NFL
Miami HEAT News, Rumors, Injuries & Recruiting
Hot Hot Hoops: In post-LeBron era, moves have consistently backfired for Heat
The Miami Heat have gone 125-126 over their last three seasons, barely missing the playoffs twice over that timespan. How have the Heat gotten into this mediocre state of affairs? Ever since LeBron James shocked the Heat by signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pat Riley made a number of roster moves that seemed justifiable at the time, but look like major mistakes in hindsight.
July 11, 2014: Miami Heat re-sign Chris Bosh to a five-year, $118 million deal
After James left, Riley released a statement saying, in part, that the Heat have won three championships with him and competed for many others.
Fansided: Miami Heat: Lawyer embezzles nearly $2 million from Hassan Whiteside settlement
Perhaps the strangest twist of the Miami Heat offseason has come before the first round of the NBA playoffs has even come to an end. In what seems almost like a Mad Libs story come to life with a mix of NBA, politics and legal scandal, Hassan Whiteside was involved in a legal dispute with an ex-girlfriend, Alexis Gardner, that was resolved with a $2.75 million settlement.
That's not the strange part. The ex-girlfriend was represented by now-famed lawyer Michael Avenatti, who embezzled nearly $2 million from the settlement in order to buy a share of a private jet (which has since been seized by the IRS).
Miami Herald: A look at one of the decisions that put Heat in capped-out situation this offseason
Miami Heat President Pat Riley talks to the media during the season-ending press conference at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Saturday April 13, 2019 in Miami. By
For every decision, there is a consequence.
Heat president Pat Riley offered background on a decision made two years ago that has carried consequences. During his season-ending news conference on April 13, Riley explained why the Heat decided to sign forward James Johnson and guard Dion Waiters to four-year contracts instead of shorter-term deals in the summer of 2017.
"I want to let you know something that you didn't know so you'll have an idea of why," Riley said during his 45-minute session with the media.
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Hot Hot Hoops: Hassan Whiteside paid Michael Avenatti $2.75M to settle lawsuit
The Los Angeles Times reported today that Hassan Whiteside is involved in the legal troubles of Michael Avenatti, the former lawyer for adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels.
Alexis Gardner, Whiteside's former girlfriend, hired Avenatti to negotiate a settlement of a potential lawsuit against the Heat center in 2017. The nature of Gardner's allegation is unknown. Avenatti struck a $3 million deal, and Whiteside wired $2.75 million as a first payment.
Prosecutors allege that Avenatti hid this payment from Gardner and used the money to buy a share of a private jet.
Miami Herald: Did Michael Avenatti steal $1.5 Million Heat's Hassan Whiteside sent to an ex?
Lawyer Michael Avenatti said he is confident he will be exonerated after being charged with trying to extort money from Nike. By
When Heat center Hassan Whiteside made a $2.75 million payment to an ex-girlfriend as part of a settlement agreement, California attorney Michael Avenatti embezzled $1.5 million to buy a private plane, a federal court indictment claims.
This accusation is but part of a 36-count indictment accusing Avenatti, the former attorney for stripper and alleged Donald Trump paramour Stormy Daniels, of bank fraud, tax fraud, wire fraud, identity theft and perjury. This is not the indictment in New York federal court, which accuses Avenatti of trying to extort sports apparel Galactus, Nike.
Miami Herald: Ten lessons the Heat must learn after three years of mediocrity
From left to right, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talks with Heat president Pat Riley during a training camp practice in Boca Raton. Miami has missed the playoffs two of the past three years. David Santiago dsantiago@miamiherald.com
Pat Riley insists the Heat is not stuck, that he could get out from under these suffocating contracts that have eliminated the Heat's cap space and much of its flexibility this offseason.
But unless Riley can do something miraculous and significant with an overpaid roster devoid of a true star, we could be looking at largely the same Heat roster for another year, with the same nucleus that has gone 125-126 the past three seasons, but now minus Dwyane Wade - the player who was the biggest reason to keep watching through another year of two steps forward, two steps back.
Fansided: Miami Heat: Justise Winslow season grade and recap
If going by what your eyes tell you, Justise Winslow was a completely different player this season than he had been in the past, and this was all while playing a different position. Being the de facto point man for the Miami Heat this season, not only was it a new position for Winslow, but among the most difficult positions to play in the league.
Winslow was a hit as the lead man for the Miami Heat if going by the eye test, improving in his play-making, facilitating and scoring abilities. He even managed to become somewhat of a threat with his jump-shot this season, even extending his range out to the 3-ball.
Fansided: Miami Heat News: Draft previews heat up, Dwyane Wade recap and more
In today's edition of Miami Heat News, we'll take a look at some of our prospective draft targets for the Heat here at All U Can Heat, we recap and grade the final season of Dwyane Wade's NBA career and more.
In this feature, we'll bring you the best Miami Heat content from around the internet, both on this site and others.
Without further ado, we'll take a look at what those of us at All U Can Heat have been saying about the Heat.
Best of All U Can Heat from April 19, 2019Drafting Kevin Porter Jr.
Hot Hot Hoops: Stephen A. Smith said Lakers are wooing Riley. Riley said he's not interested.
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said today that Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is looking to make a splash for the President of Basketball Operations job vacated by Magic Johnson. And the name he's heard recently is Pat Riley. Smith added that he doesn't think Riley will join the Lakers, though.
Stephen A Smith on Lakers owner Jeanie Buss being interested in hiring Pat Riley to replace Magic Johnson pic.twitter.com/AWtVNWZj43
-- gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 19, 2019At his end-of-season press conference last Saturday, Pat Riley shot down any rumors that he would leave the Heat to rejoin the team he coached to four championships in the 1980s.
Fansided: Miami Heat: Guaranteeing changes, here are a few possibilities
The Miami Heat are enjoying the playoffs as we all are. The problem is however, they are doing it from their couches like the rest of the fans. With the luster of Dwyane Wade's one last dance sure to wear off any day now, what are some potential possibilities to look forward to next season?
That is a question that isn't easily answered. With a slew of lopsided contracts, based on production to amount paid and very little in terms of assets deemed movable, the Miami Heat and Pat Riley have an uphill battle.
Miami Herald: When Heat teammates push Bam Adebayo to become more on offense 'you start to listen'
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talks to the media during the season-ending press conference at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Friday April 12, 2019 in Miami. By
When did Bam Adebayo realize he needed to take a more aggressive approach on offense?
"When your teammates start yelling at you a lot, you start to listen," Adebayo said matter-of-factly Friday during the Heat's season-ending interviews. "You start to see ways you can score and you see how much it helps the team and you as an individual."
Adebayo, 21, averaged 8.9 points on 57.6 percent shooting, 7.
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ESPN.com: Next moves for the Heat: Make a big deal now or wait?
The Miami Heat are in a position that no team desires: headed toward the lottery with a roster that offers little flexibility to improve in the offseason.
The Heat are essentially right back to where they were last offseason, though this time they missed the playoffs and they lose the leadership of Dwyane Wade.
Let's look ahead to the free agency, draft and trade decisions facing Miami this offseason.
More NBA offseason guides:
Fansided: Miami Heat: How will Hassan Whiteside's offseason impact the future?
Hassan Whiteside didn't have the easiest of seasons with the Miami Heat. He missed 10 games due to injury, most of which came in two separate stints, and in his second spell off the floor he lost his starting job to Bam Adebayo on a permanent basis.
The lineup change seemed to be an effective one on the part of coach Erik Spoelstra. Whiteside's efficiency bumped up slightly across the board, and both the starting lineup with Adebayo and the bench with Whiteside became more effective.
When he was in the starting lineup, Whiteside had a net rating of -.
