Three down, two to go!
The Miami Heat are over halfway done in their five-game Las Vegas Summer League adventure, where they have gone 1-2. Summer League wraps up this week, with Miami concluding their stint against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
That said, what are a few takeaways we have through three games?
We do not NEED to see Ryan Conwell the rest of summer:
In a perfect world, I would want to see Ryan Conwell play every Summer League game. But we also don’t live in a perfect world.
Conwell has played just one game in Las Vegas after appearing in all three in the California Classic. Conwell missed the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday and did not suit up on Monday due to a hip contusion.
Rest up, Ryan. The Heat are going to need you in October.
The Heat’s second-round draft choice passed the test. Frankly, I don’t need to see any more to know that he’ll be a rotation player at some point this season.
Conwell, 22, averaged 20.5 points across four Summer League games, shooting 41.7 percent with a 64.1 true shooting percentage. Furthermore, Conwell was excellent defensively at the point-of-attack and tallied four rebounds and 3.2 assists across 29.3 minutes per game.
Tre Donaldson could emerge as key lead guard in future:
Donaldson has been as steady as they come throughout the Summer, especially in Las Vegas.
In two Summer League affairs in Las Vegas, Donaldson is averaging 17.0 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals on a remarkable 60.9 percent shooting and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. The 6-foot-3 guard has picked his spots to attack. Most importantly, the former Hurricane has done a good job keeping the offense flowing and setting up his teammates.
As we’ve belabored in the past, Miami lacks that of a true point guard. Davion Mitchell’s passing has come a long way since he entered the NBA, but he’s still not a primary table-setter. Donaldson is. So I’m very curious to see if the undrafted rookie, who signed a two-way with Miami immediately after the draft, earns spot rotation minutes this season.
A minor shakeup in two-ways should be on the horizon:
Speaking of two-ways: I’m still not quite sure I see it with Vlad Goldin.
Miami extended the two-way qualifying offer to Goldin earlier this summer and didn’t withdraw it before Monday’s deadline. So, he’s guaranteed at least a two-way contract this year.
And I’m not sure that should be the case.
Goldin is averaging just 8.0 points on 31.6 percent shooting (he’s 7-foot!!!!!!) and 6.3 rebounds per game. His rim protection has been good, but that’s been his most — and only redeemable — quality thus far.
While Miami is 1-2 through three games in Sin City (despite going 2-1 in San Francisco), they have enough talent worth considering for two-ways. Donaldson is the only other player who is commanding a two-way. But Tre White deserves a look, as does Jahmir Young, Trevor Keels and Ian Schieffelin, who has outplayed Goldin.
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LeBron’s decision may come down to 3 choices:
Despite my logic and deductive reasoning, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up selecting a team outside the box, such as the Warriors, T’Wolves or Nuggets.
Hopefully, we will find out soon. This drama/anticipation is a killer.
the more waiting he does more i think it might be a team other than cleve mia .seems like cleve is a no brainer but goat sees something there doesnt excite him (beard).i think he still has animosity toward riley.gsw not champ team theyre players to old.nuggets make sense although doubt hed want to livein portland.he doesnt want to live in minnesota. i would think.if hes cool with riley i think he comes here.the way cleve gave up in playoffs real bad look.nyk won the title otherwise that would be cool to see him at msg..phily makes sense. besides joels health.
Giannis: joining Heat was a “no-brainer”, had to get extra sleep before playing Heat with Bam
Gonna watch the Giannis intro
Great presser
Portis presser was also.
I was out. Started to watch it on YouTube until the live Giannis one started. He seems to an impressive guy. I wll finish it later.
*to be
Shams now saying that GSW is behind the other teams trying to sign Lebron. Has the feel of trying to leverage an AD trade to GSW. GSW is unwilling so far to trade its firsts, so who gives in? Lebron has all the time in the world, no deadline at all when he signs for next year.
Can someone explain to me why the league is investing the Gary Trent Jr contract?
We’re now going to punish teams for way over paying talent? Pat better be careful with that Jovic deal lol.
As I understand it, play now for nothing to get money later. Unusual concept in NBA, usually is the other way around.
Somebody kept the promise, despite Trent played like shit. I would like to know that man of word.
But of course, NBA will investigate him and punish him. Decency is not allowed in NBA.
He was a sought after FA in 2024 but MIL was able to sign him at a one year vet minimum. They had Giannis, Dame on max contracts making 70% of the cap, plus Middleton at >$30m. Then he resigned in 2025 again at minimum, with same cap situation for MIL – Giannis, Myles Turner, Dame’s waived contract, plus Kuzma and Portis, making almost all of the cap.
Now with Giannis’ 35% max contract gone (plus Portis’ $15m), MIL signs him to a longterm guaranteed deal at MLE money, when other shooters (THJ, Kennard etc) only could get short term, 1 or 2 year deals for 10m less per year, or others who are making MLE money have nonguaranteed contracts – Duncan, John Collins etc.
And Trent Jr had a much worse year last year than all of those players. Probably as clear of an example as cap circumvention as there is, Milwaukee is claiming another team was going to offer him the MLE this offseason which seems absurd.
I mean I get it, but punishing a team after they pay the guy they shouldn’t be paying is crazy. The investigation should have occurred when they were benefiting. Now they are essentially punishing themselves, by over paying a back-up.
There was no proof/no reason to investigate when MIL was benefitting in 2024, they were a title contender who signed GTJ to an unusual/unexpected minimum contract, but you could say Trent Jr took a discount for a contender and was betting on himself playing well for future earnings. But now with NBA contracts moving more to short term, nonguaranteed deals for shooters/role players it’s clear there’s no explanation for him getting one of the larger contracts this offseason after a year averaging 8 ppg. No one else was paying him that. Personally don’t think there should be a salary cap at all, but if MIL was able to sign him at a minimum in 24 only because of a promise of future earnings that is clearly cap circumvention.
That takes a player, willing to wait 2 years for the money, and the owner, who is keeping the word.
What about Lebron? He would take much less money then his value is. But he will make movies to get that money. Is Kawhi consulting really that different than that?
If Kawhi was signing with LAC on the condition of extra money from a no show job, then its cap circumvention and other teams who could have signed him for same amount but followed the CBA rules lost out. The rules themselves, an artificial cap on what players can make, are irrelevant imo. But a capped out contender like MIL offering a minimum one year, with promise of a future payday is definitely a violation of the rules for whatever its worth. Would be luxury tax payments avoided not going to other teams.
No issue with MIL signing Trent to a 100m contract if they want, but no one was offering what he got, although Shams is saying there was an unknown team who was offering similar to 4/64 which is highly doubtful. And the 4 years guaranteed is the biggest tell.
Norm got only 1 year, $21.5m as an All-Star, Trent Jr 4 years, $16m is a good comparison of how absurd the contract is imo
It is absurd, no doubts about it. But whats wrong, if the team and owner wants to spend money in absurd way?
And most of what teams are doing is related to avoiding caps and aprons. What is wrong with that?
It’s a violation of Article XIII of the CBA. Think what Heat could do in same situation, could have kept Powell on a minimum this year and increased their title odds, then pay him years later like Bucks did with Trent Jr. I’m against a salary cap, but there are pages of the CBA about how teams agree to not circumvent the cap by underpaying with promise of future contracts etc.
Yes, but a promise and wrongdoing needs to be proved.
I doubt that could be done or, in other words, I doubt everybody involved would left a trace of such arrangement.
And I suspect, that most, if not all agreements of free agents getting underpaid have some unofficial promise or at least a hint off better times in the future.
The CBA language says that cap circumvention can be proven by direct or circumstantial evidence, and evidence can be that a contract cannot “rationally be explained”. The Trent Jr contract definitely fits that
Well, a thin line there. Making a punishment there would open Pandoras box. I would say that a lot of contracts have some kind of hidden agenda attached to it. Even Wembys and Bransons contract would be investigated.. they are clearly signed for less of their worth.. maybe they expected more money later.
Side/under the table deals are prohibited, unless of course, it is a team Silver favors.
Need to see Conwell in preseason vs NBA competition. Positionally with his size he is a PG – 8’0.5″ standing reach, same as Davion, Jalen Brunson. Can he defend 1 in NBA?
Lot of talk that Heat have worst backcourt of any contender. Don’t agree – Davion is underrated, an elite AST/TO guy for example, and Pelle’s potential on offense is underrated.
To address their team needs – 3PT volume – Heat added the most prolific college shooter in Conwell, best available free agent shooter and 6MOTY candidate Hardaway, and resigned Simone. But still a lot of questions going into season, IMO biggest ones are Conwell’s defense (assuming that if he can shoot 10 threes a game vs high level NCAA competition, he will find a way to get his shot off in NBA) and Larsson’s 3PT shot, which is the only thing standing in the way of a Davion/Larsson/Wiggins/Bam starting lineup around Giannis.
if we get beal klay dd some vets we will not see conwell.this is a nyk vet team rookies make mistakes which cost u games.gimme vets with bbiq and when greek is otoh bring rooks on.and we’ll have to suffer for a few years.but weve got greek bam bobby wig dav tim pelle add few vets we be good to go for jewelry.if conwell is really good which is prob not the case needs to sit and learn and watch our vets kick ars
If he’s really good maybe he takes Dru’s spot at backup PG. Dru is probably one of the more underrated defenders in the league, but the backcourt on this particular team needs to have high volume shooters around Giannis and Bam. Conwell putting up 10 per game is impressive. Could also see Dru increasing his volume this year
goat wade shaq greek zo bosh timmy quitter.ty ty ty mr riley,what a great stewart of the miami heat u have been .who knows what we would have been w/o u
Victor Oladipo was in tears after his workout in front of NBA scouts in Las Vegas.
The former Heat guard is still fighting for another chance in the NBA after being sidelined by a devastating patellar tendon injury since the 2023 playoffs. After the workout, he personally shook the hand of everyone who attended.
At 34 years old, he’s still giving it everything he has.Jalen brown cant be happy.Love to see dipo try to make our team.
Maybe there is a place for him. The only complain about him is that he has a dark cloud over him.
I can see maybe getting him if we don’t get demar or beal.
BREAKING NEWS! LeBron has decided…
to indefinitely postpone making a decision pending completion of the groveling phase of the process. Apparently, several teams still aren’t finished kissing his @$$.
i believe he wants to team up with ad .who cares we got greek.intro tomorrow
So he’s going to the Wizards? Interesting.
allen strus shroeder to wash rc.ad doesnt want to go thru generals rebuild
Interesting. He said he wanted to be there and the team said they have no plans to trade him. Is your source hfl? Or something else?
of course hes gonna say he wants to be there .u dont think he wants to take his talents to goatsville.hes as durable as joel.when healthy was top 5 player,we saw him first hand destroy us in the bubble.crowder on ad bam on joker stilll think about that pat failed us there .spobot to.
internet rc,hfl doesnt make sht up.facts driven i read i report keeping hhh updated with info.
What site?
next time i will reference not making it up rc.believe bron wants to go to cleveland but w/o ad prob thinks he cant win it all
I did eventually locate that proposal.
That deal won’t fly. Gonna need some younguns and draft picks to get AD. Maybe they can make a 3 way trade.
trae middleton ayton not young always can use some vets to lead the youngens.if spurs might have had another vet or two theyd be wearing rings.bb iq just as important as duncan athleticism,aka instincts aka make right play.aka no selfish herro like players..so glad his 20pts a game somewhere else what a relief and that duncan defense outta here.now all we need is shnozzy otoh and theyll be nobody to rip anymore until pat gives simone 3 yr 45 mil
If their exisiting veterans had performed better they would easily have won and be wearing rings.
5 of the top 6 scorers for Spurs were 25 or under. Top 3 leading scorers were 22 or younger.
Note:
In 2025-2026, De’Aaron Fox’s salary was $37,096,620 which marked the final year of the contract he signed with Sacramento before his subsequent four-year, $229 million maximum extension with the San Antonio Spurs beginning in 2026-2027 (average of $55.8M per year). And you think Jovic’s contract is bad?
I don’t think they are in rebuilding mode at this point.
starting lineup –
Sarr 16/7/3
AD 20/11/3
Dybantsa AJ Dybantsa is already projected as a perennial 20+ point-per-game scorer, an elite “four-level scorer,” and a staple of the Washington Wizards following his selection as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
George 15/5/5
Young 18/2/8
bench –
Ayton 12/8/1
Middleton 10/4/3
Coulibaly 12/4/3
Tre Johnson 12/3/2
Carrington 11/3/5
imo, it is the best team they’ve had in a long time.
Another contender for PO, until AD stay healthy. After that, not any more.
Yup, they will be another team in the hunt for a play-in spot. Southeast Division isn’t as weak as it used to be. Neither is the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, Washington.
NY, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Toronto, Indiana, etc.
Gonna be a dog fight.
we got best player in east though?
Is there an award for that? Basketball is a team sport. One player does a team make.
how will it look on the ct.on paper looks ok.teams been drafting in top 5 4ever.generals will be generals until their not the generals,ck in april 2027 if theyre over 500.just think of riley would have gone to dc instead of beautiful miami.we are lucky miami is such a beautiful city.that def played a part in greek being down here and prob hollywood movie star looking riley.
dybanta playing versus guys who soon will be in g league or working at home depot.
If he wants to play with A.D., maybe he will sign with Generals. It could happen.
dont think wash with bron can win it all.
Yup
just saw the greek get off plane at mia wow that made by day night wekend heat life.man cant believe we got him wow.i dont think rc and i will be the only guys posting game time here.last years playin bunch was 82 games of meh except bams 83 pt game versus the generals.just saw greek and his beautiful wife mariah at the england argentina game.what a game that was as good a sports event ive seen in a while.whatever the reason he liked miami im glad he liked our city.
lets face it none of these youngens gonna get pt.we got some more vets on the way.once greek is done here we will be in line for #1 pick.lets enjoy this fantastic player who will be introduced tomorrow along with an all star type player in mr portis..
You face it. At some point Conwell will get some minutes. Perhaps closer to the AS break. You say no, I say yes. We will see.
my face looks better than yours
Since I’ve challenged you several times to post a photo of your handsome self without you doing so, we’ll never know. I, on the other hand, posted a photo some months back.
I think Donaldson looks best, so far. I think Conwell looks like he can play, but he isn’t as much of a sure thing as they are saying. Donaldson may be blossoming in front of us. I agree, our hopes about Goldin look unfounded.
whos they ?
I think Conwell will eventually get minutes. Tre will likely spend most of the season in the G league plus a few minutes here and there with the Heat. I was hoping to see more from Vlad but he just hasn’t looked good.
I agree with everything you said, but vlad not looking good puts us in a jam, if bam,giannis, or Portis gets hurt… then will have to rely on jovic more as a fake backup big.
That would be a disaster. Portis, as noted, could fill in, but we need another functional big.
And if Portis got hurt, we’d be back to that staggered system like with Bam and Ware, where one of Giannis or Bam is almost always on the floor.
Only 2 I can think of is maybe Ben Simmons or bol bol .
I always felt that playing Simmons’s at pg was a mistake. As a center, he can defend, has size, can distribute, rebound, and hit those 5 foot shots since that’s about the furthest out from the basket he can shoot, lol. His mental state is a totally different story, of course.
I envisioned him as a PF/Point Forward. Then I snapped out of it. He doesn’t see himself as a front court player. Same issue with Jovic. He either figures that out and starts playing his part, or he and fans will be very disappointed. Riley is already regretting his decision to jump the gun and offer him the $62.4M contract before he had earned it/proven he deserved it.
Jovic was a huge disappointment last season, but this year he will have plenty more opportunity. I’ll still keep the bar low, so just give me 12/5/4 with at least 37 percent from 3, and I’ll be alright with that.
me too.
Me too. Despite the new salary, he can play freely with all the talent around him.
Yup. With his size, he should be able to match Jaime’s numbers, or better. Hopefully, he comes into camp with his head screwed on straight and focused on what he is capable of doing. If he finds his karma, he could be a big plus in the front court.
Yes I feel u on that, but he would be my last resort cuz I wouldn’t want him any lineup with giannis.
I also think they may give Schieffelin a 2 way contract. He is undersized, but there is a ton of fight in that dog.
Let’s see what happens eventually
Goldin not the backup answer.
havent seen to much of summer league surprised vald has been bad we.got bobby p as backup c 6 9 250 bigger stronger than bam.valuchanas not the answer.
Vlad. Valanciunas. Just trying to help.
need mobility for centers now.u saw luke kornett in the finals
Neither guy on the sl roster has shown much of that.
not good then with all the switching speed more important than size.i think portis can be our backup center ,guy shot 46% on 3s hes quite a pick up with greek.like him as a player more than thjr.
If Nick Richards could stay healthy, he would be a good back-up on vet minimum.
Keels, Schieffelin, Donaldson, Conwell shows more then others.
I agree. Vlad has been pretty unimpressive. And the blonde center didn’t look much better.
True. None of those two looks like a NBA player.
I’m liking Tre and get Goldin out of here