Miami

Miami Heat in a lull between Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard


MIAMI — If the outside perspective is that the Miami Heat struck out on Bradley Beal, is it because the team believes that Damian Lillard is waiting on deck?

In that regard, expect Miami Heat president Pat Riley, in his first media session in almost a year on Tuesday at Kaseya Center, to offer … little clarity.

He can’t, with Lillard and Beal both under contract to other teams.

Similarly, Riley is somewhat limited in discussing impending Heat free agents such as Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, with the free-agency negotiation period still a week away.

Instead, Riley’s media session is being cast by the Heat as an “end of season recap.”

So there should be ample thoughts on Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and the climb from No. 8 seed to the NBA Finals, as well as the retirement of 43-year-old team captain Udonis Haslem.

Potentially, most intriguing regarding the returning roster could be Riley’s take on guard Tyler Herro, who could serve as the lynchpin to a potential Lillard trade, should the Portland Trail Blazers prove inclined for such a move.

As it is, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra last week largely glossed over the decision not to play Herro in the deciding Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, after Herro had worked back for eight weeks to receive the needed clearance following hand surgery.



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