Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The game was also attended by Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who came to watch two Heat players face off against each other. For Serbia, Heat forward Nikola Jovic finished with five points in 11 minutes before fouling out. For Italy, fellow Heat forward Simone Fontecchio scored 15 points, knocking down three of his eight attempts from beyond the arc. Serbia’s biggest star, Nikola Jokic, also had a relatively quiet game by his standards, finishing with eight points and eight rebounds in the win.
Ira Winderman: Heat forward Nikola Jovic closed with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting (2 of 6 on 3-pointers) to lead Serbia to a 102-73 victory over Iceland in Belgrade in World Cup qualifying. Jovic added three rebounds and two assists in 23:26. Serbia concludes the two-game qualifying window Monday at Italy.
NBA Trade Machine: Kyrie Irving was involved in 3.6% of all trades built on HoopsMatic over the past 24 hours. Of those, his top destinations were Miami (24.1%), Boston (14.8%), and Orlando (13.0%). Players traded for him most often: Davion Mitchell (16.7%), Dru Smith (16.7%), and Nikola Jovic (14.8%).
Barry Jackson: Jovic still has some support among important Heat people;Miami preferred to sign Klay through a buyout, anyway. Jovic basically is earning mid-level money next 4 years;perhaps he can be maximized playing with Giannis. His drop in 3 point % (from 39.9 & 37.1) to 26.9 was puzzling
The third quarter, however, belonged entirely to the Joker. Responding with MVP-caliber brilliance, Jokic spearheaded a furious Serbian comeback by dominating the paint, finishing with a dominant 34 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists to snatch the lead early in the fourth quarter. Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic ended up with 13 points to aid the comeback.
Advertisement
The highly anticipated encounter between Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama concluded tonight at the Belgrade Arena. Serbia managed to beat France in front of 20,000 fans in attendance, 90-87 (22-19, 24-26, 26-17, 18-25). Nikola Jokic was the star of the night, finishing close to a triple-double. Jokic scored 20 points (4/10 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 9/12 FT), grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 8 assists in 29 minutes. Nikola Jovic was also in double digits, as the Miami Heat forward scored 10 points and collected 4 rebounds. Victor Wembanyama struggled, finishing with 10 points (2/2 2PT, 1/6 3PT, 3/4 FT), 4 rebounds, and 6 turnovers in 24 minutes on the court.
Norman Powell: They could’ve made moves and done things if they wanted to. Obviously, Wiggs [Andrew Wiggins] would have had to opt out [of his player option] and take less than his $30 [million] and they would have had to move Niko [Nikola Jović]. But teams are going to do what they want. They didn’t make the moves necessary to do so. So it’s about being ahead of the game and seeing how things play out. Khalid and Glu were really on top of giving me the outline of what free agency would look like, who’s available and who’s interested. As the news was coming out with different guys’ contracts and trades, they kept me really informed on what was going to be next, who was on the board and off the board. It wasn’t as cut and dry.”
Jake Fischer: ‘The Mavericks would trade Klay Thompson. There's definitely been some type of buzz, framework, whatever, about a Klay Thompson-for-Nikola Jovic thing for weeks now… but it that was to happen, I think it would probably have happened.’
Ira Winderman: Nikola Jovic also has to be open to what is needed, which, at the moment, looks like time in a power role. In some ways, with the current composition of the roster, Niko stands as somewhat of a swing player. If he can make the same jump that Jaime Jaquez Jr. did last year, then he could prove invaluable. But that means better finishing and more of a willingness to play toward the betterment of the team. There is value there. But, agreed, it has to be rebuilt as he begins his four-year extension. At the moment, not sure anyone is taking on that contract without significant sweeteners, the type of sweeteners the Heat largely lack.
Anthony Chiang: The Heat has strong interest in veteran guard Klay Thompson. The issue is he’s still under contract with the Mavericks, as he’s due $17.5 million in the final year of his contract. It appears that the Heat will remain patient in filling out the rest of its roster to give Thompson time to possibly shake free through a buyout agreement. While a trade for Thompson is also possible, it would be challenging to pull off considering the only three players on the Heat’s current roster able to be traded for Thompson in a one-for-one deal are Nikola Jovic, Davion Mitchell and Bobby Portis. The cleaner path is for the Mavericks to eventually agree to a buyout with Thompson, with Thompson hypothetically giving up $7 million of his current salary to become a free agent. The Heat can then make up the difference on the money Thompson gave up by using the rest of its midlevel exception to offer him a $7 million salary for this upcoming season.
Advertisement
Heat Central: Giannis message to Nikola Jovic: “You were playing good. Translates very well to the NBA. The first couple of weeks, months into the season, the space will be so much open, and the decisions will be way easier for you. I’m excited bro” I’m hoping Giannis brings the best version out of Niko this season 🔥
Heat Central: Giannis Antetokounmpo on being in Miami: “Coach Spo brings the best out of players. I want to be coached hard…. I want people when they’re at work thinking about the Heat. I want people when they’re at their couch watching their favorite show to turn that off and put the Heat… I’m very excited to get in the gym with Bam, Mitchell, Wiggins, all these great players, Jovic.” (Via @GiselleSports) 🔥
Marc Stein on Klay Thompson to Miami rumors: The Mavericks at this point have operated as they are trying to find a trade for Klay Thompson. All scenarios about Miami’s interest… those are buyout scenarios. As we stand mid July, I don’t think the Mavs are giving consideration to a buyout. If no trade materializes and it’s August/September, and no trade has materialized, does the possibility change? Will Klay’s representatives push for a buyout? I’m sure that’s on the menu of possibilities. I know everybody loves to say Jovic and draft compensation from Miami. Do the Mavs want Jovic’s contract? Is the draft compensation from Miami attractive enough to do that? I have no sense that’s something legitimately percolating
Anthony Chiang: Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic were at the Heat's summer league practice in Las Vegas today. Adebayo and Jovic were getting in a workout together on the adjacent court.
