerpt from an article in FANSIDED:
“The odds of the Miami Heat losing Andrew Wiggins for nothing this offseason just might’ve grown exponentially.
The Heat’s decision to keep Andrew Wiggins on the roster beyond the NBA Trade Deadline only looks worse after a recent rumor. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers are already having discussions about targeting Wiggins in free agency.
This type of backchanneling could make way for Wiggins opting to test free agency in an attempt to secure a multi-year contract, rather than opting into the final year of his contract with the Heat. If this were to happen, this would be a pretty huge disaster for the Heat.
Miami has been burned in the past when it comes to losing free agents for essentially nothing, and the fact that it could, once again, be playing out right before their eyes would be a pretty bad offseason scenario.
The Heat haven’t learned from their past mistakes
Over the last few years, the Heat have lost Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent, and P.J. Tucker for essentially nothing in free agency. Sure, they managed to work out a sign-and-trade for a couple of those players, but, for the most part, the Heat are losing valuable contributors for virtually nothing.
The worst part about it is that almost all of these scenarios could’ve been avoided had the Heat been willing to make a proactive move a few months earlier at the trade deadline.
And, as another one of these potential scenarios begins to emerge, it does seem as if the Heat haven’t learned from their past mistakes.”…
Meanwhile, WTF is going on with Powell’s expiring contract? Another free agent player who may be walking away with nothing in return? Jaquez and Larsson are right behind them a year from now. Is Riley asleep at the wheel, or what? I guess proactive is not in his vocabulary. Maybe he’s spending all his free time these days working on a killer extension for Herro? WTF?