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.
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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.
MIAMI (WSVN) – A 21-year-old man was arrested on a charge of sexual battery on a minor by an adult and lewd or lascivious molestation stemming from an alleged incident involving a 10-year-old girl, according to an arrest report.
According to the report, Alvin Davis was arrested due in connection from an alleged incident that occurred Oct. 16, 2025, in Miami. The child’s mother, who became suspicious and placed a recording device in the child’s bedroom.
The report states the girl told investigators that Davis touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions.
Authorities said Davis was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held without bond.
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Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is expected to be a late first-round draft pick on Thursday night, which will bring him a guaranteed four-year contract worth around $20 million. But he considered turning that down for a big-money offer to stay in college.
Simpson, who has previously said that Miami offered him $6.5 million to transfer and play for the Hurricanes in 2026, said on David Pollack’s podcast that the money was too good not to at least think about.
“I think the last offer was definitely one that I just had to sit down and consider, because it would have been life-changing money,” Simpson said. “It would have made me the highest-paid player in college, and it was something to where I was like, I can’t just ignore this. I have to sit down and think about it. That’s how I am, I don’t want to do anything sporadic. I want to sit down and think it all out, and it really just came down to how I wanted to be remembered and what do I want to do.”
Simpson, who spent three years as a backup at Alabama before becoming the starter last year, went to his former coach, Nick Saban, for advice.
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“I actually talked to Coach Saban about this,” Simpson said. “The things he was talking about were, do you want to play football in college, or do you want to play football professionally? And he was like, ‘Take the money out of it, take the rounds out of it, what do you want to do next year?’ And without a doubt, without hesitation, I said, ‘I want to play professional football.’ And he was like, ‘Well, there’s your answer.’ It was something that I’ve always dreamed of, and I felt that I was ready to take that next step and be the face of a franchise and lead a locker room.”
It’s a different world in football now that players might make more money with another year in college than their annual average salary will be in the NFL. Now, players have to think about whether the NCAA or the NFL will be more lucrative. NIL deals have changed both college football and pro football.
Photo Credit: @CanesFootball via X // redshirt senior wideout Cooper Barkate catches a 29-yard touchdown from Darian Mensah during Miami’s Spring Game on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Cobb Stadium.
After more than three months removed from a devastating national championship loss, over 5,000 fans gathered at Cobb Stadium on Saturday morning for a first look at Miami football’s 2026 squad.
The annual spring game offered exactly that: a mix of evaluation and entertainment. Miami structured the day differently this year, using the first half for position drills, including passing, red zone and agility work, before transitioning into a live scrimmage in the second half.
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Much of the attention centered on new quarterback Darian Mensah, a transfer from Duke. While he started slow, Mensah quickly settled in and showed why he’s expected to lead the Hurricanes this fall.
Mensah connected multiple times with familiar target Cooper Barkate, his former teammate at Duke. The duo picked up right where they left off, highlighted by a 29-yard touchdown to the back corner of the end zone. Mensah added a 33-yard touchdown pass to Daylyn Upshaw and a five-yard score to Cam Vaughn, another transfer addition.
Calm in the pocket and effective under pressure, Mensah extended plays and delivered accurate throws, flashing the kind of playmaking ability Miami fans have been eager to see.
With several returning starters such as wide receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher seeing limited action, opportunities opened for younger players to contribute. RB Jordan Lyle capitalized, breaking off multiple strong runs and showing quick footwork in the open field.
Behind Mensah, Miami showcased its quarterback depth. Judd Anderson, Luke Nickel and early enrollee Dereon Coleman all saw snaps, with Nickel making a strong case for the backup role. Coleman flashed potential but remains a longer-term development piece.
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Photo Credit: @CanesFootball via IG // Miami quarterback Darian Mensah performs handshake with redshirt senior wideout Cooper Barkate during Miami’s Spring Game on April 18, 2026, at Cobb Stadium.
Defensively, Miami may have delivered the most impressive performance of the day.
Despite losing key contributors such as Ruben Bain and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL, the Hurricanes controlled the line of scrimmage and limited offensive production. Defensive lineman Damon Wilson, a transfer from Missouri, along with tackles Justin Scott and Jarquez Carter, consistently disrupted plays. Scott’s quickness stood out against the run, while Wilson applied steady pressure off the edge.
In the secondary, Boston College transfer Omar Thornton, along with JJ Dunnigan and Xavier Lucas, contributed to multiple stops with tight coverage and physical tackling.
The offensive line, featuring several new faces and only one returning starter, showed flashes but remains a work in progress. Freshman Jackson Cantwell has big shoes to fill with Sisi Mauigoa declaring for the NFL draft. At 6-foot-8, 330 pounds, Cantwell acted as a brick wall protecting his QB and winning the battle at the line. However, the second team offensive line had some struggles, with two bad snaps in a row.
For many in attendance, however, the spring game was about more than just performance. It served as a rare opportunity for families and fans to connect with the program in a more personal setting, celebrating players beyond what they show on the field.
“It’s him fulfilling his dream and doing what he wants to do,” said the grandmother of wide receiver Milan Parris. “He’s my oldest grandson, and I’m just over the moon. I’m extremely proud of him.”
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While the defense may have controlled much of the action, the day ultimately served as an early glimpse into a team balancing new talent, developing depth and high expectations.
With nearly five months until the season opener against Stanford on Sept. 4, Miami leaves the spring with promise and plenty to still refine.
