The two familiar faces raving about the Heat. And Jones Jr. with a plan for dunk contest.
What does the trade for Andre Iguodala and two other NBA veterans do for the Heat’s playoff chances?
Quite a bit, if you believe 10-time All Star Paul Pierce and Stephen A. Smith, perhaps the NBA’s most popular and polarizing pundit. Miami enters the All-Star break at 35-19 and fourth in the East.
“This puts them in the mix in the East because you’ve got two defensive-minded guys with lots of playoff experience and leadership,” ESPN’s Pierce said of Iguodola and Jae Crowder. “This puts Miami in great position to get to the conference finals or possibly the Finals.”
Smith, the ESPN commentator, said in the past week: “I think they’re firmly entrenched in the No. 2 spot. I know people think otherwise because of Toronto and Boston. I’m not of that mindset. I believe an acquisition like this buffers them. It gives them experience inside that locker room along with Udonis Haslem in terms of a leadership perspective. You know what he can go out there and give you defensively. I don’t think that can be ignored.
“And when I consider the young lions the Miami Heat has on their squad, I just love the acquisition of any kind of veteran leadership. I think that’s all they’re lacking. My aversion to this move would be Iguodala plays enough minutes where he gets in the way of the development of guys like Duncan Robinson, for example, or Tyler Herro, for example. Because I love the way those two brothers play. But make no mistake he’s an asset, not a liability.”
Another ESPN voice, Jalen Rose, said the Heat will give Iguodala a real chance to win the conference, even with the Bucks viewed as the clear favorite.
“They strengthen their perimeter, not only added to Jimmy Butler defensively to go with Bam Adebayo on the interior; that’s just going to be lock down,” Rose said. “Kendrick Nunn. Duncan Robinson making 3′s. Derrick Jones Jr. dunking over anybody that gets in the way. I talk to you so many times about player development. That’s what you see happening in Miami. Now Pat Riley sees an opportunity behind the Bucks. It’s really about matchups for who’s going to make it to the conference finals. Why not go after it?”
Former Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox, now an NBA TV analyst, said Iguodala “will be another guy to throw at Giannis” Antetokounmpo despite Iguodala being at a five-inch height disadvantage. “And we’re not even talking about Jae Crowder, who’s a really good player and another guy that can potentially guard Giannis.”
Chris Bosh, on a video posted on social media, said: “I’m going to have to go and give an A-plus to my guys in Miami. Didn’t see that one coming. Picking up Andre Iguodala was big. Andre Iguodala is one of the most underrated players to ever play the game. Me and Dre, we’ve been knowing each other since we were like 17, 18 years old. And the fact that he’s still going and still playing and still a freak of nature is insane.
“And I think it’s a great move along with Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill. I think that fortifies the bench. It’s going to make the Heat team stronger. And I mean there’s still at a lot of different positions, a lot of playmaking ability out there.
“He fits the Heat’s way of things -- switching everything, long, athletic defender, can play multiple positions, can guard multiple positions. And he brings that championship experience to the Heat.”
TNT’s Kenny Smith said the acquisition of Iguodala “allows Jimmy Butler to not have to guard the toughest guy.”
And TNT’s Charles Barkley said: “Iguodala and Crowder gives [Butler] two breaks instead of one” defensively.
But Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal cautioned not to overstate what this does for Miami. There’s “not much left in the tank” with Iguodala, O’Neal said, adding the hope is that “he gives you one or two games in the playoffs where he’s hitting shots we’re accustomed to see him hitting.”
And Barkley said: “I love Jae Crowder. Not sure how much Iguodala has got left in the tank. Last time I saw him play he didn’t have much left in the tank in the Finals. Just because you’re rested up doesn’t mean you have more energy” if you’re a 36-year-old player.
But, Barkley said of Iguodala: “He’s a great locker-room guy, will be great for some of those young guys.”
ALL-STAR PLANS
Derrick Jones Jr., who came up short in the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest as a rookie in 2017, said he will unveil new dunks in Saturday’s competition. He has already practiced what he intends to use.
“I already know what I’m doing,” Jones said. “Once I got the announcement I was in it, I knew everything I was going to do. No ifs, ands or buts about what I’m going to do. [The dunks aren’t] new to me but it will be new to everybody else.”
Jones said he “couldn’t wait for this moment ever since my rookie year when I lost. I’m coming back to redeem myself and I’m going to have a whole lot of fun. My family, agency, people who supported me through everything will be there. Having those people there is going to be a big boost to me.”
It wouldn’t be surprising if Jones Jr. jumps over another player on at least one of his dunk attempts. He’s been trying that before recent games, jumping over Duncan Robinson and others.
There is also joy for Nunn, who is returning to his hometown of Chicago to participate in the Rising Stars Game on Friday for for first- and second-year players. He is having his father handle ticket requests from friends and family, which could end up numbering in the hundreds.
“I thought about it since maybe beginning of January, kind of as the season went on and I was winning a couple of Rookie of the Month [awards],” he said. “My first year in the NBA and the All-Star [weekend] in Chicago, it’s a great experience for me. That’s going to be super fun.”
Robinson, who will participate in Saturday’s three-point competition, said “it’s pretty special. It means a lot. Just excited for the opportunity to compete and having a chance to showcase my talents on a big stage.”
Beyond those three, Butler and Adebayo will play in Sunday’s All-Star Game, of course. Among Heat people going to Chicago to root them on: Udonis Haslem, who is taking his 9- and 13-year old sons with him to Chicago.
And Erik Spoelstra will be watching from afar: “We have a nice representation in Chicago. That feels different. The head coach may actually watch some of the events this year.”
Butler will be feeling akin to a proud big brother to Adebayo, Nunn, Robinson and Jones this weekend.
They “deserve it and they’re becoming household names and it’s because we’re winning,” Butler said. “I am so happy for my guys because they’re a huge reason for our success and I want them to know we can’t be there without that. They deserve it. They work so hard at their craft. And I hope we win every single event we’re in.”
Tyler Herro had to drop out of the Rising Stars game because of an ankle injury.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 11:53 AM.
