Haslem has eye on active role as part owner of Heat
“We’ve pranced around things in the past and we’re going to continue to prance around things when it’s the right time,” he said. “Now is the time to focus on the team and try to get another ring. It’s hard for me to do both. I’m committed to it and in the summer time, those are things that will be talked about.”
Haslem knows he does not want to coach. So if the minority ownership role does not materialize, would Haslem like to work in the front office, with a title?
“I’ve got options and that’s a good thing,” he said. “I’ve sacrificed enough where I’ve put myself in position where I have options. That’s a great position to be in. The last thing you want to do is be forced out of this league and don’t have options or opportunities, and I have both.”
But he makes clear his preference is a place in Heat ownership, with an active role.
“The ultimate goal for me is to take that leap into the ownership phase,” he said. “That’s what makes sense, to lead into the next generation, with the respect I have not just in this locker room but the entire NBA, the impact I have, the knowledge I’ve gained and how ambitious I am.
“You put me in a situation and I can learn anything. I’ve learned how this locker room works. I’ve learned how this team works. But I don’t know how the organization works and I’ll be eager to learn that.”
When the idea of following around general manager Andy Elisburg was raised, he said: “I would love to sit down next to those guys and just be a sponge. That gets me excited. The two seasons, Adebayo and Olynyk ranked among the Heat’s 10 best two-man combos, either in plus/ minus or plus/minus per 48 minutes.
During three of Olynyk’s four seasons here, the Heat shot at least 37.8 percent on threes when Adebayo and Olynyk shared the floor, including 39.8 percent in 2017-18. Except for one season, the Heat shot far better on threes when those two players shared the court.
When Spoelstra paired Adebayo and the 7-0 Leonard during 54 games over two seasons, Miami was a plus 98 in 797 minutes (plus 5.9 per 48) and shot 42 percent on threes.
Anything close to that three-point shooting with Love on the court would be a godsend for a Heat team that entered Friday shooting 33.4 percent on threes, 28th in the league, and shot 9 for 40 on threes on Friday.
Sacrifices have been made defensively with all of those Adebayo/stretch big lineups over the past five seasons, and that likely will be the case with Love. But the Heat’s zone defense — and the defensive excellence of Adebayo and Jimmy Butler — could mask some of those defensive deficiencies.
Love had the worst field things that get me excited isn’t watching basketball — it doesn’t mean I don’t love basketball – but I get excited about business and learning.”
Whatever the official title, Haslem is sure about this: He will be here every day.
“Every day. To impact winning, you have to be present every day or at least present as much as possible. When you pick and choose when you’re present, it’s not really a commitment. It’s convenience. Winning is not always convenient.”
The Heat assuredly will honor him when he retires, but Haslem said he does not want a ceremony this season.
“Pat [Riley] told me to think about it, but I haven’t gotten back to him [yet],” Haslem said. “I goal percentage against among Cleveland’s rotation players this season (48.3). But in Love’s defense, the players who shot 48.3 percent against him shot roughly the same (48.4) against everyone else.
In some respects, Love says he believes he will be used differently than he was in Cleveland.
“The biggest thing for me is passing, starting that fastbreak, closing possessions on the defensive end, using my shooting ability to help this team,” he said, adding the Heat has “smart players playing off one another. Nobody has to cater to me. I want to make the game easier for these guys.”
After watching the Heat from a distance for the past decade, Love said “you can tell there’s a lot of love in this building for one another ... a common purpose . ... This [experience] is breathing new life into me. I know I can still do it.”
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Love “is someone they’ll figure out how to use. The ability to spread the floor, but also play on the block and offensive rebound” will help the Heat.
MARTIN ACCEPTING
Martin, who started his first 49 appearances this season, took no issue with returning to the bench. He thrived in that role last season, playing as a reserve in 48 of his 60 appearances.
“I prepared myself for something like that to happen,” Martin said. “It’s Spo’s job to figure out the best lineups, how guys fit in. He knows I’m one of those guys that’s willing to do what I’ve got to do.”
Was it difficult to go back to the bench? “Not really,” he said. “It’s my job to adjust. It’s great we have a decorated vet come in with the first unit to make that first unit flow and have size.”
Martin, 6-5, played well off the bench Friday, with 17 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes.
“Caleb played a really solid game, plays extremely hard and I respect the hell out of him for coming off the bench and doing that,” Love said.
Only three Heat players are on the injury report for Saturday’s game in Charlotte on the second night of a back-to-back: Nikola Jovic (back), Kyle Lowry (knee) and Omer Yurtseven (ankle) all remain out.
ABarry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz don’t want to do it during the season,” he said.
CHATTER
Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams — the defending Heisman Trophy winner and the projected No. 1 pick in 2024 draft — told People that he would love to join the Dolphins.
“I like to be around younger coaches,” Williams said. If given a choice, “I’d probably go to the Dolphins. I also would be able to play with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki. The defense isn’t bad. That’s probably my No. 1 spot.” (Gesicki is expected to leave this offseason.)
The Dolphins are expected to add a veteran tight end to replace Gesicki, but Hunter Long said he hopes he has made the case
AAfor an increased role “My blocking has come a long way. It’s been good.”
Long, a skilled receiver at Boston College, played 93 snaps last season and he wasn’t thrown a pass on a single one of them. He was used almost entirely as a blocker and allowed two pressures and no sacks on 21 pass blocking snaps. As a run-blocker, PFF rated him 63rd of 138 tight ends. So there was growth in both areas.
As expected, the Marlins promoted pregame host Kyle Sielaff to the team’s radio playby-play job, replacing Glenn Geffner, who was dropped. Gaby Sanchez, Jeff Nelson, Rod Allen and Kelly Saco will alternate as his booth partner on WINZ-940 AM.
The 32-year-old Sielaff — who filled in on Marlins play-by-play for a few dozen games in recent years — joins Joe Angel, Dave O’Brien, Jon Sciambi, Dave Van Horne, Roxy Bernstein and Geffner as Marlins’ radio voices in their history.
Feedback we’ve heard on new UM offensive coordinator
Shannon Dawson, from two players: He has a lot of energy, is player-friendly and doesn’t think he knows everything. His relationship with the players should be an improvement over predecessor Josh Gattis’. There will be spread Air Raid elements with a power running game.
Mario Cristobal wants to add at least six more transfers, including receivers, perhaps another cornerback and another defensive tackle. The next window for players to join the portal is May 1 to 15.
AAABarry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz