TITLE: Heat Face Incentive Decisions, Bulls Lose Rookie Noa Essengue, Clippers Gauge Market for Ivica Zubac and John Collins
SLUG: heat-herro-incentives-bulls-essengue-out-clippers-zubac-collins
CONTENT:
MIAMI — The Miami Heat will be eligible to add a 15th player on December 13, but several contract questions could dictate whether the front office makes a move.
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the club must first review Tyler Herro’s incentive thresholds. The guard is one missed game away from losing All-NBA eligibility, a change that would wipe out multiple bonus opportunities in his deal.
Miami is also monitoring Terry Rozier’s status while the FBI’s gambling investigation continues. The organization does not yet know if the league will permit it to waive Rozier’s $1.6 million guarantee on January 7, a decision that would normally create added roster flexibility.
The Heat have opened the season 14-7 and sit near the top of the Eastern Conference, reducing any immediate pressure to alter the roster.
Bulls
CHICAGO — Rookie forward Noa Essengue, the No. 12 overall pick, will miss the rest of the year after suffering a left-shoulder injury during a Windy City Bulls game. Head coach Billy Donovan said the team opted for surgery now to prevent the issue from lingering into the offseason.
Essengue logged just six NBA minutes but averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in the G League. Donovan added that the 19-year-old “handled the news well.”
Clippers
LOS ANGELES — League executives are receiving mixed signals on the availability of Ivica Zubac, per ClutchPoints. Rival teams believe it would take at least two first-round picks to enter serious talks for the 26-year-old center, who is generating the most outside interest of any Clipper.
Brett Siegel mentioned Boston as a possible landing spot, speculating that an expiring contract such as Anfernee Simons’ could help facilitate a deal. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is said to be more openly discussing forward John Collins, whose $26.6 million expiring contract has appeal despite his lowest scoring and rebounding averages since his rookie campaign.
If the Clippers decide to pursue a deeper roster retool, executives expect Zubac and Collins to headline trade conversations.
Source: Hoops Wire
