With the exception of a single pair of legs, the Miami Heat have positioned themselves to start next week’s training camp in the move, with 20 of the 21 players under contract in the midst of working with the team during pre-camp workouts.
The exception is guard Tyler Herro, who on Friday underwent surgery to alleviate posterior impingement syndrome in his left ankle, anticipated to be sidelined for eight weeks from the date of that procedure. Herro previously had posted on social media of his work in the Heat’s pre-camp sessions.
By contrast, an NBA source confirmed that guard Dru Smith, who has been working his way back from last December’s Achilles tear, has resumed five-on-five work.
Smith last month said he had resumed one-on-one court work, but now has taken another significant step in his recovery from a second major injury in as many seasons. In 2023-24, he was sidelined for that balance of that season after tearing the ACL in his right knee that November.
The Heat will hold their annual media day next Monday at Kaseya Center, with training camp to open Tuesday at Florida Atlantic University and run for four days on that Boca Raton campus, with those sessions closed to the media.
Of the 21 players on the camp roster, the maximum a team can curry during the offseason, 10 are newcomers. The ongoing work at Kaseya Center, which is solely on a voluntary basis, figures to ease the assimilation for coach Erik Spoelstra.
The Heat face a tight preseason schedule, with their exhibition opener on Oct. 4 in Puerto Rico against the Orlando Magic. The Heat are scheduled for six exhibitions, the NBA maximum.
Heat camp roster (with * indicating newcomer added since the end of last season):
Related Articles
ASK IRA: Will Herro absence lead to a Heat reality check (and lottery check)?
Heat’s Herro again vowing resilience while again faced with injury questions
ASK IRA: Rozier to the rescue, or has that Heat ship sailed (or sunk)?
Heat not only with Plan B for Herro’s absence, but also possible Plans C, D, E . . .
Ira Winderman: Extension equation higher math for Heat heading into camp
Standard contract (14) — Herro, Smith, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell*, Kel’el Ware, Davion Mitchell, Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Simone Fontecchio*, Keshad Johnson, Terry Rozier and first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis*;
Two-way contract — Myron Gardner*, Vlad Goldin*;
Exhibit 10 camp tryout contract — Jahmir Young*, Gave Madsen*, Trevor Keels*, Dain Dainja*, Ethan Thompson*.
Participation on the ongoing sessions have been fluid, including Adebayo leaving over the weekend to present companion A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Ace the 2024 WNBA Most Valuable Player award.
Adebayo was in Las Vegas, where he helped WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert surprise Wilson with the award during an Aces practice session amid the league’s playoffs.
The full house back at the voluntary workouts includes Jovic, Larsson and Fontecchio, the three Heat players who earlier this month completed their participation at EuroBasket.
Jovic is among those who figure to move into an increased role amid the absence of Herro, who likely will miss at least the first 14 games of the regular season, which for the Heat opens Oct. 22 in Orlando.
Jovic spoke to the Heat’s in-house social media amid his return to court time at Kaseya Center.
He felt he grew from the experience with Serbia’s national team at EuroBasket.
“It was, I feel, a great thing for me, to keep my mind on basketball and great competition,” he said of playing on a roster that included Denver Nuggets center and former NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
While still one of the youngest players on the Heat roster at 22, Jovic said there was a considerable growth factor at EuroBasket.
“I think everything,” he said, “just being more competitive, bringing better defense to the team, being a better team player, a lot of stuff.”
As he enters his fourth season after being drafted No. 27 out of Serbia in 2022, Jovic said he is putting his focus on the court for a season that will be preceded by his ongoing extension window.
“Just trying to win as many games as possible,” he said of his 2024-25 goal.
Senior steps
The Heat will hold auditions for their senior dance troop, the Golden Oldies, at the Southwest Focal Point Community Center in Pembroke Pines (301 NW 103rd Ave.) on Thursday at 11 a.m.
In-person registration for the auditions will begin at 10 a.m. Participants must be at least 60 years old by the audition date. Details are available at HEAT.com/GoldenOldies.
The Golden Oldies perform during selected Heat games at Kaseya Center.
