Forward-thinking opportunity

Young frontcourt players getting chance to develop

MIAMI — The focus this coming week for the Miami Heat will return to the rotation, with Josh Richardson, Bam Adebayo, Wayne Ellington and other primary players expected to pushing past nagging injuries.

In the interim, lacking up to eight players at times, the Heat this past week were able to at least get a taste of what could eventually follow.

That’s what made Friday’s 121-114 loss in Washington somewhat more palatable, even as it dropped the Heat to 0-3 in their sixgame preseason.

When it comes to Duncan Robinson and Yante Maten, the Heat appeared to have secured with their two-way contracts precisely what is preferred with such deals — promise.

From Robinson there were three more 3-pointers, from Maten 17 points and seven rebounds, as well as a pair of 3-pointers of his own.

“They’re showing what their strengths are, and that’s what you want for young players,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, with the Heat idle until Monday’s game against the Orlando Magic, the first of three exhibitions at AmericanAirlines Arena to close out the team’s preseason. “Sometimes it’s so overwhelming you’re not even able to display what you’re effective at. But you can see glimpses of how they could help at this level and that’s why we want to invest more time and our staff resources with them. Both of them got much better in our summer program.”

Guard Briante Weber, who has spent virtually his entire NBA existence as a close-but-not-closeenough prospect, said Robinson and Maten blend the type of development and promise that could open future doors to more than Forward Yante Maten, under a two-way contract with the Heat, has opened eyes during the preseason.

two-way existence for the forwards.

“For sure,” he said. “Seeing their growth in the days that we’ve had together, they’ve definitely been growing on me.”

The transition in such roles often is to go from college leading man to NBA complementary player, with both Robinson and Maten undrafted in June.

“It’s not really too hard of a transition,” said Maten, last season’s Southeast Conference Player of the Year at Georgia. “You’ve just got to understand there’s established players ahead of you. They told me my whole life, ‘There’s going to be established players, somebody that’s better than you. So you’re just going to have to be able to fit into a system.’

“And that’s one of the biggest things that coaches and teams need, is players that they can fit into their system. I just want to mold into whatever the coaches need me to do and try to do that with excellence.”

That has Maten setting up as a possible Udonis Haslem of the future, with Friday’s contribution during a second-half rally encouraging.

“It felt really good to be out there on the court, to be able to try to contribute,” he said.

Guard Dwyane Wade said he took comfort in sitting out Friday’s second half in knowing the kids were all right.

“These guys are working very hard all summer, especially since I’ve been here in training camp,” he said.

“This is dreams for them. There are things that these guys have dreamed of for a long time. It was cool that we had a chance to sit back and cheer them on and be fans of theirs.”

Weber, too: Weber finds himself in a bit of different situation than the two-way players, with no guarantee beyond the opportunity to compete for a roster spot, otherwise with the option of returning to the G League and securing a $50,000 payout with a two-month commitment there.

But after closing with 10 points, six assists and six steals in playing all 24 second-half minutes he again received a vote of support from Spoelstra.

“I love the kid,” Spoelstra said. “I always have. He’s a competitor. I love his spirit and he’s gotten better. He plays different when he’s in our uniform, because we value the things that he does and he’ll continue to get better.

“I think he’s a very good shooter when he’s open. I think he should be knocking those down on the catch.”

Performances such as Friday’s could yet draw interest elsewhere, with the Heat already committed to 14 guaranteed contracts for their 15-player regular-season limit.

“I’m auditioning for the whole 30,” he said. “So whoever’s looking, whoever’s watching, I’m just out here playing the best basketball I can. I just need one team to like me.”

NICK WASS/AP