Milwaukee Bucks center Meyers Leonard has signed a second 10-day deal with the organization. The 33-year-old played 15 minutes during the blowout win over the Miami Heat. However, Leonard has played less than five minutes in every other game. It seems that the Bucks are keeping Leonard around as additional depth. As long as the Bucks are healthy, Leonard isn't going to play enough to contribute in fantasy leagues.

MIAMI (AP) — Malcolm Brogdon scored 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting and the Indiana Pacers beat the Miami Heat 137-110 Friday night. The Pacers, who had lost eight of their last 10, were never threatened after building a double-digit lead late in the second quarter. Indiana finished with its highest scoring total ever against Miami, including the playoffs — topping the previous high of 127 in 1992. “The aggressive mode that the team was in, when they attacked they were relentless,” Indiana coach Nate Bjorkgren said. “I was pleased with the sharing but more pleased with the defensive end. I thought the communication and talking was very good on the defensive end, especially in the second half.” Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and 15 rebounds and T.J. McConnell finished with 16 points and 15 assists for the Pacers. Doug McDermott and Justin Holiday added 17 points each. The Pacers shot 20-of-36 on 3-pointers and Brogdon tied a career high with seven. “We’ve got to keep our foot on the gas this... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Malcolm Brogdon scored 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting and the Indiana Pacers beat the Miami Heat 137-110 Friday night. The Pacers, who had lost eight of their last 10, were never threatened after building a double-digit lead late in the second quarter. Indiana finished with its highest scoring total ever against Miami, including the playoffs — topping the previous high of 127 in 1992. Domantas Sabonas had 13 points and 15 rebounds and T.J. McConnell finished with 16 points and 15 assists for the Pacers. IDoug McDermott and Justin Holiday added 17 points each. The Pacers shot 20-of-36 on 3-pointers and Brogdon tied a season high with seven. Bam Adebayo scored 20 points and Jimmy Butler added 17 for Miami, which has lost two straight after winning 11 of 13. Trevor Ariza was scorelesss in his Heat debut. Ariza joined the 10th team of his 16-year NBA career after Miami acquired the 35-year-old forward from Oklahoma City in exchange for Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second round pick... [More]

Trevor Ariza remembers working out for the Miami Heat before the 2004 NBA draft, and how he could envision himself playing for the team. He was 18 then. He’s now 35, and that long-awaited Heat chance is about to happen. More than a year removed from his most recent NBA game, Ariza joined the Heat this week after being traded to Miami by Oklahoma City. The Heat are the 10th team Ariza will play for, and he said Friday that he believes he can help the reigning Eastern Conference champions in their playoff push. “I always wanted to play for this franchise,” Ariza said. “It’s just someplace I always wanted to be. Most of my family is here, so it’s exciting. I’m just ready to go out on the court and lace them up.” The Heat swung the deal for Ariza on Wednesday, sending the Thunder a second-round pick. Meyers Leonard was also part of the trade to make the salary-matching component work; he won’t play again this season because of a shoulder injury, and the Thunder have said he won’t be an active... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat have turned Meyers Leonard's contract into an opportunity to see if Trevor Ariza can help them for the rest of this season. And for their trouble, the Oklahoma City Thunder got yet another draft pick. Leonard — who had likely played his final game for the Heat, even before drawing widespread criticism for using an anti-Semitic term while livestreaming a video game last week — was traded Wednesday to the Thunder in exchange for Ariza and a second-round pick in the 2027 draft. “Meyers was a key part of our team that made a run to the NBA Finals and we will always be grateful for his contributions and leadership last season,” the Heat said in the statement announcing the trade. “His recent comments were very hurtful and disappointing, but, we are encouraged that he has spent this last week meeting with community leaders, rabbis and Holocaust survivors to greater understand the impact of his words and we hope that his education will continue." The Heat also said... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat have agreed to trade Meyers Leonard and a future second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Trevor Ariza, two people with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday. The teams were working to schedule a trade call with the league, which signs off on all deals, according to the people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending. Leonard, who needed to sign off on the trade because of his contract status, has done so, according to one of the people who was familiar with the terms of the agreement. The Thunder are not expected to keep Leonard, who is unable to play the rest of this season because of a shoulder injury and has a team option for about $10.2 million next season. Leonard has been away from the Heat for more than a week after a video surfaced of him using an anti-Semitic slur while livestreaming a video game. He apologized for the incident, which was roundly criticized by the Heat, Jewish groups... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The NBA has fined Meyers Leonard $50,000, the maximum allowed by league policy, and suspended him from using all Miami Heat facilities and activities for one week in response to his use of an anti-Semitic term. Commissioner Adam Silver, in announcing those sanctions, also said that he believes Leonard “is genuinely remorseful" for using the slur. “Meyers Leonard’s comment was inexcusable and hurtful and such an offensive term has no place in the NBA or in our society,” Silver said. Leonard will also be required by the league to participate in a cultural diversity program. He has already met with representatives from the Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish organization that works to stop extremism and delivers anti-bias education. “We have further communicated to Meyers that derogatory comments like this will not be tolerated and that he will be expected to uphold the core values of our league — equality, tolerance, inclusion and respect — at all times moving forward,”... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The NBA has fined Meyers Leonard $50,000 and suspended him from all Miami Heat facilities and activities for one week, in response to his use of an anti-Semitic term. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the sanctions Thursday, two days after the video began circulating on social media. “Meyers Leonard’s comment was inexcusable and hurtful and such an offensive term has no place in the NBA or in our society,” Silver said. Leonard apologized for using the term, insisting he did not know what it meant when he used it Monday. The Heat learned of the matter Tuesday, and Leonard’s future with the team is now in serious doubt. He will not play again this season because of a shoulder injury. Silver said Leonard spoke Wednesday “to representatives of the Anti-Defamation League to better understand the impact of his words and we accept that he is genuinely remorseful." “We have further communicated to Meyers that derogatory comments like this will not be tolerated and that he will be expected to uphold the core values of our league — equality, tolerance, inclusion and respect — at all times moving forward," Silver said. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Meyers Leonard's coach and Miami Heat teammates offered no excuse Wednesday for his use of an anti-Semitic slur while livestreaming a video game earlier this week, nor did they make any effort to hide their disappointment in him in their first public comments about the incident. “He said something that was extremely distasteful and hurtful," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And we're left with the aftermath of that." Leonard's use of the slur began circulating widely on social media Tuesday afternoon. Within a few hours, he apologized, the NBA opened an investigation and the Heat announced that he will be away from the team indefinitely. His season was already over because of a shoulder injury; it's not a stretch to say his Heat tenure may be over as well. “There are consequences to words," Spoelstra said. “And those were extremely hurtful words." The Heat went back to work Wednesday to end their All-Star break. The team opens its second-half schedule Thursday against Orlando.... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat said Tuesday night that Meyers Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely, sharply criticizing his use of an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video game that was being livestreamed. Leonard apologized for using the term, insisting he did not know what it meant when he used it Monday. The Heat learned of the matter Tuesday, and Leonard's future with the team is now in serious doubt. “The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech,” the team statement said. “The words used by Meyers Leonard were wrong and we will not tolerate hateful language from anyone associated with our franchise. To hear it from a Miami Heat player is especially disappointing and hurtful to all those who work here, as well as the larger South Florida, Miami Heat and NBA communities.” The team also said it will cooperate with the NBA's investigation. Leonard acknowledged that he used the term Monday while streaming. In his apology, posted on social media, he said... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Meyers Leonard of the Miami Heat apologized Tuesday night for using an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video game that was being livestreamed. Leonard acknowledged that he used the term Monday, and said he did not know what it meant at that time. In his apology, posted on social media, he said “my ignorance about its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely not an excuse and I was just wrong." Leonard also said he was apologizing to team managing general partner Micky Arison and his family, the team's players, coaches and front office, his family and the Jewish community, among others. “I acknowledge and own my mistake and there's no running from something like this that is so hurtful to someone else,” Leonard wrote. The video began circulating widely on social media Tuesday afternoon. The Heat, who were in the final day of their All-Star break and are not formally resuming practice until Wednesday, had no immediate comment. It is possible that... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Meyers Leonard of the Miami Heat used an anti-Semitic slur while playing a video game that was being livestreamed, prompting both the team and the NBA office to quickly open investigations into the matter. The video began circulating widely on social media Tuesday afternoon. The Heat, who were in the final day of their All-Star break and are not formally resuming practice until Wednesday, had no immediate comment. “We just became aware of the video and are in the process of gathering more information," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “The NBA unequivocally condemns all forms of hate speech.” Leonard, a 7-foot center in his ninth NBA season, sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in January and appeared in only three games for the Heat this year. He could become a free agent this summer; the Heat hold a team option on him for next season worth about $10 million. This is the second time in recent months that Leonard has been at the center of a controversy.Most players and coaches... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — It was only a week ago when the Miami Heat emerged from a long postgame locker room meeting following another disappointing loss, privately promising one another they would do more and publicly vowing to be better. They were 7-14 then and reeling. They’re 3-0 since and hopeful. Beating Washington once and New York twice hardly is cause for a parade, but those victories might be a needed kick-start for the reigning Eastern Conference champions. The Heat start a seven-game road trip, the franchise’s longest since January 2009, in Houston on Thursday knowing the results from the next two weeks may vault them back into the playoffs race or return them to the edge of the abyss. “There were so many things that hit us,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I just really commend the group for the mental stability and toughness, to be able to stay the course and not making excuses, not feel sorry for ourselves, not ask for pity from anyone. We have a very tough-minded group. If anybody can handle... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami guard Avery Bradley went nearly two weeks without seeing his wife and children after testing positive for COVID-19, a brutally hard part of his ordeal with the illness. The sacrifice was worthwhile, though: None of them got the virus. Bradley confirmed Tuesday that he tested positive for the coronavirus last month. For anyone, that diagnosis can be daunting. For Bradley, that was especially so, given that he opted to not join his then-team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the NBA’s restart bubble at Walt Disney World last season out of concerns about COVID-19 and the possibility of exposing his young son — who has chronic respiratory issues — to the disease. “I was really nervous,” Bradley said. “It’s just a blessing that no one in my household got COVID. It made me feel a lot more at ease. It was just frustrating knowing that the virus is still around. It’s been tough. It’s been tough for me and my family, but we’re getting through it. I’m happy my kids didn’t have it, my... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami guard Avery Bradley went nearly two weeks without seeing his wife and children after testing positive for COVID-19, a brutally hard part of his ordeal with the illness. The sacrifice was worthwhile, though: None of them got the virus. Bradley confirmed Tuesday that he tested positive for the coronavirus last month. For anyone, that diagnosis can be daunting. For Bradley, that was especially so, given that he opted to not join his then-team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the NBA’s restart bubble at Walt Disney World last season out of concerns about COVID-19 and the possibility of exposing his young son — who has chronic respiratory issues — to the disease. “I was really nervous,” Bradley said. “It’s just a blessing that no one in my household got COVID. It made me feel a lot more at ease. It was just frustrating knowing that the virus is still around. It’s been tough. It’s been tough for me and my family, but we’re getting through it. I’m happy my kids didn’t have it, my... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — As if losing the NBA Finals isn’t bad enough, there now seems to be a curse that stretches into the following season. The Miami Heat aren’t believing that quite yet — even after a disastrous start to the 2020-21 campaign. The reigning Eastern Conference champions are 6-12, matching the franchise’s worst 18-game start since opening 4-14 in 2007-08. The roster has been decimated by injuries and virus-related issues, and the current losing streak reached five games after a 108-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in a game where Miami led by 18 points early but wound up trailing by as many as 19. “Heat Nation, we are going to figure this out,” All-Star center Bam Adebayo said. “Just bear with us. We are going to figure this out. I can promise them that we are going to figure this out. I know that they’re tired of seeing us lose. We’re tired of losing. We have to figure this out.” The next chance to get things right comes Saturday when Miami hosts Sacramento. The year after losing... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Pat Riley is always looking around for ways to make the Miami Heat better. This offseason has him wondering if that improvement might come from within. The Heat president said Friday that the top offseason priority of the Eastern Conference champions “is to take care of the players that we have” such as free-agent-to-be Goran Dragic, all while maintaining salary cap flexibility to add an impact player in a 2021 offseason that could see many stars on the move. “We have a good idea of what we want to do,” Riley said in his annual end-of-season media availability. No plan can be considered completely firm yet; the NBA’s board of governors were meeting Friday, simultaneous to Riley speaking, to discuss ideas about when it might be feasible to start next season -- with Dec. 22 as the initial target for a season of about 72 games. And the financial details for next season remain unclear as well, such as the salary cap and luxury tax numbers. All that will have an obvious impact on... [More]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic had their arms slung over the other’s shoulders as they walked out of the arena following the final game of Miami’s season, helping each other in the most painful of moments. That was the Heat way all year long. A bunch of strangers at the start of the season forged intense bonds over the next 12 months, and the result was a surprising run to the NBA Finals. Another Eastern Conference championship banner will be swaying in Miami soon, and there is no doubt that the Heat will enter next season — whenever it starts — believing that they’re among the favorites to win the 2021 NBA title. “This season has been a tremendous season for us, for me,” Dragic said. “We had a lot of bonds together. We go through good times, bad times, but we always stay together. And I think that that’s something that it’s really rare to find.” The Heat went from 10th in the East last season to second in the NBA this season, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers... [More]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Meyers Leonard was bent forward at the waist, standing a few feet away from Miami coach Erik Spoelstra on the Heat sideline, screaming with every bit of the volume that his deep and booming voice can generate. This is his role right now for the Heat. His only role. Leonard is in a tough spot these days; a full-time starter during the regular season, he is now out of the rotation as the Heat have made their run to the Eastern Conference finals. It is a bitter pill for him to swallow — yet to his credit, he hasn’t acted the least bit bitter about his current reality. “My team knows this, and our coaching staff knows this,” Leonard told The Associated Press. “I would do anything to be out there. And I’d be lying if I said that I’m not competitive as hell. I wish I was impacting the game on the floor. I’m not, but as a person and as a player, I want what’s best for everybody.” So for now, the 7-foot, 260-pound, chiseled center is the tallest, strongest and best-paid... [More]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Meyers Leonard has a brother who served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. He carries a military-themed backpack, wears combat boots and has a phone loaded with Navy SEALs who are his friends.He also makes this clear: “I absolutely believe Black Lives Matter,” he said.Still, Leonard simply could not bring himself to kneel for the national anthem.Wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt over a jersey that he ordered to say “Equality,” and as all other coaches and players around him knelt, Leonard stood for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Saturday before the Heat re-opened their season by facing the Denver Nuggets at Walt Disney World.“Some of the conversations I’ve had over the past three days, quite literally, have been the most difficult,” Leonard told The Associated Press prior to the game. “I am with the Black Lives Matter movement and I love and support the military and my brother and the people who have fought to defend our rights... [More]