In this week’s edition of Miami Heat Hot Topics, we ask who really won the Jimmy Butler trade, and examine possible x-factors for next season.
In today’s edition of Miami Heat Hot Topics, we’ll catch up on the stories we’ve written so far this past week here at All U Can Heat. Among our topics, the top x-factor candidates for next season, Tyler Herro voted best shooter of his class by his fellow rookies, and who really won the Jimmy Butler trade?
Without further ado, we’ll get caught up on the week that was.
Who actually won the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade?
The Miami Heat made a huge splash in the opening night of free agency when they traded for Jimmy Butler, by pretty much any metric a top 15-to-20 player in the NBA. In the process they sent away Josh Richardson to the Philadelphia 76ers, Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers and a draft pick to the LA Clippers.
The Sixers managed to use their newly-free cap space to sign Al Horford and the Clippers used their draft pick to trade for Paul George, which was a requisite to sign Kawhi Leonard. The Heat are happy with their new player, but who REALLY won that trade?
Tyler Herro voted best shooter of draft class:
The NBA polls its rookies every year on a variety topics and categories, including on how they view the rest of the rookie class. In this year’s poll, Heat rookie Tyler Herro was named the top shooter in the 2019 draft class.
Top players that could be the x-factor for the Heat:
The Miami Heat have top-end talent with Jimmy Butler on board, but often the difference is made in the margins with players who step up and provide an unexpected boost. For the Heat, it’s important they do find that player who is already on the roster, and our John Jablonka took a look at three players who may provide that x-factor element for a team hoping to get back into the playoffs.
Former Heat players we wouldn’t mind re-signing:
Who says you can’t go home again? In the case of Dwight Howard, for better or worse, he’s heading back to join the Los Angeles Lakers. Howard’s return to the city of angels comes after his fall from grace in NBA stardom, which sometimes might be what it takes for a reunion. Along those same lines, the Miami Heat have some players who would be welcomed back, and they actually play a position of need. In this case, fit is just about as valuable as nostalgia. Our Kenneth Wilson takes us down memory lane from a practical perspective.
Check back soon for the next installment of Miami Heat Hot Topics as we continue to recap the world of the Heat.