April 2024 Miami Heat Wiretap

Nemanja Bjelica Announces Retirement

Mar 23, 2024 2:03 PM

In a simple message posted on Instagram, Nemanja Bjelica announced his retirement from playing basketball.

"20 years...Thank you basketball" was Bjelica's message on Saturday afternoon.

The 6-foot-10 forward played for seven seasons in the NBA. Bjelica started his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015, before moving to the Sacramento Kings in 2018. At the 2021 trade deadline, Bjelica was dealt to the Miami Heat. He then signed with the Golden State Warriors, and helped the team win the 2022 NBA Finals.

Following that NBA title, Bjelica returned to Fenerbahce in Turkey. He had previously played for the Turkish club before coming to the NBA.

Bjelica also played professionally for clubs in his native Serbia and in Spain during his 20-year professional career. The 35-year-old had also suited up for the Serbian national team for several EuroBasket and World Cup competitions, as well as Olympic qualifiers.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Nemanja Bjelica, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Fenerbahce Beko, KK Crvena Zvezda, Serbia, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, International, National, National Misc Rumor, International Teams, International Misc Rumor, National Teams

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JB Bickerstaff, Erik Spoelstra Share Security Concerns With Sports Betting

Mar 21, 2024 9:09 AM

Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra became the latest NBA personnel to speak out against sports betting. After Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said he feels like a "prop" because some gamblers complain about his stat-lines, Bickerstaff shared that things have gone further for him and his family.

"I have had my own instances with some of the sports gamblers," Bickerstaff said Wednesday night. "They got my telephone number and were sending me crazy messages about where I live and my kids and all that stuff. It is a dangerous game and a fine like that we’re walking for sure."

Bickerstaff said those instances were reported to NBA security and were handled appropriately. However, Bickerstaff noted he's hearing it in person during games too.

“No doubt it’s crossed the line,” Bickerstaff said. “I’m standing up there and we may have a 10-point lead and the spread is 11 and people are yelling at me to leave the guys in so that we can cover the spread. It’s ridiculous. I understand the business side of it and the nature of the business of it. But it’s something I believe has gone too far.”

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra relayed a story from a game where security had to intervene with a sports bettor.

"I do think it’s somewhat contradictory," Spoelstra said Wednesday night. "I think it treads on a weird line. We had an incident behind our bench last year with (Victor) Oladipo. Somebody was screaming. Security had to take him away. The game was already over, and evidently, he didn’t shoot an open 3 at the end of the game. The game was already decided, and this fan was totally beside himself, and he was a gambler. He had money on whatever the score was. There’s just a lot of unintended consequences with that from a security standpoint that I’m not sure everybody totally understood."

Chris Fedor/Cleveland.com

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Tyler Herro To Miss 1-2 More Weeks Due To Foot Injury

Mar 16, 2024 2:48 PM

Tyler Herro hasn't played in a game since February 23rd. Herro is set to miss at least one to two more weeks, as his right foot tendinitis will be reevaluated during that timeframe.

Herro underwent a PRP injection in his right foot on Friday. The hope is that injection will help to alleviate the pain Herro is continuing to feel in his right foot.

This is Herro's second time out of the lineup this year. He previously missed a month from early-November to mid-December due to an ankle injury.

Anthony Chiang/Miami Herald

Tags: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Injury

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LeBron James' Teams Have Combined To Trade 23 Future First Round Picks

Mar 6, 2024 11:38 AM

Throughout the career of LeBron James, his teams have rarely had first round picks to add to their roster around him. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers have combined to trade away 23 total future first round picks during his tenures with those teams, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks and Dave McMenamin.

When James was with the Cavaliers at the start of his career, Luke Jackson, Shannon Brown and J.J. Hickson were the only first rounders added. When James returned to the Lakers in 2015, no first round picks were added during his tenure.

While with the Heat, no first round picks were added as well.

Since joining the Lakers, Jalen Hood-Schifino has been the only first rounder added to the roster.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Josh Richardson To Miss Remainder Of Season After Shoulder Surgery

Mar 6, 2024 9:00 AM

Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson is set to have surgery on his dislocated right shoulder. It's expected that Richardson will miss the remainder of the season following surgery.

Richardson tried to rehab the injury, but was unable to avoid surgery. He's expected to be fully recovered by the start of training camp in the fall.

Miami is reportedly set to sign veteran guard Patty Mills for the rest of the season. Mills will give the Heat some additional guard depth for their postseason run.

Tim Reynolds/AP

Tags: Josh Richardson, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Injury

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Patty Mills Agrees To Sign With Heat For Remainder Of Season

Mar 5, 2024 2:18 PM

Patty Mills has agreed to sign with the Miami Heat for the remainder of the season.

Mills was recently waived by the Atlanta Hawks after appearing in 19 games.

The Heat also signed Delon Wright following a buyout this season. 

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Patty Mills, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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