https://www.si.com/nba/heat/.amp/mi...re-a-10th-seed-in-east-without-damian-lillard SI's Chris Mannix Says Miami Heat Are A 10th Seed In East Without Damian Lillard Sports Illustrated writer Chris Mannix thinks the Miami Heat could struggle after losing Max Strus and Gabe Vincent The Miami Heat have waited patiently this offseason to acquire Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. But have they waited too long? With training camp a month away, the Heat now face the possibility of entering this season without Lillard on the roster. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix said on The Crossover podcast the Heat could regret the loss of Max Strus and Gabe Vincent if they are unable to sign Lillard. "You do have to start wondering how much pressure Miami is starting to feel," Mannix said. "Because look, let's just say the Heat do nothing else and go into the season with the roster they have. Are they even a playoff team? I mean, they got in last year through the play-in, by the skin of their teeth. To their credit, [they] stream-rolled into the Finals. But they lost their starting backcourt, two key guys." Mannix went far as saying the Heat are headed toward being another play-in tournament team should they fail to land Lillard. "I look at this Miami Heat team," Mannix said. "I understand Heat Culture is great, Erik Spoelstra, best coach in the NBA, Jimmy Butler, clutch as they get. In an 82-game season, I'd probably have them penciled in at 10th in the Eastern Conference right now."
I don't get it. Why team, that was in the finnal can't give half decent offer for a star, that Lillard is. I look at their roster and they have no one apart of Butler and Bam I would want. How?
"How" is a good question. I wouldn't trade Kris Murray for Jovic or Jacquez. I wouldn't trade Rupert for Jovic or Jacquez either, not for what the Blazers need, which is point-of-attack defenders. Jovic is supposed to be a zero defender and Jacquez is not a point-of-attack defender. Rupert is.
I get not being impressed by what the Heat have to offer, but I think we're kidding ourselves if we think that the Blazers FO won't eventually take a package including Jovic, Jaquez, 2 firsts, 2 swaps, and a decent return for Herro (and excluding Robinson). It seems inevitable at this point.
It depends what the return for Herro is. If the return isn't a starting-caliber small forward, there is no point making the trade. It makes no sense to settle just to get rid of Lillard before the season starts.
Do you think Jovic and Jaquez are bankable future starters in the NBA? If so, are they middle-of-the-pack at their position? (10-20) or lower tier starters (20-30)? If you don't think that, then you're probably trying to move off them before their contracts are up. See Saddiq Bey (ATL) and James Wiseman (DET). The road to mediocrity is paved with that class of player who eats into your cap and ruins your flexibility. Neil Olshey knows this all too well.
I think it is too early to tell. JJjr has not played a game in the NBA. Jovic played 15 when he was 19.
What team that has a starting-caliber small forward is going to give one up for Herro? I think your expectations are out of whack.
Yeah, I went through that exercise with young PFs as well. The list is not long. Nor is the next year's draft options. (although that could change)
We're going into a rebuild. We have no idea who on this roster is a "bankable future starter". Even Scoot and Sharpe are question marks, despite their obvious high ceilings. Any player who comes back in exchange for Dame is going to have those same question marks, Jovic and Jaquez inclusive. We basically need as many of those question marks as possible, so that if a couple turn into exclamation points, we can hopefully come up with a couple commas, periods, and maybe even a semi-colon or two.
I mean, I probably wouldn't be opposed to Royce O'Neal and Dariq Whitehead if the Nets were interested in Herro, but maybe my expectations are just too low.
When did Cronin say the Blazers are going into a rebuild? Dame would have been traded to Miami already if that were true.
There are a lot of people that think Dame is 100% going to be traded. This, despite the asinine nature of his trade request when he still has 3 years left on his contract.
I would think Portland and Miami would say yes to that deal. But.....I think Brooklyn likes Royce. (Not sure about DFS) Royce, Whitehead, DFS, and a 1st seems like a lot for Herro while making Miami better. At the very least they would say no to the 1st round pick.
Yeah, probably on the first. Just threw it in there because that seems to be the expectations of the people in here. Royce and DFS, however--they're just role players. Herro is a much better fit in their lineup alongside Bridges and Johnson, and makes them much more dynamic.
Yes, I believe that is. Cronin doesn't have to say it for it to be true. But obviously, the context of the comment is the assumption of a Dame trade happening--you know, the topic mentioned in the title of the very thread in which you are posting. It would not make sense for a Dame trade to not lead to a rebuild.
It would make complete sense for a Dame trade that doesn't lead to a rebuild if Cronin gets a "win now" player in return, which is one of the options he is open to. "He said that could mean a trade for a win-now player, a deal for a talented young player and draft picks, or even a trade for just draft picks."
What's the latest on the harden drama? I feel like that will be the first domino to fall, when we figure out if embiid will be asking out or not, do we think the blazers are waiting to see if they have a shot at embiid and try and pair him up with dame?
