MIAMI — The frustrating wait is over for Davion Mitchell, with the guard who was re-signed in free agency cleared to return to action in the Heat’s Sunday exhibition against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center.
Mitchell was sidelined by calf soreness at the end of training camp at Florida Atlantic University, missing the Heat’s first three exhibitions ahead of this current three-day break.
“It’s super frustrating, because you go through training camp, especially with the new offense we’ve got, you kind of want to get that chemistry together to play faster,” Mitchell said after Friday’s practice at Kaseya Center. “So I kind of got a little step behind, not going through actual games with them. But I’ve been doing it in practice, so I feel good, though.”
With Tyler Herro (ankle) and Terry Rozier (hamstring) still sidelined, the Heat in the absence of Mitchell opened with Jaime Jaquez Jr. at point guard for their first two exhibitions, and then went with Dru Smith as Wednesday night’s starter at the position in the home loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Mitchell, who returned to the Heat in July on a two-year, $24 million contract, said he is now ready for whatever role is requested.
“It was just a calf strain. It was kind of like one of the first days of training camp, I kind of felt something in my calf,” he said. “They kind of have been cautious with it, because obviously the calf is a big part, especially with the injuries we had last year. So they kind of just wanted to be cautious and make sure I’m ready 100%.”
The exhibition in Orlando opens a road back-to-back set that concludes Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks. The Heat then will hold their annual intrasquad public scrimmage on Wednesday night at Kaseya Center before closing out their six-game exhibition schedule next Friday against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.
Roster revision
As part of the roster machinations required to funnel players to their G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat waived guard Trevor Keels and re-signed guard Gabe Madsen.
Madsen had been with the Heat earlier this preseason before Precious Achiuwa was added.
The shift leaves the Heat with 21 players under contract, the NBA offseason maximum.
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Both Keels and Madsen are expected to wind up in Sioux Falls, with the Heat’s position against the luxury tax making it unlikely either would be on the opening-night roster, save for the possibility of the Heat’s vacant two-way slot.
Madsen was originally signed Sept. 11 and then waived Sept. 25. He went undrafted out of Utah in June, after concluding his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in 3-pointers. He became the first player in Utes history to record at least 100 made 3-pointers in consecutive seasons.
“He showed a level of grit, a competitive toughness that we like,” coachErik Spoelstra said Friday of Madsen, who spent most of the summer working in the Heat’s developmental program. “And he’s also skilled. He knows how to play without the ball and shoot the ball, or drive off those catches. So we’re encouraged by that.”
Keels also was signed by the Heat on Sept. 11 after previously playing for the New York Knicks. He appeared in two exhibitions, averaging six points, two assists, 1.5 rebounds and one steal in an average of 22.6 minutes, shooting 4 of 12 from the field,
“We want to continue to develop him, for sure,” Spoelstra said. “He showed a lot of improvement over the last few weeks. He’s gotten in better shape. He’s committed to our defensive system. And I told him this is just the beginning.”
Olympic perspective
Heat center Bam Adebayo said Friday there was no surprise of the word that Spoelstra is about to formally be named coach of the USA Basketball program, including guiding Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“We just know he’s a mad scientist in the gym,” Adebayo said. “When he gets in his playbook, when he gets into his schemes, and when he watches the film, he’s a mad scientist. So from that standpoint of progression-wise, I felt like he could have done that six years ago if he wanted to.”
With it now even more likely that Adebayo will be back with USA Basketball for a third Olympics after representing the country at the Tokyo and Paris Games.
“At that point, I’ll be kind of a veteran, too,” Adebayo, 28, said. “Just a leadership role, obviously, spacing the floor, being comfortable, saying my piece.”
