Miami

Heat

Highsmith is expected to be back with the team in time for the game, but he listed as questionable because he wasn’t with the team for their flight to Sacramento. If he isn’t able to make the game, there will be an open starting spot, which could be filled by Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Duncan Robinson.

This is a step in the right direction for him, but Richardson isn’t expected to be back yet. He has been sidelined since mid-November, and that won’t change against Sacramento. Richardson could have a role in the rotation when he is back now that Jimmy Butler has seemingly played his last game for the Heat, but he isn’t a player to consider picking up off the waiver wire.

Utah had won just six games all season entering Saturday’s game against the Heat. Still, it’s no surprise that the Jazz were able to come out and wipe the floor with Miami after the disfunction that’s gone on in the organization over the last week. From the altercation Herro had with Amen Thompson and subsequent fines and suspensions to the ongoing saga with Jimmy Butler, who is away from the team once again. This is no environment for fantasy success right now. Herro wasn’t the only one to have a bad game, but he was a team-worst -28 in 29 minutes in the 36-point loss.

Saturday’s game is the first for Miami since their decision to suspend Jimmy Butler. Rozier will fill the void, making his 14th start of the season. While he’s underwhelmed regarding fantasy production, this move could provide Rozier a much-needed boost as the Heat move forward without Butler. The other change is Jovic, who replaces Duncan Robinson in the lineup.

Heat president Pat Riley issued a statement that Miami wouldn’t trade Butler in an effort to reduce the off-court distraction the trade rumors surrounding the 35-year-old small forward caused. Predictably, Butler didn’t back down from his desire to be traded. He capped off a press conference after Thursday’s game by expressing that he’d like to regain his joy for basketball and probably doesn’t see that happening with the Heat. Then his camp leaked to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania that he’s indicated to Miami’s front office that he’d like to be traded to any other team. Riley and the Heat have responded by suspending Butler for seven games. Where it goes from here is anyone’s guess, but it’s possible he’s already played his last game in red and black.

Richardson has not appeared in a game since November 18, and he’s made eight appearances overall this season. His continued absence does not impact fantasy basketball.

While Butler’s agent shot down a prior report regarding Butler’s desire to be traded, the Heat forward himself said after Thursday’s loss to the Pacers that he doesn’t see himself regaining his joy on the court in Miami. Heat president Pat Riley said last month that the team would not be trading Butler, but it’s fair to wonder if his recent performances will change that line of thinking. Fantasy managers should root for a trade, as Butler has provided minimal value with the Heat in recent games. Maybe a change of scenery will do the trick, regardless of where he lands.

Coming off a one-game suspension, Rozier was able to log 30 minutes as a reserve in this game. He was a solid scoring option despite not being able to get any 3-pointers to go down, but he made his biggest impact as a playmaker. He had a total of six assists across his previous five games, but he tied his season-high for dimes in this one. Rozier’s first full season in Miami has been incredibly disappointing, but he has picked up his play recently. We’ll see if he can keep it up, or if a potential Jimmy Butler trade gives him a chance to take on a larger role.

After scoring a career-high 10 points off the bench in their last game, Ware took a massive leap in production in this game, though it can partially be attributed to the lopsided score. However, that shouldn’t take away from what he did. Not grabbing a rebound in 21 minutes wasn’t encouraging, but the three blocks and three 3-pointers showcased what made him an attractive prospect for dynasty managers over the summer. Erik Spoelstra’s rotations have been inconsistent this season, but it’s difficult to imagine Ware not getting a chance to build off this performance moving forward. We’ll see if Spoelstra agrees when they take on the Jazz on Saturday to close out the week.

Adebayo had a strong performance in just 25 minutes of action. He didn’t have a chance to build on it because the game got out of hand, but he was still able to make an impact. In the midst of arguably the worst shooting season of his career, he has scored at least 20 points while making more than 60% of his shots in two straight games. Though Adebayo hasn’t entirely abandoned his 3-point shot, he has gone eight straight games without hitting one despite making it a point of emphasis earlier in the season. He’s still making sure to get at least one up every game, so we’ll see if he can get one to fall against the Jazz to finish up this week and a three-game homestand.