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Miami Heat President Pat Riley addresses the media at Jimmy Butler’s introductory press conference in 2019.
The Miami Heat lost a valuable big man in their rotation from last season with the departure of PJ Tucker. Tucker was a key player in the Heat’s starting lineup. Although he only averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, his impact was much greater. After the attacker left Miami to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Heat were questioning who would feel that role. Haywood Highsmith, a young great man on the Heat’s roster, has… come out saying that he thinks he may be a good option to fill in for Tucker.
“I have some of the intangible assets that PJ has,” Highsmith, 25, told the Sun-Sentinel. “I’m very versatile in defense and I like to play defense like him. And we’re both kind of a stronger type, can set up screens, do short roles and get into the paint and make plays. So I think it’s always in me seated.
“I can be a power forward. PJ is a little taller, but I’m a little taller I’d say. So I could see I was kind of a power forward. But I think Miami would do well to make sure we have people that guys can look up to and see ourselves.”
However, it will likely take another player to fill the gap left by Tucker in the Miami starting lineup. The team has been linked with players like John Collins or David Bertans in trades, but recently an Eastern Conference executive told Heavy’s Sean Deveney the Heat could be a landing spot for a seven-time All-Star big man.
LaMarcus Aldridge to Miami?
In a recent conversation, Heavy’s NBA Insider Sean Deveney was told that the Miami Heat could be a landing spot for LaMarcus Aldridge in this year’s NBA free agency.
“Aldridge is now 37, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he decides to retire. But he can still score. He’s got some value out there. He’d be a good match in Boston, just like a guy who has a few shots. can stall and step in when Rob Williams or Horford needs a break,” the director told Deveney. “Bucks and Heat too. Every team in the East, at the top of the East. Miami needs that one piece, that one big guy to push them over the top Aldridge could grab a few minutes from PJ Tucker although clearly he’s not on the same level as a defender But he can shoot it Miami needs depth there He won’t be a starter, but he can help.”
Warmth court LaMarcus Aldridge earlier
Clearly, the Heat is no stranger to Aldridge. He has had several free agent meetings with the Heat and never landed in Miami. The season he chose to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, he met Miami. Most recently, Aldridge chose the Brooklyn Nets over the Heat as a free agent in 2021, citing the Nets as bigger contenders as the reason. Now it’s clear that Miami is one of the biggest contenders in the NBA, and maybe this is the time Aldridge finds himself in South Beach.
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