Erik Spoelstra talks Miami Heat signing Delon Wright and post All-Star break thoughts

Erik Spoelstra talks Miami Heat signing Delon Wright and post All-Star break thoughts

Start um just your thoughts on the Delan process and what you think he might deliver for the team well we feel fortunate that we were able to um acquire him um on a buyout um you know he has a skill set that just fits us and we’re all very

Familiar with him I I guess I’ve known him since he was 12 uh you know it’s it’s um it’s crazy how fast time is going uh somebody had just mentioned it uh yesterday in the office uh that they didn’t realize he was 31 and then were’re like yeah well

We had Dell 20 years ago and then you know he was 10 12 at that time and it’s like oh man that’s uh that just shows you time’s flying um but his defensive skill set fits for sure uh he’s a very good playmaker can set up offenses um he

Likes to get guys involved Wayne played with him in the Detroit he one of his favorite team um and he’s a veteran you know so to be able to get somebody that’s played uh is in shape uh that you can add to your rotation at this time of year without

Having to make a trade um you know I think is a a big add on so excited about it I know that’s not by go necessarily but how neat is that full circle that from the kid I know it it really is amazing during ud’s uh week uh at his

Dinner you know bumped him in Q and I was sitting at the table next toell the whole time and q’s the one that brought it up he like oh to do a great fit with you guys when is this going to happen you know this off season next year

Whatever you got you guys think about adding him Dell all start chiming in that UD was like oh yeah was bringing the kid in thought it was funny you know calling him a kid that’s just the way we all you know feel about him because we

We knew him when you know he was he was so young um it it does feel like a you know full full circle feel uh in a different kind of way ell and Rich were one of the first people to Tex so we think it’s a good Erica with

Terry and Josh traveling um is there an optim is in there t and Josh traveling um yeah I mean we’re basically bringing everybody you know because um we also want Jeff Ruiz you know and we figure that we’ll be able to get some work in on the road

And want to have our full staff there so we’re going to bring everybody in work through all of it and I’ll have more information as we get out on the road could either of them Possibly play on the trip considering it’s a week long trip they could either could both of

Them Possibly play on the trip I don’t know about that can you say can you say which one no leave you guys something to Great to talk about I guess one last thing on that topic ter Terry SE was walking around well today was that a Carie yeah yeah for

Sure you know a lot of it was um you know a big scare uh you know it is something you know it’s a sprain so it’s not nothing but uh it all it looked a lot worse you know than than what it ended up being and he’s working through

It he’s had some very good days um you’re progress one more that Atlanta series a few years ago impact was pretty clear I guess just what do you remember from that series he’s a disruptive Defender yeah he’s big but he moves his feet well so he can he can defend up a

Position uh but he’s really disruptive on the ball you can guard the quicker point guards he’s done that his entire career uh in that series um he was lined up against you know our our studs um and a lot of that was against Tyler uh but you know he was he

Was one of their defensive Stoppers and you know he took on all those those challenges not only in our series but all all year long uh with that Atlanta team he was a guy they would put on one through four one through three um whoever the biggest threat was you

Basically changed over to that point guard spot completely midseason what’s that process like at that position given how important it is kind of getting everybody acclimated you probably love this answer it it is position this you know the way we’ve we’ve developed our our offense so I think we’re able to

Probably do that quicker than most teams to be able to transition and pivot we’ve developed multiple ball handlers uh in the system and um you know part of that is you know you know the versatility always helps you in the playoffs but also it’s the makeup of our roster you

Want to maximize all the different kind of ball hamers all the different guys that can put pressure on a defense or initiate offense play uh in a different way so I think you know we’ve been able to do that you know the last few weeks um putting different guys in those kind

Of positions and and you know I think it makes our offense a little more B Eric um with Jimmy coming back you guys are playing really well last couple weeks Jimmy comes back and more talent but talk Tyler he says okay my role changes a little what does basketball look with

Jimmy and and Tyler out there you that you want to see got to win really look we got to defend offensively uh we have to play to our strengths which we know what they are at this point they know what our identity is and ultimately uh you know the group we have

To bring out the best in each other if we want to compete for you know the toughest prize in this business guys have to maximize each other and it does require a little bit of uh a sacrifice and I use that term loosely ultimately when you’re competing for a title you’re not really

Sacrificing anything you know you’re you’re attacking something you’re going for something uh this is not about just guys trying to feel like perfectly comfortable and in Rhythm getting all the the shot opportunities they they want it’s about what’s best for the team um we have a lot of Versatility um and

We want to strike in all those different strength strength zones we we definitely have room for improvement offensively so I think our guys are aware of that um you know it’s made it’s prob a little bit more more clarity to just everybody throwing themselves into I would make this offense you

Know better you the stru that cliche of flipping the switch this time of year did that work around here are you guys kind of to do Stu one way kind of wherever you are in the we don’t use that TR you know I don’t know uh I guess it would feel like we’re

Flipping the switch when get out of preseason after the first 10 games and next there’s all these segments that you’re trying to maximize during the course of a season I think that keeps us on edge um but there are Peaks and valleys that that’s natural in an 82

Game season um you don’t want to succumb to that narrative but this is a fun time of year also I don’t want the guys not to enjoy that this is when it’s most competitive everybody now is is fighting for playoff position you’re not going to face too

Many teams in these next 27 games that aren’t playing for something you know there’s less teams tanking more teams playing you know for playoff positioning um One Way or Another either try to get home Fort or try to get out of the plan or try to get into the plan I think all

Of this is good for uh competitors and we have a bunch of competitors in our last obviously the circumstances everything was kind of lousy with Jimmy missing some games there but it’s going to be like two and a half weeks between me for him what did you think about he’s

Been working he’s ready he knows his body he knows how to to ramp up and get ready and he was in a great Groove before that he’ll be fine and we need him to do what we’re trying to do yeah we need him uh not only back but uh in the mix and

And doing what he does best right thank thanks

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talks with the media ahead of the resumption of the season about signing Delon Wright, injuries to Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson and more. #miamiheat #nba