Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dragic: Foot feeling better
Goran Dragic said he now expects to be cleared for full practice when the Miami Heat hold their first team session of training camp Sunday at American-Airlines Arena.
Last week, after signing a two-year contract in free agency to remain with the Heat, Dragic said he still needed to test his left foot after tearing his plantar fascia during the NBA Finals in October.
“I just finished three straight hard practices, running [and] shooting,” Dragic said of the Heat’s ongoing individual camp sessions. “My foot reacted well — no pain, nothing. Just a little bit of stiffness in the morning and that’s it.”
It was during the preseason a year ago when Dragic was informed by coach Erik Spoelstra that he would be shifted to a reserve role. The veteran Slovenian held that role until thriving as a starter in the playoffs.
“We didn’t talk yet,” Dragic said. “For sure, we’re going to have this conversation soon.
“Like I said before, I’m here to help. Whatever Coach needs, I’m going to be there for the team.
“Of course, last year was something new for me coming from the bench, so that’s why I was a little bit shocked. But I already went through that, to the bench role and everything, so I know what to expect. So it’s going to be much easier than last year.”
At 34 and less than two months removed from his appearance in the game the Lakers closed out the Heat in the NBA Finals, additional rest — even more than the reserve role provided — could prove the best way to preserve Dragic.
“That’s Coach’s decision,” he said. “But, yes, we and the Lakers had the least rest and it’s crucial to be healthy all season and to be in good shape.
“But I’m not worried about that because we have so many players who can step up. Each given night it can be somebody else, so, yeah, we’ll see.”
Robinson’s best shot
Having thrived in his second season, Duncan Robinson said he expects to have a target on his back from opposing defenses and recognizes that adjustments will be necessary.
“[I’m] just being harder to guard offensively,” he said. “Not necessarily adding all sorts of moves or whatever to my offensive game, just maybe two or three things, just to be a little bit more effective where I’m not just shooting 3s all the time. Maybe mix it up in the midrange and finishing a little bit.
“Teams are going to try to take away what it is I want to do. So a lot of the development will probably come in being more effective in getting to those spots that I’m able to be successful in.”
Cashing in
Success could have a significant payoff next summer when Robinson becomes a restricted free agent.
Shooters such as Joe Harris ($75 million over four years), Davis Bertans ($80 million over five), Danilo Gallinari ($61.5 million over three) and Bogdan Bogdanovic ($72 million over four) loaded up in this offseason’s free agency.
“Truthfully, I try not to get too caught up,” Robinson said.
“Obviously, you see it because everybody sends it to you, but I’m super happy for those guys. [It’s] well-deserved. They all happened to have really great seasons.
“I try not to get too caught up in comparing myself or seeing where I stack up in terms of those sort of things. More so, [I] try to take advantage of opportunities when I am actually stacked up against them in a game.
“Obviously, it’s great to see that skill set being valued the way it is. But truthfully, a lot of that stuff, at least for now, is kind of outside of my control. So [I] just focus on what I can control.”
Team honored
The Heat’s basketball communications department has won the 2019-20 Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award, which is presented each season to an NBA media relations staff “that best exemplifies standards of professionalism and excellence,” the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced Friday. The award is named for Brian McIntyre, the longtime former NBA public relations director.