Riley discusses Iguodala, Gallinari, Heat’s future and other issues
In the wake of Thursday’s six-player trade with Memphis, Heat president Pat Riley addressed several issues on a conference call:
▪ Riley said the team’s research, including a look at analytics and talking to people around him, convinced them that Andre Iguodola could still play at a high level.
“What we got back is... He’s an elite defender, an elite team defender; an elite assist-to-turnover percentage. You don’t lose that in seven months. Probably a blessing in disguise he didn’t play in seven months. He’s in shape. He’s definitely going to have to get his basketball legs under him. As long as he’s healthy he can play. I think he’s going to really help us.
“You know me. I’m all about now. We are committed to winning and getting back to contending for a world championship. And I will say we will get players and get what we need in the next year or two that is not going to waste Jimmy Butler’s years.”
▪ Is he disappointed about not getting Danilo Gallinari?
“Yes. I wanted everything. But I wasn’t going to — nor was Micky [Arison] — Andy [Elisburg], Nick [Arison] — [going to] compromise a two-year plan. You’ve got to take some risks here; you never know what’s going to work out. I like Gallo. I think he would have fit in really well. But it didn’t work out.” (The Heat didn’t want to give him a guaranteed 2021-22 contract that would have cut into their cap space that summer).
▪ On sending away Dion Waiters and James Johnson: “The record speaks for itself of what turned things in a different direction. The ankle with Dion and abductor surgery with J.J. That wasn’t what made us move in another direction. They had a good run with us. They were injured and had some issues. Getting back Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill — I think those guys can help us. I wish them the best. They’re good people.”
▪ On sending away Justise Winslow: “As far as Justise, that was the most difficult part for us to come to grips with. He’s a young player. I know he’s missed 150 games during 4 ½ years with us. We’re going to miss him. The Memphis Grizzlies got a great young player.”
▪ Was the shaky defensive play a factor in the trade? “That was part of it. We know Andre is an elite defender. On the ball, one through four, and is a smart defender. We have improved our defense individually and with Jae Crowder.
[But improving the defense] wasn’t a primary reason for it. It was getting a great player, an unselfish player [Iguodala]. He’s not going to fill up the boxscore; he’s a pro. He will educate and teach guys.... We’ve been inconsistent about [defense] and talked a lot about it.”
▪ Has his feeling about this team changed since the season started? “I feel a little more confident we can do something. It’s going to be a dogfight. Two through six [in the East], it’s going to be a dogfight. I’m very comfortable we’ve made some good moves.”
▪ On whether Derrick Jones Jr. is a part of the long-term future: “I don’t think we have to evaluate him any more. We know who Derrick is as a player. He’s still very young, one of the most explosive, exciting players in the game when he goes above the rim.
“I like the fact he’s improved his three-point shooting. Like the fact he’s become a better, more consistent defender. When that time comes we have a decision to make” this summer when he becomes a free agent.
▪ Is rim protection a concern, especially when Bam Adebayo is on the bench? “That’s a concern of ours. But there aren’t many out there who are 30-minute guys or 20-minute guys who can come in and do that.
“If you can’t find the right one, you go with what you have. We like the chemistry of Meyers Leonard at 7 feet, can shoot the three, big body inside. He can defend inside. Having Bam and Kelly Olynyk, Bam can go in there and protect the rim. We don’t have it, but there are not a lot of teams that have that. We will keep our eyes out. We are happy part of this transaction gives us the possibility of a buyout player later on.”
Under the hard cap under which it’s operating, the Heat can add a player at the minimum or slightly above but would need to cut a player to do so. Players who have appeared in an NBA game this season must be released by March 1 to be playoff eligible on another team.
▪ Riley said “two playoff trips in the last five years doesn’t make us happy. Having the opportunity to have a player top 15, 20 who wants to come here without being coaxed” in Jimmy Butler was a great start and said nobody could have expected this high level of play so soon from Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson and suggested writers push for Goran Dragic for sixth man of the year.
This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 4:22 PM.
