The Miami Heat are filled with talent of all ages, but two of the most established players are nearing the end of their careers.
With retirement on the horizon for Jimmy Butler and even closer for Kevin Love, Hall of Fame conversations are also emerging. Basketball Reference lists Butler with a 72.98 percent chance to make it while Love comes in slightly higher at 73.47 percent.
Love signed a two-year, $8 million contract to return to the Heat this offseason, a deal that will likely follow with retirement. He is expected to still make solid contributions, averaging 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds on 44 percent shooting last year.
The Heat selected Indiana big man Kel’el Ware in the NBA Draft, paving the way for Love to mentor him. Ware will also learn from three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo, who is entering his prime.
Advertisement
Butler, who is entering a contract year, seemingly has more time left in his career. He’s expected to hunt a maximum contract next summer, either from the Heat or elsewhere. The 34-year-old is dealing with health issues, meaning retirement could come into consideration sooner than anticipated.
MORE HEAT NEWS
Goran Dragic’s Farewell Game Highlighted By Nikola Jokic’s Dunk, Chris Bosh’s Return
NBA Scout Explains Why Duncan Robinson Is The Miami Heat’s ‘Biggest Mystery’
Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on X @AnthonyPasci.
Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook HERE.
While Tom Bradyis gearing up for his first season as an NFL announcer … his ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen,is enjoying herself by water-biking with her man, Joaquim Valente — and interestingly enough, they rode right by the former quarterback’s house!!
The 44-year-old model was spotted out on the Miami waters alongside her jiu-jitsu instructor-turned-boyfriend … and their route led them through the waters near TB12’s pad.
Advertisement
Of course, the exes are neighbors of sorts … as Gisele’s $11 million home is pretty close to Tom’s. It’s unclear if Brady was home during their water-biking fun … but we’re hoping for his sake he was elsewhere.
Advertisement
Bündchen rocked a tiny black top with a leopard-printed skirt for the outing … and Valente elected for camo-printed trunks and a ballcap.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the couple take part in activities out on Miami’s waters … in June, they picked up the paddleboards and took them out for a spin — alongside Tom and Gisele’s kiddos.
Advertisement
It also further proves the two are very much still in a relationship … as rumors were swirling earlier this year that they were dunzo, but clearly, they’re going strong.
The Miami Dolphins dress rehearsals — if we can even call preseason games that — are now done after the 24-14 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night, and now it’s time to get down to business.
Specifically, it’s time to get down to the business of slashing the 90-man roster down to the 53-player limit, which must be done by no later than 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Some of the decisions already have been made, including releasing quarterback Mike White and tight end Jody Fortson on Sunday, along with placing players on injured reserve.
As is usually the case, there are some positions that look pretty clear cut and others not so much, with the secondary jumping out as being part of the latter.
Advertisement
Here then is Miami Dolphins On SI Publisher Alain Poupart’s fifth and final 53-man roster projection of 2024:
On the 53: Tua Tagovailoa, Skylar Thompson
Off: None
Changes from roster projection 4.0: Mike White out
Analysis: We discuss in detail the decision to let go of White, who clearly was outplayed by Thompson all summer and now is a free agent eligible to sign with any other team. The Dolphins obviously will bring in another quarterback — at the very least on the practice squad, though it’s important to note the proposed bylaw change that would have allowed teams to elevate a player on the practice squad an unlimited number of times to serve as emergency third quarterback was dropped after the NFLPA refused to approve the change. So we’re back to the 2023 rule stating the emergency third quarterback must be on the 53-man roster. This was part of the reason we thought the Dolphins would stick with both Thompson and White.
Advertisement
On the 53: Raheem Mostert, Devon Achane, Jaylen Wright (R), fullback Alec Ingold, Chris Brooks
Off: Jeff Wilson Jr., Zavon Horvath, Anthony McFarland Jr.
Changes from roster projection 4.0: None
Analysis: This is pretty simple from this end. Wilson will be on the 53-man roster if the Dolphins can’t work out a trade for him because Mike McDaniel is a big fan of his game, but he’s also clearly fourth on the pecking order and Miami likely can get at least a draft pick in return.
On the 53: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, Malik Washington (R), Erik Ezukanma, Odell Beckham Jr.
Advertisement
Off: Je’Quan Burton (R), Anthony Schwartz (IR), Braylon Sanders, Mike Harley Jr., Kyric McGowan, River Cracraft (IR), Jadon Janke
Changes from roster projection 4.0: Beckham out
Analysis: The big mystery here remains whether Beckham will wind up starting the season on PUP, which would keep him out for at least the first four games. And that’s just one of the injury issues here because River Cracraft likely will begin the season on IR and the same might go for Ezukanma, who was spotted in a walking boot on the sideline before the preseason finale. This is a position where a veteran newcomer could wind up on the 53.
On the 53: Durham Smythe, Julian Hill, Jonnu Smith
Off: Hayden Rucci (R), Tanner Conner
Advertisement
Changes from roster projection 4.0: None
Analysis: The big question here is whether the Dolphins would keep a fourth tight end on the initial 53. If that happens, we’d give Conner the edge over Rucci, though ultimately we easily could see both ending up on the practice squad.
On the 53: T Terron Armstead, T Austin Jackson, C/G Liam Eichenberg, G Robert Jones, T Patrick Paul (R), C/G Aaron Brewer, T Kendall Lamm, G/T Jack Driscoll, G Lester Cotton
Off: Andrew Meyer (R), Matthew Jones (R), Ryan Hayes, Bayron Matos (R), G Isaiah Wynn (PUP)
Changes from roster projection 4.0: None
Advertisement
Analysis: Projecting the offensive linemen has become easier because it’s looking more and more like Wynn indeed will be starting the season on PUP.
On the 53: Jaelan Phillips, Emmanuel Ogbah, Chop Robinson (R), Mohamed Kamara (R), Quinton Bell
Analysis: Nothing has changed here, except that Quinton Bell no longer appears to be the lock he was early in training camp because he was barely noticeable in any of the joint practices or preseason games. Before that, the injury that landed Cam Brown on IR made things pretty clear cut, though the tricky part will come when Chubb is ready to come off PUP, whether it happens at the moves to 53 or after four weeks.
Advertisement
On the 53: Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, Da’Shawn Hand, Calais Campbell, Brandon Pili
Off: Isaiah Mack, Mario Kendricks (R), Leonard Payne (R), Jonathan Harris, Neville Gallimore, Robert Cooper
Changes from roster projection 4.0: None
Analysis: This is based on the assumption that Pili’s injury from Friday night isn’t serious, and we should mention this is a position where the Dolphins very well might look outside to bring in some reinforcements.
On the 53: Jordyn Brooks, David Long Jr., Duke Riley, Channing Tindall
Advertisement
Off: Curtis Bolton, Anthony Walker Jr., Dequan Jackson
Changes from roster projection 4.0: None
Walker is more than good enough to belong on the 53, but we’re thinking his prolonged absence likely will keep him off the roster or maybe he’ll just wind up starting the season on IR. Bolton actually has had himself a very good training camp, but we’re thinking the Dolphins will be sticking with Tindall in the hope he takes a big leap on defense or at the very least can be a core member of the special teams.
On the 53: Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou, Ethan Bonner, Kendall Fuller, Siran Neal, Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer, Marcus Maye, Elijah Campbell, Cam Smith, Storm Duck (R)
Off: Isaiah Johnson (R), Jason Maitre (R), Nik Needham, Jordan Colbert (R), Mark Perry (R), Patrick McMorris (IR)
Advertisement
Changes from roster projection 4.0: Smith in
This remains the position that presents the toughest decisions from this end because of the three good-looking rookie cornerbacks and additionally rookie safety Mark Perry. We’ve got Cam Smith back on the initial 53, even though IR remains a possibility because of his hamstring injury, but either way he’ll be with the team. And it could be any one of Duck, Johnson and Maitre who lands that last spot at cornerback. The Dolphins also have tough decisions when it comes to Needham, who’s a veteran with position flexibility, and Perry.
On the 53: K Jason Sanders, P Jake Bailey, LS Blake Ferguson
Off: None
Changes from roster projection 4.0: None
Advertisement
Analysis: As we wrote all summer, while there’s an argument to be made that maybe the Dolphins should have brought in competition here, you gotta love it when the Dolphins make it easy for all of us doing roster projections.
1 dead, 1 hospitalized after shots fired at car in Miami Gardens, police say; 3 toddlers in vehicle OK – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) – A man was killed and another was rushed to the hospital after their car came under fire in Miami Gardens with three toddlers in the back seat in what police described as a targeted shooting.
Miami Gardens Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the shooting in the area of Northwest 183rd Street and 45th Avenue, at around 8:40 p.m., Sunday.
“Our victims were coming from a party, and they were followed,” said Miami Gardens Police Officer Diana Delgado-Gourgue.
Detectives said whoever was following the victims opened fire on their car.
Advertisement
A witness who spoke with 7News said she heard multiple shots.
“It was, like, more than 10 gunshots,” she said.
The man who was driving the car that was targeted was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the man who was sitting in the front passenger seat was shot multiple times, and he ran into a nearby McDonald’s for help.
Paramedics transported the surviving victim to an area hospital, where he is listed in serious condition.
Advertisement
7News cameras captured officers placing evidence markers where the gunfire erupted. Officers were seen surrounding the bullet-riddled car; its windshield was shattered.
Delgado-Gourgue confirmed there were three young children in the back seat of the vehicle, but they were not hit.
“Thank God, they did not sustain any injury, and they are safe, and the family is here, and they’re with their family,” she said.
Police shut down Northwest 183rd Street between 42nd and 47th avenues. They advise drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
If you have any information on this shooting or the whereabouts of the subject or subjects involved, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
Advertisement
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox