MIAMI — Speaking for the first time in three years in the wake of a first-round exit by his team, Miami Heat president Pat Riley addressed where his franchise stands during a Monday media session at Kaseya Center.
Included in Riley’s comments:
– Opening with a discussion on change.
– “We have to change some things,” he said. “But we surely are not going to rip things apart.”
– On that subject, he said, “There are a lot of elements that go into a culture, the erosion of a culture, problems in the NBA that are league-wide when it comes to health and players missing games, when it comes to availability.”
– Of potential major changes, he said, “No, not right now.”
– But, he also said, “I’m always open, ears wide open.”
– He also dismissed talk of a potential trade of Jimmy Butler.
– But also dismissed a deadline for a Butler extension, with that window opening on July 7.
– “We can either accept or say, ‘We’re gonna think about it,’ ” he said of such an impending request. “We have not made a decision on it. I think we make too much out of this. He still has two years left on it.”
– Of the topic, Riley further said: “We haven’t made a decision on it, in earnest, discussed it.”
– There also was significant talk of players having missed such extensive time this season.
– That again took the subject toward Butler.
– Of possibly offering Butler an extension, “We do not have to do that for a year. We have not discussed that.”
– He said the team does not have to do it until 2025.
– “He still has two years left on a contract,” Riley said.
– Butler is under contract for next season, with a player option for the following season.
– On Butler’s missed time this past season, Riley said: “That was discussed prior to last year. We had a discussion with his agent about that. That was discussed thoroughly. There was a gray area in the regular season.”
– Of what he views as acceptable over the 82-game regular-season schedule, Riley said: “Give me 72 games. I would take 72 games.”
– Of his five-year core (Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro), Riley alluded to a year six.
– Qualifying that with, “that doesn’t mean that change is a sinister word here.”
– Of Butler, Riley added: “Jimmy moves the needle the most. He’s an incredible player.”
– Of Butler’s comments on social media about how the Heat would have beaten the Celtics or Knicks if he was not injured for the playoffs with a knee injury, Riley said: “If you’re not on the court playing against the Boston Celtics or against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut.”
– Riley said no to the notion of his team rebuilding.
– “I don’t use the word,” he said.
– Of potentially making a big move this offseason, he said: “We’re not going to avoid anything.”
– He added: “We have to try to control those things we can control.”
– He qualified that with: “It’s not about getting another star. You get another star, your bench gets weaker.”
– With that, he again mentioned “player availability.”
– Of the next steps for Bam Adebayo, Riley said: “He made the changes to become a greater shooter.”
– Riley added: “So Bam has to look at his game and sit with Coach and how can he get better and expand his game.”
– On Tyler Herro again missing extensive time this season, Riley said, “He’s been fragile a little bit.”
– But he added of Herro, “his injuries are real.”
– Of Herro possibly returning to a sixth-man role, Riley said, “Tyler’s a starter.”
– But he left the door open of, “whatever is in the best interest of the team.”
– Of the emergence of young players Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, Riley said: “They’re two great pieces for us.”
– Of Terry Rozier’s neck injury that kept him out of the playoffs, Riley said Rozier is in a neck brace.
– Riley added: “He wanted to play desperately, but he couldn’t.”
– And, “It’s going to heal. The doctors convinced us this thing is going to heal.”
– Of Erik Spoelstra’s coaching extension, Riley said, “He deserves it.”
– Riley also spoke of former Heat captain Udonis Haslem talking out of turn in his next role as a Heat executive while also working in the media.
– He said the Heat will remain of “one voice,” with that voice being Spoelstra.
