Winderman: Should Pat Riley’s ‘generational’ view give way to Heat living in the NBA moment? | Commentary

It is the context Pat Riley chose in the wake of LeBron James leaving the Miami Heat during the 2014 offseason, following four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and championships in 2012 and ’13.

“Generational team.”

It was what Riley said he was attempting to build with the collaboration of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and what he would attempt to build again.

“Every [so often], you have a chance to build a generational team,” he said on July 30, 2014. “You’re not going to win 10, 12 years in a row. That chain has been broken prematurely. We are going to try to make it another generational team. That’s what my objective is.”

And, so, he built back, methodically, keeping an eye on the next opportunity he could turn salary-cap space into something generational.

That opportunity could come during the 2021 offseason, when the Heat, pandemic economy allowing, could have sufficient cap space for at least one elite free agent, to align alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

But such an approach also can come with sacrifice, perhaps not as stark as the type the Heat made in advance of the 2010 offseason (15-67 in 2007-08), but, still, potentially putting a more immediate championship chase on the back burner.

Which brings us to the NBA rumor mill returning to full rev this past week, with concurrent word (not denied by the New Orleans Pelicans) of Jrue Holiday being available on the trade market, and of Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving his 2021 free-agency options open.

For the Heat, that could mean pulling back this offseason to instead go all in during the 2021 offseason, when the free-agency class could include Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Victor Oladipo and James, among others.

That would correspond with a “generational” focus.

Except . . . is that still a thing?

Consider that the only repeat NBA champion since the Heat doubled up in 2012 and ’13 was the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and ’18. Then, a year later, Kevin Durant, with a chance for his own generational statement with the Warriors, departed for the Brooklyn Nets in free agency. And after Leonard won the 2019 title with the Toronto Raptors, he left weeks later for the Los Angeles Clippers.

So if the players themselves seemingly no longer are prioritizing “generational,” then should teams?

For example, if the Heat’s 2021 cap space goes to anyone beyond Antetokounmpo, would that put them on a path toward “generational,” even with Adebayo and Tyler Herro in place (with all due respect to Butler, who will turn 32 prior to the start of 2021-22)?

Or has this become about living in the moment, like the moment the Nets are attempting to create with Durant and Kyrie Irving?

Then look at some of the recent contracts taken by some of the league’s leading men. Leonard, for example, took a three-year, $103 million deal from the Clippers in the 2019 offseason that included a 2021 opt out. James signed a four-year, $153 million contract with the Lakers in the 2018 offseason that included an opt out after three seasons. George, similarly, gave himself an opt out after three seasons on the four-year, $137 million contract he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2018 offseason.

And that’s not even getting into players forcing trades ahead of expiration, with George moving on from the Thunder a year after signing.

The point being that today’s players hardly appear to be thinking “generational,” but rather are keeping an eye on what could come next, no matter where it might come next.

The Leonard deal with the Clippers is the perfect example of one foot out a door shortly after walking through the door.

So while “generational” might have been the approach that fueled Riley and the Heat toward the 2010 offseason, and while it left Riley heated during the 2014 offseason, now, as much as ever, the NBA appears to be an in-the-moment league.

IN THE LANE

VALUE ADDED: As part of his evaluations of the upcoming free-agency class, former Memphis Grizzlies Vice President John Hollinger devised a formula that placed dollar figures on each player’s worth in this offseason’s process. The values for the Heat’s free agents were particularly intriguing. With Goran Dragic, for example, the figure was $11.6 million for 2020-21. As a matter of perspective, Dragic earned $19.2 million this past season on the final year of the five-year, $85 million contract he signed with the Heat in the 2015 offseason. The assumption has been that the Heat will attempt to entice Dragic into a one-year deal this offseason, in a similar range to last season’s salary. As for free-agent forward Jae Crowder, Hollinger’s valuation for his 2020-21 salary is $10.5 million, or just above the mid-level exception. Crowder earned $7.8 million this past season, on the final year of the five-year, $35 million contract he signed with the Celtics in the 2015 offseason. Getting those two at anything close to Hollinger’s valuations would leave the Heat with significant room under the luxury tax to possibly add a rotation free agent at the mid-level exception. As for free-agent forward Derrick Jones Jr., Hollinger’s 2020-21 valuation is $14 million. Such a figure likely would lead the Heat to move on from the athletic forward.

OVERVALUED: And then there is Hollinger’s valuation of former Heat center Hassan Whiteside, with a free-agency valuation of $17.2 million. Hollinger, though, does note, “His defensive disinterest and stat-seeking reputation make him less popular in front offices.” Hollinger added, “I’m guessing some center-needy team (Charlotte? Detroit?) finds enough change under the cushions to pay him in the $15 million ballpark for a year or two.” Whiteside is coming off the four-year, $98 million contract he signed with the Heat during the opening hours of 2016 free agency. He earned $27.1 million this past season with the Portland Trail Blazers, after the Heat traded him in July 2019 for Meyers Leonard in the cap machinations that cleared the signing space for Jimmy Butler.

THE BEAL DEAL: As the NBA moves toward the end of the personnel moratorium invoked due to the pandemic, speculation again is increasing regarding potential Heat target Bradley Beal. That has had Washington Wizards Tommy Sheppard playing defense, especially with the high-scoring guard indicating a potential desire to move on to a contender. “Brad absolutely has been committed to us,” Sheppard told Washington’s 106.7 The Fan. “Last summer, he signed an extension with us. I think we’re absolutely committed to him. The biggest thing we ask for each other is, ‘Hey, let’s go win.’ He and I have been a straight line of communication throughout the offseason.” As always with the Wizards, it again could come down to making it work with Beal alongside John Wall.

THE CHEESE COURSE: Give former Heat guard Dion Waiters credit, he’s living his best championship life after going through the playoffs on the Los Angeles Lakers' roster. That now has him as the primary investor in Miami-based esports and lifestyle brand Centric Gaming. Of the investment, Waiters told Esports Insider, “Esports has always been a healthy escape for me and it is something I can see myself being a part of for a long time. I’m bringing that Champ Cheese Swag to esports.” Waiters, who has coined himself Philly Cheese because of his Philadelphia roots, long has been a presence on Fortnite streams, which is the primary focus of Centric.

THE WILDCAT FACTOR: With the Heat’s Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Lakers Anthony Davis at center stage during the NBA Finals, and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray emerging as a postseason revelation, University of Kentucky assistant coach Jai Lucas, the former University of Florida guard who spent time playing for the Heat’s G League affiliate in 2013, said the NBA’s Disney bubble arguably served as the ultimate recruiting tool for John Calipari. “It’s been huge,” Lucas said on a Zoom media session. “I think with the bubble, it’s the one thing that can really put spotlight on us here at Kentucky. It’s just the production rate of when they get there and how early they are able to perform. A lot of that comes from being here for that year. With the environment they’re put in, the coaching, how Coach Cal coaches them and just everything they’re put through, it really prepares you for that, and when you get there, you’re able to perform.”

NUMBER

27. Years since Florida State had two players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft (Doug Edwards at No. 15 and Sam Cassell at No. 24 in 1993). The Seminoles are expected to have two selected in the opening round on Nov. 18, for just the second time in program history: Devin Vassell and Pat 1/4 u00adrick Williams.

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