Are the Miami Heat poised for a front office shakeup?
Often times, behind the scenes guys get overlooked, unless things go really well or hit a decline. You consider that the public perception.
But in private, organizations know exactly whom they view as the next brilliant mind. Which explains why the Miami Heat have heard Adam Simon’s name become part of the Charlotte Hornets expanded general manager search.
Many fans may know the names of general manager Andy Elisburg and vice president of player personnel Chet Kammerer, but Simon’s is unfamiliar to the masses. Interestingly enough, viewers know his work though.
According to NBA.com, Simon played a key role in crafting Miami’s young core—including everything from drafting Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow and Bam Adebayo, to the initial signings of Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson.
Simon is also credited with gaining the Heat access to quality alternatives—to draft picks—as general manager of the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He was even named G League Executive of the Year.
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Simon’s accolades look great for someone who worked his way up from being the team’s video room intern, à la head coach Erik Spoelstra. However, the Hornets request for an interview is more of a nod to the lineage of the team.
Other franchises, analysts and players always reference the Heat culture. And this is no different. The interest in Simon is nothing more than teams looking to bring a piece of Miami’s stability to their front office.
In a way, it is like watching what has happened for years. Teams let Miami groom individuals, then pick from Pat Riley’s extended family tree.
This could only be taken as a sign that the Heat are doing things right. Despite what may have looked like draft misses and squandered picks.
In the end, losing Simon would be a blow to the bottom of the Heat’s front office hierarchy. But he would have the team’s blessing. All because they know how to continually build and replace from within the organization.
No different from when Dan Craig slid into David Fizdale’s vacant assistant coaching chair, after he left for Memphis. Or way they supplanted a roster full of injuries, with their own group of G League players.
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It’s just the Miami way.