
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.

Miami Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan plans to select the best player available in the upcoming NFL draft, emphasizing the importance of this draft for the team's future. He acknowledges the need to address many roster gaps and believes the new rookie class will have a significant impact.
MIAMI GARDENS â New Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan understands the lasting impact his first draft will have in the long-term shaping of his roster.
After taking an ax to much of what previous GM Chris Grier had in place, taking on more dead money than what will be allotted to players contributing in 2026 and finding cheap options of players for minimum or near-minimum contracts aside from quarterback Malik Willis, Sullivan will soon inject a rookie class into what heâs building.
As he knows there are many holes to address in the NFL draft, which takes place next week in Pittsburgh, the success of his 11 picks can either streamline or delay the Dolphins reaching their ultimate goals.
âWe do not have a ton of established players on this team,â Sullivan said Wednesday at his pre-draft press conference. âThatâs not to say we donât like our players. I think we got a lot of guys here that are going to help us, that are going to surprise some people, if you will, thatâll play above what maybe the expectations are.
âBut the truth of the matter is we have very few established players on this roster. So this draft class will have an opportunity to come in here and play soon, play quick.â
The Dolphins first select at No. 11 in the first round. That Thursday night, theyâre slated to pick again at 30, the first-round choice picked up by trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos.
The second day of the draft, they pick at No. 43 in the second round before theyâre slotted for four selections in the third and round out their 11 picks in Rounds 4-7 that Saturday.
The needs are plentiful for Sullivan. He needs to find a cornerback, edge rusher, wide receiver, safety, offensive linemen and, overall, just add good players to the roster to establish a young core.
âWhere you have holes is obvious,â Sullivan said, âbut weâre always going to be a best-player-available approach.â
Within that, Sullivan will offer his first glimpse at how willing he is to trade. He already pulled one off last month, sending Waddle to Denver for picks in the first and third rounds. On Wednesday, he affirmed DeâVon Achane is not in that same boat, as clearly as he could, stating his star running back is ânot available for trade.â
Still, if Sullivan were to trade, it would be more likely to move back and acquire more draft capital rather than move up for a prospect he really likes.
âIâm always going to pick up the phone,â Sullivan said. âI think it probably is fair to say, more likely to move back than move up. I think we need all 11 picks, but you never say never. And whether youâre talking about going up or down, Iâm going to pick up the phone and listen to whatâs being said on the other side of it.â
That said, having four picks in the third round could incline a decision-maker to use one of them as ammunition to move up.
âYeah, sure, itâs enticing. Thatâs why you keep good people around you, to help you stay disciplined,â Sullivan said. âBut yeah, sure, I mean, that situation could present itself. I think thereâs strength in numbers, so unless it was a very special player, I would rather have two good players than maybe one special player, with where we are as a roster right now.â
As Sullivan highlights that he will take a best-player-available approach, he also said he thinks every day how he might have certain positions he feels he must address by a certain point in the draft, say, after Day 2.
âSure, I look at the holes and I say, man, I got to fill this and I got to fill that,â Sullivan said, âbut itâs also a stark reminder: Just take good football players and everything will work itself out.â
Sullivan said Hall of Fame quarterback and broadcaster Troy Aikman, who was involved in the hiring process for both Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley, may be in the teamâs draft room next week but wonât be consulted for picks.
He added owner Steve Ross is âas supportive of an owner as you can be.â Sullivan noted he will be making the final call on the teamâs draft picks.
The Dolphins GM is confident, as a roster transition begins this offseason, that this team will eventually return to competing.
âI have no doubts we will get where we want to go,â he said. âRome wasnât built in a day. I donât have a crystal ball. Iâm not up here to make predictions on how fast. I have a tremendous faith in our process and the people that carry out the process, and weâll get there.â
Jon-Eric Sullivan plans to take the best player available to address the many gaps in the Dolphins' roster.
The Miami Dolphins have 11 picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
Sullivan is dealing with a roster that has very few established players and significant dead money from previous contracts.
The NFL draft is scheduled to take place next week in Pittsburgh.

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