After hooking big fish, Miami now seeking some talented minnows
The Heat caught the biggest fish in free agency when LeBron James and Chris Bosh decided to join Dwyane Wade in Miami last week.
Now the organization is fishing at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League to fill out its developing roster.
With coach Erik Spoelstra in the stands, the Heat’s Summer League squad debuted Sunday night with a 77-72 victory over the New Orleans Hornets at Cox Pavilion.
”Maybe we can uncover another Udonis Haslem or Joel Anthony, names like that who come through our system during the summer and not only earn spots on our team, but have made our (NBA) rotation,” Spoelstra said.
Former Duke star Jon Scheyer hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute to lift the Heat to the win.
The undrafted free agent had 11 points, five rebounds and three assists in 29-plus minutes.
”I feel very confident,” Scheyer said of his chances of making the team.
“That’s something the Heat are known for, is giving guys a chance who have gone undrafted. But I just want to prove myself, like anybody else.”
James, Wade and Bosh signed six-year contracts with Miami on Friday, but the only other player under contract as of Sunday evening was point guard Mario Chalmers.
The Heat announced June 29 it had extended a qualifying offer to former UNLV center Anthony, a restricted free agent who has spent the past three seasons in Miami.
The team reportedly is close to signing free agent forward Mike Miller, and free agent point guard Derek Fisher met with Heat executives Saturday.
Still, the uncertainty over what the Heat will look like deep into its rotation has given the team’s Summer League players an added sense of opportunity.
”I had two dreams growing up when I was a young kid: playing in the NBA and playing with LeBron James,” said rookie center Dexter Pittman, the No. 32 overall pick in this year’s draft. ”So far, my first year, everything is coming true.
”At least I won’t have to worry about getting dunked on (by James) in a game.”
Though they don’t have guaranteed contracts, second-round draft picks Pittman, Jarvis Varnado and Da’Sean Butler seem likely candidates to compete for roster spots.
Pittman had five points and three rebounds Sunday, and Varnado tallied six points and three rebounds. Butler didn’t play as he continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The team’s starting lineup was comprised of guards Patrick Beverly and Kenny Hasbrouck (24 points), forwards Antywane Robinson and Shavlik Randolph (18 points, six rebounds) and Pittman at center.
Spoelstra called the Summer League ”very important” for finding possible pieces to fit with Miami’s sensational off-season acquisitions.
”I think everybody realizes we’ve got some roster spots to fill, so we want to accomplish a couple things,” he said. ”We have a few second-round draft picks from the last two years, and we want to see them out there.
”The second thing we want to do is look at some of these free agents who have been on our board, undrafted guys a lot of times, and do the same thing.”
Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203.
