Heat’s Pat Riley hints at bigger role for young guys, keeps door open on trading pick

A lot came out of Pat Riley’s end-of-season session, but a few things probably deserved more run than they got.

As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald noted, Riley circled back more than once to the idea that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra may need to loosen the reins a bit with younger players. Not bench them at the first mistake. Not expect them to be finished products right now.

“Even if it costs you during the regular season, you got to play it through their bad times,” Riley said. “They’re not the top five picks in the draft.”

That’s about as direct as Riley gets. And it felt like a message.

The Heat have tried to thread the needle between development and winning for years, but this sounded like a nudge toward patience, even if it comes with some bumps along the way.

At the same time, Riley didn’t exactly shut the door on going star hunting. He acknowledged the team’s lottery pick, projected around No. 13, could be in play if the right deal presents itself. The key qualifier was just as telling.

He made it clear he’s not interested in taking on what he called “damaged goods.”

So there it is. Develop the young guys more freely. Stay ready to strike if a real difference-maker becomes available. Same Heat philosophy, just said a little louder this time.