Stein reporting that Deng is expected to opt out. Unless he ends up willing to take the same 1 year, $10 million deal (or even something less), I let him go, plug Justise in and divert his money to Wade to resolve this problem.
I'm not sure he's become a worse shooter (though he is flaring out his elbow a little more since leaving Miami), as much as it is him taking more low-percentage shots. You're not going to see a highly efficient level of play until he gets on an offense that is able to put him in better position to score, and a defense that creates more turnovers. May never happen again, which is why his years in Miami were so great.
Losing Deng seems like a pretty decent blow to Heat's 2016 chances, right? Already pretty thin - gonna REALLY need health and a monster rookie year from Winslow.
Depends. If Deng leaves, that opens up plenty of space under the luxury tax threshold. Even giving Wade the max, we could sign a Gerald Green type for the full MLE. also, there is no guarantee that he leaves. If I'm Riley, I tell Deng, listen we want you back at the $10 million for 1 year. Go out and test the market. If you find a multi-year deal approaching $10 million per, then god bless. If you don't, or just decide you want to come back, the $10/1 is here waiting for you.
The Heat still have bird rights on all these players. They can resign them all at higher or lower numbers. All that matters is the Tax figure when they are done.
Still seems like a downgrade. And makes it hard to acquire any shooting since you'll have to use it to replace Deng, right? Just think it hurts odds to contend in 2016. And it seems fairly important to have a good showing in 2016 if you're trying to attract big name FAs. Bosh, Wade, Dragic will all be over 30 so young dudes aren't gonna be flocking unless they think it's an automatic winner.
Deng opting out isn't ideal, but it's not the end of the world. I don't know what his market will look like, but I can't imagine it will be huge. It wasn't huge last year and he didn't do anything this year that would particularly change that, I don't think. Atlanta maybe, if they lose Carrol.
Green is a shooter. Better than Deng. and Winslow would be your starter in that scenario. He may end up better than any FA would could sign.
I'm pretty sure they will bring back Deng at a lower number with the addition of a second year. If they need the space in 16', they trade him.
The guy saying Durant probably isn't signing in Miami is hardly the one that should be accused of wishful thinking.
for those wondering about depth issues with the Heat: Rio McBob Winslow Bird Ennis UD Mini-MLE Napier TJ Richardson that's pretty good, and they will still be in on Dunleavy / Dudley, and those types. It's early.
Would you rather have Dorrell Wright than Luol Deng? Deng is the better player, Wright is the better fit in our system.
Luol Deng was planned to be a big cog in the Heat's playoff aspirations back before anyone knew who Hassan Whiteside was and before anyone gave more than an idle thought about this Goran Dragic guy out in Phoenix. Things have changed. I don't think anything short of losing Dragic, Wade, Bosh or Whiteside could be said to be a "decent blow" to the team's chances. Just being honest.
Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic, but my faith in Deng staying healthy for any appreciable amount of time is low.
I'll be extremely shocked if he opts in. With his injury history, I doubt he risks going into the season without a multi year deal.
Ha - oddly enough this was a case of me being more optimistic than you, apparently. I was thinking Heat w full roster is a 2-3 seed in the East and could make noise in the playoffs - not just get there. Without Deng I think they'd have been pretty thin - especially trying to guard anyone on the wing w LeBron, Butler, George, etc in the East (and Winslow being 19.)
Lebby confirms, Boston offered the Heat 4 1st round picks. Two in the "teens", two conditional, AND Two 2nd round picks.
The only reason to even consider that deal over Winslow is if you guess that Boston will miss the playoffs in some of those years. Certainly the picks Boston had this year were no great shakes
If one of those picks is Brooklyns unprotected pick.... winslow better be great... I always imagined Riley and Arison laughing at Ainge when they see his number on the caller ID and not bothering to pick up the phone.
I think we got extremely lucky getting Winslow and I hope Wade doesn't take every cent available. NYG and I are starting a youtube channel and we just did a NBA Draft recap. I was really hopeful to get some feedback from you guys as I respect your opinions. Thanks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_nXvlFljgQ
