David Ramiland Wes Goldberg here, the hosts of the daily Locked On Heat podcast, with your daily Locked On Heat newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Heat and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Miami Heat’s Offense and Giannis Trade Rumors: A Deep Dive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after scoring a basket as Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) looks on in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum.|Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Welcome to the latest episode of Locked On Heat, where we dive into the Miami Heat’s current season challenges and potential future moves. Here’s a breakdown of the main points discussed in the first 20 minutes of the episode:
- Miami’s Offensive Struggles: The Heat’s offense is under scrutiny, with questions about why key players like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo aren’t shooting more. The team is trying to adjust to a new five-out offense, which seems to be affecting their performance.
- Giannis Trade Rumors: There’s buzz about Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially being on the trade market. The discussion revolves around whether the Heat could realistically acquire him, considering their current assets and the potential need to trade Bam Adebayo to make it happen.
- Bam Adebayo’s Role: Bam is struggling to find his place in the new offensive system. The team has moved away from mid-range shots, which were a significant part of Bam’s game. This shift has left him uncertain about where his scoring opportunities will come from.
- Jimmy Butler’s Performance: Jimmy’s performance has been inconsistent, with good games against weaker teams and struggles against stronger defenses. There’s speculation that he might be conserving energy for the playoffs, given his age and the physical demands of his playing style.
- Three-Point Shooting Concerns: Both Bam and Jimmy’s reluctance to shoot threes is highlighted as a unique challenge for the team, as most successful teams have their top players capable of shooting from beyond the arc.
- Potential Lineup Changes: The idea of starting Haywood Highsmith over Nikola Jovic is considered to improve the team’s defense, though concerns about losing size and offensive production are noted.
The episode also touches on the Heat’s need to balance their offensive strategy with the strengths of their star players, and the potential impact of trade rumors on team dynamics. As the season progresses, these discussions will be crucial in shaping the team’s approach and potential moves.
As someone who just celebrated a birthday — a milestone birthday — I’ll admit that aging has been on my mind. Its privileges, its gifts, its expectations and assumptions (especially for women), aging can feel overwhelming, particularly wrought, even if you’ve made relative peace through the years with it.
Much of my writing is concerned with the nuances around basketball and its athletes, particularly the elements that underscore them as people. Strange to call “humanity” a nuance, but that can be the flattening of pro sports. Athletes aging is something larger fandom is pretty bad at processing, to the point where, in the NBA, anyone over 28 is considered long in the tooth and anyone over 35, ancient. The churn of the Draft, with its college phenoms and untapped prospects, makes it so we have a continually replenishing assembly line of young athletes ready to oust the old, often in a way that we don’t actually witness. Very few NBA athletes announce their retirements or make their exits from the league public, they just sort of… vanish, and with them goes our public consciousness of them.
In his postgame presser on Wednesday night, after the Warriors had beat the Pelicans for the second time on a two day back-to-back, Draymond Green touched on aging. Well, not explicitly, but his lengthy answer when asked about his impactful defensive efforts throughout Golden State’s first five contests was telling. Namely, because he brought up two of the youngest centers in the league, Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview The Heat and Wizards are heading to Mexico to face off tomorrow. Here are some interesting facts about basketball in Mexico City ahead of the game. (SB Nation)
Rumor The trade talk continues — Executives say Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo could potentially be traded to the Heat. (Bleacher Report)
Must Watch Every NBA player knows about The Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Pablo Torre needed to know more, so he sent two reporters out to stay at what’s dubbed OKC’s “most haunted hotel.”
Feel Good They’re all kids at heart. Check out how players from around the league celebrated Halloween. (ESPN)
Must Read Pure talent, or being good in the room? Inc. looks at how certain personality types are affecting roster decisions in the league.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Paolo Banchero Injured - The Fantasy Basketball Fallout
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) defends Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the second half at United Center.|Photo by David Banks-Imagn Images
As we dive into the latest NBA action, the fantasy landscape is ever-changing, with injuries and unexpected performances shaping our strategies. The recent news of Paolo Banchero’s injury is a significant blow for both the Orlando Magic and fantasy managers. Banchero is set to miss four to six weeks due to a torn abdominal muscle, which means a reevaluation around mid-December. This absence leaves a gaping hole in the Magic’s lineup, and the question remains: who will step up?
Orlando Magic’s Lineup Dilemma
The obvious choice might be Jonathan Isaac, but his limited minutes due to health concerns make this uncertain. Isaac’s potential is undeniable, yet his ability to sustain a starting role is questionable. Mo Wagner has been suggested as a possible fill-in, but his experience at power forward is limited. The Magic might opt for a more unconventional approach, possibly pushing Franz Wagner to the four and utilizing a three-guard lineup with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black. Black, although not a high scorer, could contribute across various categories, making him a viable fantasy consideration.
The situation is fluid, and while Wendell Carter Jr. should be a priority add if available, the rest of the lineup remains a puzzle. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on the Magic’s rotations in the coming games to identify any emerging trends.
Click the button below to see who should be on your waiver radar, plus the fantasy impact of Desmond Bane’s injury for Memphis.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Heat podcasts.
Luka Doncic Will Win MVP Unless... + Can Dereck Lively II Improve Enough? Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for an exciting NBA season, with Doncic being a top contender for the MVP award. As the Mavs look to make a strong impact, the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be pivotal in their quest for success.
How Klay Thompson Looked in his Mavs Preseason Debut Klay Thompson made his preseason debut for the Dallas Mavericks, showcasing his potential impact alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Mavs are gearing up for an exciting NBA season, with fans eager to see how Thompson’s skills will complement the team’s dynamic.
Is Dante Exum’s Injury the Mavs First BIG Test? + Luka Doncic’s MVP Chance The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for a challenging season as they face the absence of Dante Exum for three months. With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the Mavs, the team’s depth will be tested in the competitive NBA landscape.
