Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Sizing up Heat’s camp roster: A look at the 20-player breakdown
MIAMI — There will be no need for last-minute invitations, with the Miami Heat at the NBA limit of 20 players for Tuesday’s start of training camp at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
But there will be decisions to be made, plenty of decisions.
The starting lineup, as it seemingly was all of last season, when 25 opening units were utilized, remains an abstract. Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson would appear the only certainties, especially amid the uncertainty of Dion Waiters’ surgically repaired left ankle.
Then there is the 15-player limit the Heat must reach by 5 p.m. Oct. 15, two days before the season opener against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. At the moment, an argument could be made that the only locks — and perhaps the only players to be on the opening-night roster — are the 14 under guaranteed contract.
Beyond that, there is the assignment of roles, a necessity even with Erik Spoelstra’s preference for a position-less approach.
As for minutes? It is difficult to envision how there could be enough to sate a healthy roster, with 13 candidates for rotation roles and Udonis Haslem waiting in the wings, as he did all of last season.
But with the countdown real and with camp awaiting following Monday’s media day at AmericanAirlines Arena, a look at what is in place in advance of the Heat’s 31st season.
No. 13 Bam Adebayo
Contract status: $3 million guaranteed for 2018-19, under team rookie-scale control for two additional seasons.
Position: C/F. Height: 6-10. Age: 21.
Initial outlook: The goal remains to emphasize versatility that also can allow for time at power forward in a crowded power rotation.
No. 7 Goran Dragic
Contract status: $18.1 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with $19.2 million player option for 2019-20. Position: G. Height: 6-3. Age: 32.
Initial outlook: Enters camp as the lone true veteran point guard on the roster. Now it becomes about regaining the 7-Eleven chemistry with Dion Waiters of two seasons ago.
No. 2 Wayne Ellington
Contract status: $6.3 million guaranteed for 2018-19. Becomes free agent next summer.
Position: G. Height: 6-5. Age: 30.
Initial outlook: The Heat went into the luxury tax to retain Ellington. Now the focus is creating enough minutes for a payoff on that investment.
No. 40 Udonis Haslem
Contract status: $2.4 million guaranteed for 2018-19 (salary counts $1.5 million against cap and tax, under veteran-minimum scale). Has right to veto any trade. Becomes free agent next summer.
Position: F/C. Height: 6-8. Age: 38.
Initial outlook: Haslem’s contributions figure to come more in practice and camp situations than during games. But can he show enough in the tank for spot minutes?
No. 16 James Johnson
Contract status: $14.7 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with two additional seasons on contract, including player option for 2020-21.
Position: F. Height: 6-8. Age: 31.
Initial outlook: The sports hernia robbed much of the explosion last season. Can he get back to his 2017-18 contributions that led to his lucrative contract?
No. 8 Tyler Johnson
Contract status: $19.2 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with $19.2 million player option for 2019-20. Has 15-percent trade kicker to salary if dealt.
Position: G. Height: 6-4. Age: 26.
Initial outlook: The first of two big-money seasons at the end of his four-year contract figure to up the ante on whether the Heat actually can play him at point guard.
No. 5 Derrick Jones Jr.
Contract status: $1.5 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with $1.6 non-guaranteed for 2019-20 until Aug. 1, 2019.
Position: F/G. Height: 6-7. Age: 21.
Initial outlook: On a team lacking in athleticism, can Jones create a niche than demands playing time?
No. 24 Marcus Lee
Contract status: $838,000 nonguaranteed for 2018-19.
Position: F. Height: 6-10. Age: 24.
Initial outlook: A clear developmental project who appears headed for further refinement in the G League, with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
No. 00 Yante Maten
Contract status: Two-way contract, worth up to $385,000 for 2018-19, depending on days on Heat NBA roster.
Position: F. Height: 6-8. Age: 22. Initial outlook: The overall versatility on both sides of the ball impressed during summer league. Now the goal has to be to define one area of NBA-level contribution.
No. 17 Rodney McGruder
Contract status: $1.5 million guaranteed for 2018-19. Becomes free agent next summer.
Position: G/F. Height: 6-5. Age: 27.
Initial outlook: The roster spot is a given, but a rotation role will again have to be earned, which could require an upgrade from what previously has been offered.
No. 14 Malik Newman
Contract status: $838,000 nonguaranteed for 2018-19.
Position: G. Height: 6-3. Age: 21. Initial outlook: At a time when 3-point shooting has become paramount, Newman has to make enough shots to draw notice during the preseason.
No. 9 Kelly Olynyk
Contract status: $12.5 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with two additional seasons on contract, including player option for 2020-21.
Position: C/F. Height: 7-0. Age: 27.
Initial outlook: The versatility figures to again be explored, with the question of whether it fits in better with the starters or the reserves.
No. 0 Josh Richardson
Contract status: $9.4 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with three additional seasons on contract, including player option for 2020-21.
Position: F/G. Height: 6-6. Age: 25.
Initial outlook: The growth has been steady, with the question now of whether the ultimate jump can be made to something closer to All-Star level.
No. 55 Duncan Robinson
Contract status: Two-way contract, worth up to $385,000 for 2018-19, depending on days on Heat NBA roster.
Position: F. Height: 6-8. Age: 24.
Initial outlook: There could be a spot on the 15-man roster to be won during camp, which could shift a different prospect to Robinson’s two-way slot.
No. 12 Jarnell Stokes
Contract status: $1.5 million non-guaranteed for 2018-19.
Position: F. Height: 6-9. Age: 24.
Initial outlook: He enters basically as the Udonis Haslem of the Heat’s developmental-league program. With a bit more offense, then next step could be at hand.
No. 3 Dwyane Wade
Contract status: $2.4 million guaranteed for 2018-19 (salary counts $1.5 million against cap and tax, under veteran-minimum scale). Becomes free agent next summer.
Position: G. Height: 6-4. Age: 36.
Initial outlook: The farewell tour will be for the fans. What the Heat need are the type of closing moments that could be the difference between a homecourt playoff berth and playoff concern.
No. 11 Dion Waiters
Contract status: $11.6 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with two additional seasons on contract.
Position: G. Height: 6-4. Age: 26.
Initial outlook: It’s all about the ankle, which still isn’t 100 percent. Waiters not only will miss next week’s start of training camp, but also is not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.
No. 4 Briante Weber
Contract status: $1.5 million non-guaranteed for 2018-19.
Position: G. Height: 6-2. Age: 25.
Initial outlook: Same as it ever was — the need for more offensive consistency to make a run for a role as a backup point guard.
No. 21 Hassan Whiteside
Contract status: $25.4 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with $19.2 million player option for 2019-20. Position: C. Height: 7-0. Age: 29.
Initial outlook: The motor was stifled with the season-opening knee injury a year ago. Now it’s about getting back up to speed.
No. 20 Justise Winslow
Contract status: $3.4 million guaranteed for 2018-19, with right until Oct. 15 for extension that would begin in 2019-20, otherwise becomes a restricted free agent next summer.
Position: F. Height: 6-7. Age: 22. Initial outlook: The decision by the Heat on whether to move forward with an extension could offer insight for the long-term plans, with an experiment at point guard potentially in the plans.