South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
IN THE LANE
Heat president Pat Riley has several potential trade chips at his disposal, but will he be able to put them into play? PLAN B: Assuming there is no Goran Dragic move at the trading deadline, especially in light of his recovery from December knee surgery, the next step by both Dragic and the Heat could open a window on what the future holds. As The Athletic’s Danny Leroux noted in his cap-space breakdown of the June opt-out clauses held by Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson, “While he has been side-tracked by injuries so far this season, Dragic is still the most likely to opt out but also the most likely to get re-signed should that happen and the two sides could agree to a deal where he takes less than the $19.2 million option for more seasons if he wants to stay.” Such an approach by the Heat also allows time to further inspect Justise Winslow at point guard and the possibility of Dragic at shooting guard. Still, that would put additional money on the 2020 books, which is also the Heat’s next potential summer of cap freedom.
DRAFT BOARD: Among the most intriguing elements of the All-Star draft, which the NBA announced will be televised Feb. 7, will be the approach of LeBron James. Known for his recruiting ability with the Heat (Ray Allen, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, among others) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (Miller, James Jones, even a re-signed Kevin Love), it will be interesting to see if he makes the now-public draft forum his latest referendum when it comes to enticing Anthony Davis (with the irony being that the All-Star draft will come hours after this season’s NBA trading deadline). From there, does James also make it one more “One Last Dance” should Dwyane Wade make it into the All-Star field, possibly setting up a final alley-oop sequence as teammates? LeBron clearly has shown a flair for the dramatic with this shift to the Los Angeles Lakers, now with another opportunity. EXCHANGE PROGRAM: That Nov. 3 jersey exchange between Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter in Atlanta not only was a significant moment amid Wade’s “One Last Dance” retirement season with the Heat, it also spurred the Hawks’ Carter to get with the program, even as the
41-year-old icon mulls his own future. “These guys asked if we could exchange jerseys and I’m all for it,” Carter told Atlanta’s Journal Constitution. “They have appreciation for me and I have appreciation for them.” Even with a Wade No. 3 in possession, Carter said there remains a jersey he will continue chase, that of iconic dunking predecessor Julius Erving. “I’m still working on my Dr. J.,” Carter said. “He was my childhood hero growing up.” BRIEF TASTE: Janell Stokes didn’t make it back to South Florida last week on his two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, playing for their G League affiliate at the time. And now it’s back to market for the former Heat forward, who was replaced by the Grizzlies with Julian Washburn. Stokes had been playing with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, prior to his brief stint with the Grizzlies. “I can’t control what I can’t control,” he said on a radio appearance in Memphis. “Literally all I can do is do what I’m doing now and move goal-to-goal, soul-to-soul. I see it as a test.” He since has agreed to return to the Skyforce.
BOSH HONOR: Speaking of the Grizzlies, former Heat big man Chris Bosh will be honored Monday by the Grizzlies, National Civil Rights Museum, City of Memphis and Shelby County at the Grizzlies’ 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Game. Bosh will receive the
14th Annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award for dedicated and significant contributions to civil and human rights, along with Wayne Embry, Candace Parker and Bill Walton. Bosh will also be a speaker at the Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium.