In the lane

WAKE-UP CALL: Jimmy Butler‘ s early-morning workouts and practices during training camp drew plenty of attention in NBA locker rooms, including some not exactly in lockstep with the Heat swingman. “Come on man. It’s a long season,” Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love told Cleveland.com. “I think Jimmy is an amazing player, but I think there are some things that are for show. We’ve been putting in long hours, so us getting up at 3:30 and getting in there is not going to do anything for us but make us mad.”

THAT’S J-RICH: Josh Richardson continues to be embraced by the Philadelphia 76ers for his versatility, particularly his ability to vigorously defend opposing point guards. “For obvious reasons, it is great,” 76ers coach Brett Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We have had a few athletes in our program during our lean years that could really harass [on defense], but not to his skill level. For sure, it is a luxury.”

OH, THOSE SPURS: For all their championship intensity, the San Antonio Spurs also are a franchise steeped in deadpan. Take guard

Patty Mills, when, during the team’s visit to Miami, he discussed having to now share the bench with assistant coach Tim Duncan.

“He takes up too much room,” Mills told the Express-News. “I forgot how big of a human he is. Legs sprawled out, long-ass legs, big-ass boots, people tripping over him on the way to sub in.” That same night, coach Gregg Popovich had little use for analytical talk about the NBA’s new coach’s challenge. “Oh, I don’t know,” Popovich said in a hallway at AmericanAirlines Arena. “I guess you wait until the last two minutes and if something looks ugly, you make a challenge.”

FINDING FIT: In the end more comfortable on the wing, former Heat guard Tyler Johnson acknowledged that being cast as somewhat of a true point guard last season upon his arrival to the Phoenix Suns wasn’t the best of fits. “It was tough. I’m not even going to lie,” Johnson told the Arizona Republic. “Those first couple of games were challenging. One, because I love to run the wing. It’s one thing I’ve done since I was a little kid. And [playing point guard], you’ve got to come back to the ball. You’ve got to know where everybody is supposed to be at.” Johnson has spent most of this preseason as a Suns backup at shooting guard to Devin Booker.

MASH POT: Former Heat forward Jamal Mashburn has been appointed as an advisor to the board of directors of Revolution Global, a multi-state cannabis health and wellness company. According to a release from the company, “Mashburn will advise Revolution on expansion, social equity issues, and corporate marketing.” A successful entrepreneur since his playing days, Mashburn has owned several Outback Steakhouse and Papa John’s pizza franchises, Lexus and Toyota dealerships, as well shared a partnership with his former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino in a horse stable. He played for the Heat from 1997 to 2000. Revolution operates in Illinois, Florida, Arkansas and Maryland.

Number

1 Players over the Heat’s 32 seasons born in the 2000s, with

Tyler Herro now standing alone with his Jan. 20, 2000 birthdate.