THE JIMMY BUTLER TRADE
Scout 1: “Their backs were up against the wall, so they got what they could. ...but they overlooked what it would look like without him. What stands out to me is this has happened in Chicago, Minnesota, Philly and now Miami. When he leaves, teams don’t get to the playoffs or don’t get nearly as far. ..."
....
ON WIGGINS
Scout 1, who has worked in an organization that had Wiggins at the same time of his employment: “Very talented player. But when he’s not motivated enough,...They probably should trade him. He’s more of a guy that blends in than a big difference-maker.”
Scout 2: “He’s a starter, a complementary piece, but you need at least two, maybe three, better guys than him on a really good team. ... The Heat needs him to be the third guy, and he’s not some nights.”
ON BAM ADEBAYO AND TYLER HERRO
Scout 1: “Sometimes people overvalue what they have. They’re both good players. Bam is very good. If you called 29 teams, most would be interested. But what they expect from his position, it’s too much to expect every night — consistent scoring with everything else he does.
“I would not trade Bam, but I would be open on everybody else. Nothing against Herro, but maybe you try to capitalize on his value.”
[Scout 1 would not trade Bam but Tyler. Scout two below would trade Bam but not Tyler.]
Scout 2: “Bam is somewhat [inconsistent] offensively; I wouldn’t actively look to move him, but I don’t think he should be untouchable. There would be a huge market for him.
“I would not look to trade Herro. He’s not the problem. They can’t score, and Herro gives you that. He’s not a No. 1 guy, but they need another two guys who can score, at least one. He’s not the problem.”
ON KEL’EL WARE
Scout 1: “I’m not sure how this is going to turn out with him. ...
It’s too soon to know. He’s still very young. Is he dominant enough to keep Bam at the four?....It’s just too soon to know with him. ..."
Scout 2: “He’s your modern day five, lob threat, can make a three, though I don’t know that you want him taking a lot [of threes]. That was a good pick. He’s a piece, unless he’s a piece for a trade. ..."
ON NIKOLA JOVIC AND JAIME JAQUEZ JR.
Scout 1: “I love Jovic’s versatility offensively, the passing. They’ve missed him. But I would have a harder time giving up Ware than Jovic because of Ware’s defensive ability.
“Jaquez, to me, can still be a good player [despite his sophomore slump]. I know he hasn’t hit threes. He reminds me of [Denver’s] Christian Braun. Obviously not as good a shooter but you get toughness and switchability.”
Scout 2: “I’m not a big Jaquez fan. He’s replaceable. I like [Pelle] Larsson better; he’s more athletic and a better shooter...there’s a little more upside with Larsson. ...Jovic is a nice piece, a rotation guy on a good team.”
ON THE OVERALL STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
Scout 1: “That roster they had in the Finals lulled them into thinking they were good enough. That roster they took to the [2023 Finals] wasn’t very good [compared to other Finals teams]. It was mostly Jimmy”.
Scout 2: “Where they were awhile ago, fiddling with .500, is more representative than what their record is [now 35-43]. They shouldn’t be 10-under [as the Heat was last month]. Come on. They’ve got an All-Star level player in Herro, a former All-Star in Adebayo. Wiggins is solid. They have veteran guys who are solid complementary players, solid role players and Hall of Fame coach. That shouldn’t equal 10 under .500. They’re mediocre. But they shouldn’t be as bad as [they were until recently].
“Herro is not a No. 1. I don’t think Abebayo is a No. 2 scorer on a real contender. [Terry] Rozier has done a 180; I don’t understand that; maybe the legal stuff is on his mind. They need luck in the draft. They have some assets so it’s not [bleak].”
