Miami Heat News

EASTERN SOUTHEAST

Dennis Smith Jr. • PG • Heat

Dennis Smith Jr. Agrees to Exhibit 10 Deal with Heat

Guard Dennis Smith Jr. has agreed to join the Miami Heat, though he won't be with the team when training camp opens, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The former No. 9 overall pick is expected to eventually sign an Exhibit 10 deal, with a return to the G-League's Sioux Falls Skyforce likely. Smith averaged 8.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 26.1 minutes across 21 games with Sioux Falls last season while struggling with his shot. Davion Mitchell and Dru Smith are already ahead of him at point guard, with rookie Tre Donaldson on a two-way deal. Another Skyforce stint appears to be the likely outcome, leaving Smith without fantasy appeal for now.

Yesterday

Klay Thompson • SG • Heat

Klay Thompson Emerges as Front-Runner to Start for Miami

Miami Heat guard/forward Klay Thompson is the clear front-runner to open the season at shooting guard, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, though Erik Spoelstra is expected to hold a preseason competition. The 36-year-old made 202 threes at a 38.3 percent clip on 7.6 attempts per game with Dallas last season despite averaging just 11.7 points. His shooting gives Miami needed spacing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, but his fantasy appeal remains fairly narrow at this stage of his career. If Thompson wins the job, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pelle Larsson would likely come off the bench, while Thompson would mainly help fantasy managers in the three-point category with limited contributions elsewhere.

6 days ago

Bez Mbeng • PG • Heat

Heat Claim Bez Mbeng Off Waivers for Training Camp

The Miami Heat have claimed guard Bez Mbeng off waivers from the Charlotte Hornets and intend to sign him to an Exhibit 10 contract for training camp, according to the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang. Mbeng spent much of last season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce before earning a late-season call-up with Utah, where he averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 steals in 15 games. He also posted a 27-point triple-double against Memphis in April. Mbeng's defensive activity is intriguing, but his 19.4 percent shooting from three remains a concern. With Miami's camp roster at 19 players, another stint in Sioux Falls looks like the most realistic path.

6 days ago

Bez Mbeng • PG • Heat

Hornets Waive Bez Mbeng

The Charlotte Hornets have waived guard Bez Mbeng, the team announced Sunday. Charlotte signed the former Ivy League Player of the Year to an Exhibit 10 deal earlier this month after he finished last season with Utah. Mbeng averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 steals in 32.8 minutes across 15 NBA appearances, but his shooting remains a concern after hitting 19.4 percent from three and 64.0 percent at the line. With Coby White, Dennis Schroder, and Kon Knueppel already in Charlotte's guard rotation, Mbeng faced a tough path to minutes. His steals remain intriguing, but he needs another NBA opportunity before entering the fantasy conversation.

Sep 21

Pelle Larsson • SG • Heat

Pelle Larsson Agrees to Four-Year Extension with Heat

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson has agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension with a mutual option for 2030-31, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The deal keeps the 25-year-old out of restricted free agency next summer after he averaged 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes across 70 games, including 54 starts. Larsson shot an efficient 49.6 percent from the field but just 32.3 percent from three. Miami added Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to provide more shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, creating more competition for perimeter minutes. Larsson's playmaking and efficiency should keep him involved, but a crowded rotation could limit another jump in fantasy value.

Sep 18

Giannis Antetokounmpo • PF • Heat

Giannis Antetokounmpo Enters Miami with Huge Expectations

Miami Heat forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf, knee) enters his first season in Miami with immediate pressure, as Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel used Sunday's Ask Ira column to weigh whether his Heat debut can top Shaquille O'Neal's 2004-05 arrival. The framing says plenty about Miami's expectations. Antetokounmpo should operate as the offensive hub next to Bam Adebayo, with Erik Spoelstra able to build inside-out looks around that frontcourt while Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Davion Mitchell help the spacing. The fantasy ceiling remains elite if the usage stays near career levels, but availability is the swing point after he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across a career-low 36 games last season. His decision to skip Greece's World Cup qualifying window for season prep helps, but the calf and knee history keeps some risk attached to the first-round profile.

Sep 13

Davion Mitchell • PG • Heat

Davion Mitchell Enters Camp with a Clear Path to Starter Minutes

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell is deserving of the starting point guard job, but Miami's depth behind him remains a question, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel wrote in his latest mailbag. Dru Smith projects as the backup, while two-way rookie Tre Donaldson is the next internal option if injuries hit. That setup helps Mitchell's minutes outlook after he started all 70 of his appearances last season, averaging 9.3 points, 6.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 28.6 minutes while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three. He will not carry fantasy teams with scoring, but the assists, steals, and secure role keep him useful if Miami does not add another veteran guard.

Sep 6

Nick Richards • C • Heat

Nick Richards Enters Camp in Prove-It Mode

Miami Heat center Nick Richards said the teams that passed on him in free agency were wrong, and he plans to prove it in Miami. "There's a lot of teams that passed up on me that I felt like they should have given me more consideration," Richards told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has spoken with Erik Spoelstra about bringing energy and physicality, but the path to minutes is tight behind Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Nikola Jovic. Richards started 51 games for Charlotte in 2023-24, averaging 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds, but he slipped to 14.6 minutes per game between Phoenix and Chicago last season. He needs a strong preseason to become more than emergency fantasy depth.

Sep 1

Pelle Larsson • SG • Heat

Pelle Larsson Scores 23 Points in Sweden's Qualifying Loss

Miami Heat guard/forward Pelle Larsson scored 23 points in Sweden's 84-69 loss to France on Sunday in Group L of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers, getting to the line 16 times and converting 13, Spotrac's Keith Smith reports. The 25-year-old could not match France's frontcourt efficiency, as Victor Wembanyama posted 18 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks, while Maxime Raynaud added 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Larsson also dropped 31 points against Finland on Thursday, making the free-throw volume the best fantasy takeaway from his window. Miami's shooting guard minutes are more available after Tyler Herro went to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and Norman Powell signed with Chicago. Larsson started 54 games last season while averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes. Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. are camp competitors, but Larsson has done enough to keep pressure on Miami's perimeter rotation.

Aug 31

Nikola Jović • SF • Heat

Nikola Jovic Scores 21 Points as Serbia Routs Iceland

Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic scored 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting in Serbia's 102-73 rout of Iceland on Friday in Group J of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 23-year-old added three rebounds, two assists, and a plus-28 while outscoring Nikola Jokic, who finished with six points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Serbia improved to 5-2 in Group J, but Jovic's bigger issue remains his NBA role. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 17.2 minutes across 47 games last season while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from deep. Miami reshaped its frontcourt around Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Bobby Portis, while Pelle Larsson is also pushing for perimeter minutes. Jovic needs a cleaner shooting camp before becoming more than a watch-list name.

Aug 29

Pelle Larsson • SG • Heat

Pelle Larsson Pours in 31 Points as Sweden Topples Finland

Miami Heat guard/forward Pelle Larsson scored a game-high 31 points in Sweden's 86-81 win over Finland on Thursday in FIBA World Cup qualifying. The 25-year-old finished 9-for-17 from the field and 11-for-14 at the line while Sweden held Lauri Markkanen to 11 points on 2-for-13 shooting. Sweden has won four straight, and Larsson is averaging 27.0 points in qualifying. The outburst doesn't shift his fantasy value by itself, but the volume fits what Miami may need. Larsson started 54 of 70 games last season, posting 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes. With Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis sent to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and Norman Powell gone in free agency, Larsson has a runway to a larger perimeter role behind Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Aug 28

J'Vonne Hadley • SG • Heat

J'Vonne Hadley Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Heat

The Miami Heat have signed undrafted forward J'Vonne Hadley to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Hadley played for Miami's Summer League team after closing his college career at Louisville, where he averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 56.2 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from three-point range. He was quieter in Summer League, posting 5.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks across eight games. The camp deal gives Hadley a path to stay in Miami's system, but the NBA rotation is crowded with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Bobby Portis, Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, and Klay Thompson ahead of him. Sioux Falls is the realistic landing spot, leaving Hadley off fantasy radars.

Aug 27

Keshad Johnson • PF • Heat

Keshad Johnson Back in Miami on Two-Way Deal

The Miami Heat and forward Keshad Johnson have agreed to a two-way deal, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. The move is a step down from the standard contract Johnson played on last season. The 2026 Slam Dunk Contest winner appeared in 32 games for Miami, averaging 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.8 minutes. His best work came with Sioux Falls, where he posted 17.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.9 blocks across eight G-League games. The path to minutes is still rough, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Bobby Portis, Nikola Jovic, and Klay Thompson all ahead of him in the forward mix. Two-way status caps Johnson's availability and keeps him off playoff rosters unless he is converted, leaving him nowhere near fantasy draft boards.

Aug 27

Nick Richards • C • Heat

Nick Richards Lands in Miami

Free-agent center Nick Richards has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The move fills Miami's 14th standard roster spot after the team added Klay Thompson, giving the Heat another reserve big behind Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bobby Portis. Richards split last season between Phoenix and Chicago, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes across 48 games while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. His workload is unlikely to grow much in Miami unless injuries open up backup-center minutes, leaving Richards off fantasy draft boards for now.

Aug 27

Simone Fontecchio • SF • Heat

Simone Fontecchio Explains Why He Stayed with Heat

Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio re-signed on a reported one-year minimum deal this summer, and he said returning to Europe was never part of the plan. "We didn't even consider the idea of returning to Europe this summer," Fontecchio told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "When this opportunity in Miami came along, I just accepted it." The 30-year-old also valued keeping his family settled, describing Miami as the place where he feels "wanted and appreciated." Fontecchio averaged 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 37.5 percent from three across 70 games last season. His shooting should help space the floor around Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but a crowded wing rotation keeps him off fantasy radars unless injuries open steady minutes.

Aug 24

Klay Thompson • SG • Heat

Klay Thompson Praised by Pat Riley After Heat Signing

Miami Heat guard/forward Klay Thompson drew strong praise from team president Pat Riley after signing with Miami following his Dallas Mavericks buyout. Riley called Thompson "one of the most iconic players to ever suit up in the NBA" and pointed to his value as an all-around player, not just a shooter. The 36-year-old five-time All-Star is coming off a reduced role in Dallas, where he averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 21.7 minutes across 69 games while shooting 38.3 percent from three. Thompson's fantasy value should still lean heavily on triples, and Miami's crowded rotation caps his counting-stat ceiling despite the cleaner spacing next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Aug 24

Klay Thompson • SG • Heat

Klay Thompson Signs Two-Year Deal with Heat

According to Shams Charania, veteran guard Klay Thompson is finalizing a two-year, $13 million deal with the Miami Heat. It's a two-year deal, but the second year is a player option. Thompson must wait until he officially clears waivers following a buyout from the Dallas Mavericks. After two bad years in Dallas, it's unclear if Thompson is going to start on the Heat. This past season, Thompson averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 21.7 minutes per game in 69 contests. His shooting percentages have taken a hit in recent years, but Thompson can still be a decent contributor, whether it's on the bench or in the starting five. Pelle Larsson will likely see a reduced role with Thompson now headed to South Beach.

Aug 23

Klay Thompson • SG • Heat

Klay Thompson Agrees To Buyout With Mavericks, To Sign With Heat

Veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson will soon join Giannis Antetokounmpo and Company in Miami after agreeing to a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the 36-year-old is expected to sign with the Heat once he clears waivers. Thompson averaged career-low marks across the board: minutes (21.7), shot attempts (10.6), three-point percentage (38.3%), free throw percentage (76.6%), points (11.7), rebounds (2.1), and assists (1.4). On the tail end of his career, Thompson doesn't have much left to give for fantasy basketball players, but figures to be part of the new-look rotation in South Florida.

Aug 21

Giannis Antetokounmpo • PF • Heat

Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miss Greece Qualifiers

Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will not play for Greece in the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers against Ukraine and Spain, with the Heat requesting that he report to the United States early to continue his preseason integration, according to Eurohoops. The two-time MVP joined Miami this offseason alongside Bobby Portis after an injury-limited 2025-26 season in which he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across 36 games. The decision does not hurt his fantasy profile. If anything, the extra ramp-up time with Miami is a small plus, though durability remains the only real concern for a first-round fantasy anchor.

Aug 11

Davion Mitchell • PG • Heat

Davion Mitchell Slims Down for Contract Year

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell has spent the offseason on a demanding workout plan, including sunrise track sessions and overseas training in Greece and Spain, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. The former ninth overall pick trimmed down to sharpen his defense and enters 2026-27 as Miami's starting point guard in the final season of his two-year, $24 million deal. Mitchell averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three last season. The scoring ceiling is limited with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo driving the offense, but Mitchell's assists, efficiency, and steals give him a useful fantasy floor.

Aug 9

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