Herro, Robinson have a shot
Offensive skills could bode well for duo’s NBA chances
LAS VEGAS — It was after the introductions of first-round pick Tyler Herro were complete last month at AmericanAirlines Arena that Heat President Pat Riley emphasized his team’s upgrade in shooting would extend beyond the guard out of Kentucky.
“There will be more,” Riley said.
Such is the concern when your team ended 2018-19 ranked 26th in the 30-team NBA in field-goal percentage, 21st in 3-point percentage and 30th in free-throw percentage.
Such is the reason that Herro and Duncan Robinson again proved uplifting in Friday’s 103-62 victory over a national team representing China in the Heat’s opening game at the Las Vegas Summer League. Each player drained four 3-pointers.
“Look at the NBA — obviously it’s trending toward the 3-point line,” Robinson said, “particularly in the last four or five years. I feel like I can bring that skill set, so I try to be aggressive on that end of the floor. When I get the ball, just let it fly.”
Herro and Robinson again gave Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reason for accuracy optimism, with Herro closing with 23 points and Robinson 14 in the victory that lifted the Heat to 4-0 this summer after a 3-0 run in Sacramento earlier this week.
“It just creates a lot more space on the court,” Herro said of playing as part of a shooting ensemble. “On the offensive end, things easier.”
Still, summer-league coach Eric Glass warned not to overstate summer shooting success compared to the real thing.
“It’s very nice to have shooting with your young players,” Glass said. “But I think we’re a long ways away from whether they can help us on the main level right away. We’ll see.
“It’s going to be different when they’re out there guarding grown men. It’s definitely encouraging. It’s definitely what we want to see, but they still have a long way to go to.”
After rotating through his 12-player roster during the 3-0 run at the California Classic, with Herro, Robinson it just makes and Yante Maten each given a day off, Glass had all of his top available players in uniform Friday.
That had Robinson, Maten and Kendrick Nunn, the three players on the summer roster under standard NBA contracts, in the starting lineup along with Herro, who remains unsigned. Undrafted South Carolina big man Chris Silva rounded out the starting five and grabbed a teamhigh 10 rebounds.
The exposure for the three contract players is significant, with each facing an impending guarantee deadline. Robinson’s 2019-20 guarantee will rise to $1 million if he’s on the roster after July 15. Both Maten and Nunn have guarantees that victory over China in the Las Vegas Summer League.
go up to $150,000 if they’re on the roster beyond Aug. 1.
Nunn hit his first three shots, including a pair of 3s, as he again played as an offensive spark. He finished with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Heat are hopeful of a bit of a different look when they next play, with secondround acquisition KZ Okpala expected to be in the mix for Sunday’s 8 p.m. Eastern game against a similar roster of rookies, prospects, draft picks and free agents from the Utah Jazz.
Okpala has been out of the mix to this point because of his draft-night trade remains pending until Saturday’s conclusion of the moratorium. The forward out of Stanford first must be
dealt from the Phoenix Suns to the Indiana Pacers, who on draft night traded him to the Heat for three future second-round picks.
Among those watching from the stands Friday were Spoelstra, assistant coaches Dan Craig and Octavio De La Grana, shooting consultant Rob Fodor and team executive Alonzo Mourning, father of Heat summerleague forward Trey Mourning, the undrafted senior out of Georgetown. Heat center Bam Adebayo watched from the Heat bench.
Journeyman guard Charles Cooke remained in the NBA’s concussion protocol after taking a blow to the head in Tuesday’s game in Sacramento.