Miami, FL

ASK IRA: Can Heat’s Pat Riley pull a Brad Stevens this summer?

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2024

ASK IRA: Can Heat’s Pat Riley pull a Brad Stevens this summer?

Q: Ira, if anyone had any questions on if the Heat are a player or two away from winning an NBA championship, Boston’s destruction of teams should be sobering. They are nine deep and any five on the floor can pass, rebound, score, defend, and are all selfless. Simply beautiful basketball and they are playing chess with their ball movement seeking the best shot, while the Heat have been an isolation-style team for decades. Danny Ainge’s fingerprints remain as the blueprint for amassing picks and building core talent through the draft. Fans need to buy into the need for the Heat to move off of an aging Jimmy Butler’s contract for draft picks/draft capital. – Brian, Fort Lauderdale.

A: Or you could look at it another way, that Boston for years had been searching for the final pieces to move to the next level and that it was Brad Stevens just this past summer who put together the deals that allowed for this next step. Considering all it took to complete the makeover was Marcus Smart, Rob Williams, Malcolm Brogdon and some cap bits and pieces, it’s not as if a massive makeover was required for Boston to wind up landing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. And while Porzingis has not been a Finals factor, his regular-season contributions allowed for this ridiculously easy playoff path to a title. This is why the Heat hunted Damian Lillard and why there remains the belief of being a move or two away. Brad Stevens last summer showed the path to that next step. Now it is the Heat’s front office that is in chase mode to the Celtics.

Q: I know Derrick Jones Jr. viewed the playoffs as his takeoff for free agency, but the way the Finals are going, the Heat should circle back. – Sammy.

A: And that door could well wind up opening again. But it also could come down to whether the Heat opt to spend on what already is in place, in Caleb Martin and/or Haywood Highsmith, or instead shop in free agency. Unless Derrick Jones Jr.’s price tag again comes down to another minimal contract, he likely will be priced out of the Heat’s range. If anything, Derrick likely would be a later-rather-than-sooner consideration, and only after the Heat fully sort through their current free agents.

Q: Omer Yurtseven was 7-0, 275. Erik Spoelstra didn’t like playing him unless forced. Zach Edey is not a fit with Bam. – Al.

A: While it’s not the highest of bars, you certainly could argue that simply based on his schooling at Purdue that Zach Edey is a defensive upgrade on Omer Yurtseven. But putting that aside, players selected at No. 15 are just as likely to emerge as quality reserves. And there could be something to be said about having a changeup when Bam Adebayo goes out, as well as a big body to battle opposing big bodies. In that regard, consider the Edey possibility as a rotation complement to Bam as opposed to necessarily a lineup complement.

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Miami, FL

Ole Miss S Nick Cull’s targeting call reversed vs Miami in Peach Bowl

Published

18 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Ole Miss S Nick Cull’s targeting call reversed vs Miami in Peach Bowl

Mississippi football’s Nick Cull avoided an ejection during the College Football Playoff Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 8.

As Malachi Toney reeled in a catch from Carson Beck at the Miami 49 in the first quarter, he was hit by Cull in a helmet-to-helmet collision. Right away, the officials flagged Cull for targeting, with both Toney and Cull staying down on the field with an injury.

After officials reviewed the play, the call on the field was overturned, as the officials determined that Cull did not launch and the collision seemed to be incidental. Replay assistant Matt Austin concurred with the call on the field.

The play had a major impact on the game as well. If the call had been upheld, Miami would have had the ball at the Ole Miss 34-yard line with a chance to expand its 3-0 lead. However, a few plays later, the Hurricanes were forced to punt from the 49-yard line.

On the first play of the second quarter, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacey scored on a 73-yard run to give the Rebels a 7-3 lead.

Because he was not called for targeting, Cull was not ejected from the game, which means Ole Miss will have him for the remainder of the game, if he can clear the concussion protocol. He was in the tent following the play.

Cull has 15 total tackles and three pass deflections this season for the Rebels.

Meanwhile, Toney went to the medical tent briefly for the Hurricanes, but returned to the game.

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Miami, FL

Crash involving unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle impacts morning commute

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Crash involving unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle impacts morning commute

Updated on: January 8, 2026 / 7:30 AM EST
/ CBS Miami

A crash involving an unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle was reported in Northwest Miami-Dade on Thursday morning, and the morning commute was impacted as a result.

Few details have been released, but the crash was reported in the area of Northwest 79th street and Interstate 95.

Video from the scene showed that the vehicles had heavy damage.

The sheriff’s office said the crash also involved a civilian vehicle, and no injuries were reported.

No other information was released.

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Miami, FL

Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged

Published

3 days ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced that guard Anthony Edwards is now available to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat after originally being listed as questionable with right foot injury maintenance.

Here’s the rest of the injury report and game preview:

INJURY REPORT

HEAT

Tyler Herro: Available – Toe

Jaime Jaquez Jr.: Out – Ankle

Nikola Jovic: Available – Groin

Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team

TIMBERWOLVES

Anthony Edwards: Available – Foot

Terrence Shannon Jr.: Out – Foot

Joan Beringer: Out – G League

Game date, time and location: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: TV: Peacock,

Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida) 100.3 FM (Minnesota)

VITALS: The Miami Heat (20-16) and Minnesota Timberwolves (23-13) meet for the second and final regular season matchup after just facing off three days ago with Minnesota recording a, 125-115, win in Miami on January 3. The teams split the series, 1-1, last season with each squad winning on the road. The Heat are 36-35 all-time versus Minnesota during the regular season,
including 19-16 in home games and 17-19 in road games.

PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

G Davion Mitchell

G Tyler Herro

C Bam Adebayo

F Norman Powell

F Andrew Wiggins

TIMBERWOLVES

G Donte DiVincenzo

G Anthony Edwards

C Rudy Gobert

F Jaden McDaniels

F Julius Randle

Spread: Heat +5.5 (-112), Timberwolves -5.5 (-108)

Moneyline: Heat +166, Timberwolves -198

Total points scored: 239.5 (over -106, under -114)

QUOTABLE

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on the forced turnovers: “That is and has to be our identity. We have to play with a recklessness and activity level that exceeds our opponent, and thats not to put down our talent level or anything like that, it’s more about we look different when we’re flying around and making plays and making it tough for the opponent.”