IN THE LANE

THE LONG ROAD: There have been few starker examples of the winding road of prospect to pro than what 2021 Heat summer-league prospect Micah Potter has traversed over both the past year and then this summer. After thriving with the Heat’s summer roster a year ago, the outside-shooting center, who went undrafted out of Wisconsin, then moved on to the Heat’s G League affiliate last October. From there, Potter got a 10-day contract from the Detroit Pistons last December amid a COVID outbreak, before returning to finish the season in the Heat’s sphere with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. From there, there was time with the New York Knicks’ summer roster in July, being signed back by the Pistons as a means to possibly funnel him to Detroit’s G League affiliate, and then, this past week, a two-way contract agreement with the Utah Jazz. Potter was signed when rookie Walker Kessler and third-year Udoka Azubuike stood as the only centers on Utah’s roster. But since his agreement, the Jazz also have added veteran big man Cody Zeller and Kelly Olynyk. For Potter, that could continue to leave stability as an abstract.

REVISED OUTLOOK: When the NBA schedule was released last month, the Heat’s opening week looked particularly daunting, with the Oct. 19 season opener against the visiting Chicago Bulls and Oct. 21 home game against the Boston Celtics. Now, the Bulls have acknowledged that Lonzo Ball will not be ready for their season opener, after requiring follow-up knee surgery. The same will be the case with Boston center Robert Williams, whose knee issues predate the Heat’s meeting with the Celtics in last season’s Eastern Conference finals, now ruled out for eight to 12 week. Plus, the game against the Heat will be Boston’s road opener under 34-year-old interim coach Joe Mazzulla in light of the season-long team suspension of Ime Udoka.

OPTION LOST?: While the personnel game tends to be one of feint and deception, Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said on a radio appearance this past week that center Myles Turner isn’t going anywhere. Turner, due $18 million this season, has been linked to several trade destinations, including the Heat. “Our job is to listen. We value him greatly and other teams around the league do, too,” Buchanan said. “He really fits with some of our young guards. He’s an outstanding fit on the court for us. He’s set up to have a great season and that puts him in a great spot next summer.” Unless, of course, the right offer comes along, with Indiana in the midst of a lottery-bound rebuild.

THEIR HASLEM: While the two briefly were Heat teammates, Andre Iguodala ultimately will go down as the Golden State Warriors’ version of Udonis Haslem. Warriors general manager Bob Myers acknowledged as much in a recent interview with The Athletic, regarding Iguodala commanding the respect of both veterans and neophytes. “He’s got a great respect level about him, he has got a great presence,” Myers said of Iguodala, who has committed to return for a 19th and final NBA season. “He is one of the few people in the world that can look [Stephen] Curry or Draymond [Green] or Klay [Thompson] in the eye and meet them at their level, but also grab a Jordan Poole or [Jonathan] Kuminga or [James] Wiseman and speak to them, encourage them. There’s no one else in the league who can do that for our team.”