Pelle Larsson is making the Miami Heat think twice about that last starting spot.
The assumption around the roster has been that Klay Thompson will eventually claim the opening next to Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Bam Adebayo. But Larsson’s work in FIBA competition this summer has made him impossible to ignore.
His latest statement came against Team France, where Sweden lost and unraveled in the fourth quarter. Larsson, though, wasn’t part of the collapse.
He turned in a strong individual performance, scoring 23 points on 44 percent shooting from the field. He also went 2-for-3 from 3-point range and got to the line 16 times, making 13 of those free throws.
The result didn’t go Sweden’s way, but Larsson’s showing was enough to keep his name in front of Miami’s coaching staff.
Over his last three games in FIBA play, Larsson has averaged 28 points and three rebounds per game while shooting well. The competition level may not match the top tier of the NBA, but he has still been one of the more impressive players in Team Sweden’s run this summer.
And that matters because this has the feel of a summer that could change his ceiling. Larsson is heading into his third season, and there’s a real case that this could be his best one yet - maybe even the one that pushes him into the Heat’s starting group.
That idea doesn’t sound far-fetched anymore. Larsson has been trending up since the latter part of his rookie season, even if he hasn’t made the big leap yet. Everything about this stretch points to that jump coming now, if it’s going to come at all.
Playing alongside Giannis and Bam has clearly made the game easier for him, and his FIBA run only reinforces the belief that he’s ready for more. If he keeps this level of play going into camp, Miami may not have much choice but to give him a real shot in the starting 5.
Thompson’s shooting still makes a lot of sense there, and on paper he may be the cleaner fit. But Larsson has put himself in position to make that decision a lot harder than expected. He may have the upper hand right now.
In Other News...
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Heat Linked To A Cheap Depth Move Fans Should Notice
John Konchar is back on the market after the Minnesota Timberwolves waived him, and the Heat have a familiar reason to keep an eye on the situation. Miami has shown prior interest in Konchar, and the team still has one open roster spot plus enough salary cap space to bring in a player on a veteran minimum contract, which makes this the kind of low-cost depth opportunity the front office tends to monitor.
The timing matters, too, because Miami already saw Keyshawn Hall choose a college route after declining an Exhibit 10 deal, leaving the team thin on extra bodies as it sorts out the back end of the roster. Pelle Larssons strong showing for Sweden in FIBA qualifiers has given the Heat a possible sixth-man type to watch, but if Miami wants another proven role player, Konchar could be one of the more practical options available. [Read more 🡒]