Josh Richardson eager to return to lineup.

Just where and how his minutes will come is up in air

MIAMI — Rook 1 and Rook 2 were all the rage when the references were to Dr. Seuss. Then the real doctors took over.

At least for Josh Richardson, there still is an opportunity to get over the pain of his second NBA season, his return impending from the strained left foot that has had him out since Jan. 8. The same cannot be said for Justise Winslow, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery Jan. 5.

“I hurt for him,” Richardson said. “I see him almost every day. I just hope that he can keep a positive attitude about it. I talk to him about it a lot, to stay up, and he starts rehab soon, so I hope it goes well.”

For Richardson, dubbed Rook 2 last season for his 2015 secondround status to Winslow’s Rook 1 2015 first-round status, the road back is expected to begin Wednesday at American-Airlines Arena, when the Heat return to practice amid this eight-day All-Star break.

“I’m still going to try to get on the court and have a positive impact on the game,” said Richardson, who has traveled recently with the team but is ineligible to

return until Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. “I really don’t play outside myself, so I’m not going to try to do stuff that I don’t do regularly. So I’m just going to try to defend hard and have a positive impact.”

Many of Richardson’s minutes before this 19-game absence came first with Wayne Ellington out, then with Dion Waiters sidelined. The minutes also came before Rodney McGruder had emerged as the Heat’s wing defender of choice.

Now he finds himself in a mix where Waiters, Ellington and McGruder have thrived, with the Heat winning 14 of their last 16 games.

Before the latest ailment, Richardson had been spotted at small forward, shooting guard and point guard. Now all three positions appear covered, even as the Heat need to utilize these coming weeks to determine whether to offer Richardson a contract extension next season.

“I think I’ve already shown growth,” he said, “but I hope that I can show a lot when I get back.”

For all of Erik Spoelstra’s proclamations of positionless, the only way for the Heat front office to project the roster going forward is to get a read on Richardson’s best fit.

“I have no idea,” Richardson said when asked of his best NBA positional fit. “I haven’t even thought that far. I’m just trying to get back on the court right now.”

Richardson has been sweating alongside teammates for weeks. And then the games began. And then he watched, wondering how the first steps back might play out.

“I mean, I can come in at different positions,” he said of the versatility that could unlock his short-term future. “I still know what spots to get to at each position and where they need me on the defensive end.”

While the foot injury that initially had him in a walking boot is the primary concern, Richardson, when away from the court, continues to wear a splint on his right, shooting wrist that was injured early in the season. The result has been a .394 percentage from the field and .313 3-point inaccuracy, compared to .452 and .461 percentages as a rookie.

“It’s all right,” Richardson said of the wrist. “They said it probably won’t be all the way good for a while. So I’m just working through it. I’m starting to feel more comfortable.”

While the lost playing time has been a setback, he said his NBA education has progressed.

“Through the injuries is sort of growth for me for things that aren’t on the court, things that relate to being a leader when I’m not being effective, or when things aren’t going my way,” he said, “still being part of the team and encouraging everybody and being patient.”

JOE SKIPPER/AP Josh Richardson has been out of the Heat lineup since Jan. 8 with a strained foot.

CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES Josh Richardson’s minutes have been filled by a number of players while he was gone and now he must work his way back into the lineup starting Friday night.