The Heat held their first team practice since March 10 on Friday, though veteran guard Goran Dragic revealed in a conference call this week that two players were missing: Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Miami, as Jackson writes, currently has two unidentified players recovering from COVID-19. Head coach Erik Spoelstra declined to comment on how many players attended Friday’s practice, only adding that the team had a “full gym” for the session.
“Hopefully Bam can come and K-Nunn and we can be a whole team and make some damage,” Dragic said. “Some guys are not here. We are eager, expecting them to come, hopefully to be healthy and we can all start practicing together.”
Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr., who tested positive for coronavirus toward the end of June, has fully recovered and is with the team in Orlando, Jackson notes. Miami will look to build on its high-energy practice as it shifts its focus toward a July 22 scrimmage against Sacramento.
“We had a good workout, looked like a Miami Heat practice, had a bunch of extra energy to get out,” Spoelstra said. “Guys enjoyed being around each other. You could feel the genuine enthusiasm.”
There’s more out of Miami today:
- Meyers Leonard appears to have fully recovered from an ankle injury sustained in early February, Jackson notes in the same story. Spoelstra mentioned that Leonard is a full go, is ready for contact, and is moving great. He’s averaged 6.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 20.1 minutes per game this year, shooting 43% from 3-point range.
- Heat president Pat Riley and general manager Andy Elisburg will remain in south Florida during the NBA’s resumed season, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Vice president of basketball operations Adam Simon traveled with the team to Disney, as league rules mandate that each team has at least one senior basketball executive on site.
- Winderman examines in a separate story whether the team has enough assets to put together an attractive trade package instead of waiting for free agency in 2021. Miami has long been linked to stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Oladipo, both of whom are set to become free agents at the end of next season.
At the time Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Oladipo become free agents,
Heat salary projections
Butler 36 million
Herro 4
Bam 27
Nunn 8
Robinson 15
Cap Hold 20
Where are the salary cap space if the Cap is at 110 million?
Zero cap room to sign free agents?
Heat have dead money 5 million
I include it in cap hold
If that’s Bams cap hold they can save around 12 million by signing him to a multi year deal around 14 -16 million
I put VanVleet ahead of Oladipo
Why didn’t Heat sign VanVleet？
Spoelstra said a “Full Jim” was with the team Friday. Did not know that was a Butler nickname. They sound in good spirits.
Why is it required that at least one senior executive accompany each team to the bubble? That just seems like an unnecessary provision
To keep the kids in check… so they behave kind of properly!
Doesn’t seem like they’re doing a very good job so far (Caboclo, Holmes) lol