New names have taken over the Miami Heat conversation this offseason, but one of the loudest endorsements came from Klay Thompson - and it was for a player who has been grinding away long before the newest arrivals settled in.
Miami’s roster has kept changing, from the blockbuster trade that brought in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, to the addition of Tim Hardaway Jr. for shooting, and then the late-offseason move for Thompson himself. Even with all that movement, there’s still been plenty happening around the Heat beyond the headline names.
Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, and Bam Adebayo have been working out all over social media for weeks. Nikola Jovic and Simone Fontecchio have also stayed busy overseas at EuroBasket, with Jovic playing for Serbia and Fontecchio for Italy. And then there’s Pelle Larsson, who has been doing a little bit of both.
Larsson is set to lead Sweden as it begins its qualifiers tomorrow at 11:30 AM, and that responsibility fits neatly with the bench role he’s expected to take on in Miami this season. But the comment that stood out most from Thompson’s introductory press conference had nothing to do with Thompson’s own situation. It was about Larsson’s approach.
“I saw Pelle in Spain,” Thompson said at his introductory press conference. “To see his work ethic, I didn't know I was going to be his teammate, but I was really impressed with how much time he spent in the gym everyday. I was like that does seem like a Miami guy.”
That’s the kind of praise that carries weight, especially coming from someone new to the room. It also fits the reputation Larsson has been building since his rookie season, as he’s kept improving and moving up the ladder with this Heat group.
Larsson looks like the kind of player who fits on a winning team. He handles the dirty work, contributes at both ends, and brings a little bit of everything.
His role is expected to grow off the bench, and his downhill physical drives plus his ability to get to the free throw line should be a big part of his offensive value. The jumper will matter too, especially in closing situations next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, but there’s nothing about his mechanics that suggests he can’t become a dependable shooter for Miami.
“He doesn’t flopHe just bulldozes defenders downhill and puts a shoulder into you at that dotted line or below to force the contactReminds me of Jimmy”
Larsson has the kind of game that makes teammates appreciate him and opponents dread him. Thompson and Miami’s other new faces should find that out quickly now that he’s on their side.
In Other News...
Nikola Jovic Is Forcing Heat Fans To Revisit One Big Question
Nikola Jovics summer with Team Serbia has given the Heat something to think about. He has put together a strong run in recent FIBA competition, including a 21-point outing against Iceland, and his play before that came with an eye-catching average of 27 points on 70 percent shooting. For a Miami team always looking for internal growth, that kind of offensive burst naturally has people wondering what it might mean when he gets back to South Florida.
The bigger question is whether this version of Jovic can carry over once the games get back to an NBA setting. His improved play has fueled speculation that he could earn a more meaningful role in the Heats rotation next season, but the gap between summer production and regular-season impact is always the tricky part. Miami has reason to be intrigued, even if the real answer is still waiting to be seen. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Fans Are Starting To Believe In This Offseason Plan
The Heats offseason has taken on the look of a full reset, and Nick Richards is the latest addition to a group that now looks dramatically different from the one that missed the playoffs last season. After spending time with the Bulls and Suns, the center arrives in Miami as part of a broader push that has already brought in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson, giving the roster a very different feel heading into the new year.
For Miami, the bigger question is no longer whether the front office made a splash, but whether all of these moves can come together quickly enough to matter. The Heat are clearly trying to move from disappointment back into the championship conversation, and the early buzz around the plan is starting to reflect that hope, even if the real test will come once the games start and the pieces have to fit on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Lineup Questions Are Already Building Around Giannis And Bam
The Heats roster is taking shape with a very different kind of star power, and the early conversation is already turning to how all the pieces fit. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo give Miami a frontcourt pairing that would reshape just about every opponents scouting report, while Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Klay Thompson add another layer of size, defense and shot-making around them.
What makes the picture so interesting is that the Heat are not just stacking names, they are sorting out roles. The team has a clear group of expected starters and a second tier of players whose value could swing a game depending on development and usage, which is where the real intrigue starts for Miami. With so many new parts in place, the next question is not whether the roster has talent, but how quickly the rotation settles into something coherent. [Read more 🡒]