Everyone making cut in camp
Players assured of jobs, either with Heat or in G League.
BOCA RATON — Imagine a training camp without anybody getting cut.
That’s the situation the Miami Heat are in this season. With 19 players in camp, the Heat have 15 players under NBA contracts and four expected to be funneled to their developmental league affiliate (G League) in Sioux Falls, S.D.
“That’s what I like about this training camp,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Wednesday’s morning workout at Florida Atlantic University.
“This is the first time no one will officially get cut. These guys are all part of our system, and we wanted to develop them.”
That means the 15-man roster is set barring a trade or surprise signing. The Heat return 11 players from last year’s team: Goran Dragic, Wayne Ellington, Udonis Haslem, James Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Rodney McGruder, Josh Richardson, Dion Waiters, Okaro White, Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow.
The newcomers: firstround draft pick Bam Adebayo, free agent Kelly Olynyk, free agent Jordan Mickey and A.J. Hammons, acquired in a trade with Dallas.
The other four players in camp: Larry Drew II, Erik McCree, Derrick Walton Jr. and Matt Williams Jr. are ticketed for Sioux Falls.
Walton signed a two-way contract, which means the Heat hold his rights on their G League team, with the player allowed to spend up to 45 days during the season with the NBA team.
Drew, McCree and Williams signed affiliate contracts, which means eventually they will be offered a G League contract and assigned to Sioux Falls.
“We handpicked these guys to develop and to be part of our program,” Spoelstra said. “So that’s the way I’ve always viewed Sioux Falls since we’ve taken over, is that’s our program. Players we’ve developed, who we send there, I’ve always said, ‘We’re transitioning them, we’re not cutting them.’
“So this is fun. It’s a good feel to it. The guys know that we’re investing our time, our resources in them. I’m sure they would love to have an opportunity to make our squad. That’s understandable, but the biggest, more important fact is we’re here to develop them.”
Miami has one more twoway contract available, which could be offered to Drew, McCree or Williams. And with one spot available in camp, the Heat could sign one more player. But team President Pat Riley has said the Heat have no plans to add a player.
“It’s more than enough (for camp),” Riley said. “All of our players we brought back from last year are here. They’re signed. And the players we signed to (G League) contracts, whether they were two-way contracts and also some affiliate contracts. ... The number 19 is enough. We don’t want to just bring somebody in to add a 20th player.”
Heat limiting Dragic’s workload: The Heat are attempting to save Dragic from himself.
After Dragic led Slovenia to the EuroBasket championship this summer, the Heat are carefully monitoring the point guard’s workload.
But that’s not easy, which is where assistant Chris Quinn comes in.
“I did sneak in a couple of times, Quinny was like a shadow behind me, ‘G, you’re a coach today,’” Dragic said. “I said, ‘C’mon Quinn.’”
Dragic’s time will be limited during camp and throughout the preseason after a seven-week stretch with his national team that included nine games, culminating with the Sept. 17 title game.
He participated Wednesday in offensive and defensive drills and ran some 5-on-5.
“We held him out more (Wednesday), but he’s still out there,” Spoelstra said. “I had to catch him a couple of times, trying to sneak into the scrimmage.”
Dragic, 31, insists he’s better-prepared for an NBA season after a summer of international ball. But he and the Heat are trying to find a way to recover from such an active summer without losing that edge.
“I’m not expecting being here at training camp and doing nothing, sitting down and watchign,” Dragic said. “That’s not me. I’m still running, I’m still trying to keep in good shape. Coach wants me to do less contact drills when it’s 5-on-5. It’s enough time.”
As for the preseason, which starts Sunday at home against Atlanta, Dragic prefers to play, but the Heat undoubtedly will devise a plan to limit his minutes.
“If you ask me, I would like to play those games,” Dragic said. “Every athlete wants to play; I enjoy playing. It’s a coaching decision. Coach Spo’s plan, I’m going to respect that.”