Miami Heat: 8 players will not travel to Memphis for final preseason game

On Oct. 23 against the Orlando Magic is the next time that you see most of the regulars in action for the Miami Heat.

The Miami Heat, who have played four preseason games thus far, will close the preseason Friday against on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies. Though eight Heat players–including seven regular rotation players, plus one rotation player who is still recovering from shoulder surgery (Josh Richardson)–will not make the trip with the team to Memphis, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

Among those not making the trip are:

• Richardson
• Bam Adebayo
• Jimmy Butler
• Alec Burks
• Tyler Herro
• Kevin Love
• Terry Rozier
• Duncan Robinson

Not traveling for the Heat to Memphis today for tomorrow’s preseason finale:

Bam Adebayo
Terry Rozier
Jimmy Butler
Tyler Herro
Josh Richardson
Duncan Robinson
Alec Burks
Kevin Love

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) October 17, 2024

Thus, we get to see more reps from the “Summer League squad,” in addition to more on-ball reps for Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith and Thomas Bryant. In total, the Heat will 12 active players for the game–assuming no other players are ruled out between now and then–including three Exhibit 10 players (Isaiah Stevens, Zyon Pullin, Warren Washington) fighting for two-way spots.

Miami’s gone 3-1 in preseason, even though wins-losses are inconsequential. More importantly, we’ve seen a shift in philosophy offensively with the team’s shot diet, taking over 46 percent of their attempts from deep and 48 percent from the painted area–weeding out mid-range shots.

It has also gotten back to creating more deflections in the halfcourt after ranking T-20 in deflections per 36 and 12th in live-ball turnovers created per 100 last year. That’s led to greater pace and transition frequency, where it’s done a better job capitalizing.

The Heat weren’t necessarily efficient in the halfcourt–specifically from 3-point range–but I wouldn’t be concerned about a four-game preseason sample when Herro, Robinson, Jovic or Rozier haven’t shot well from beyond the arc. Over time, those percentage should positively regress back to the mean.

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