Pelle Larsson gave Sweden everything it could ask for on Sunday in Stockholm, but the finish belonged to France.
Playing in front of a record crowd, the Heat guard/forward nearly helped Sweden pull off an upset in a 2027 World Cup qualifying game, according to FIBA. Sweden led 65-64 with five minutes left before France ripped off a 20-4 run to close the game and win by 15.
Larsson finished with a game-high 23 points in 34 minutes, hitting 4-of-9 from the field and 13-of-16 at the line. The downside was just as clear: he also had a game-high seven turnovers.
Sweden dropped to 4-4 through eight qualifying games.
France leaned on Victor Wembanyama to steady the night. The Spurs star posted 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, along with eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal in 30 minutes as France moved to 7-1 in its group.
Back in Miami, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel weighed in on a few roster questions in a subscriber-only mailbag. On Nikola Jovic, Winderman said he doesn’t see why Erik Spoelstra would use him as a wing, even though that’s the role Jovic has been asked to play at times with Serbia. Winderman’s view is that the 23-year-old is more likely to get minutes at power forward or center.
Winderman also expressed doubt about Ben Simmons’ fit with the Heat, even if Miami were to bring him in on a non-guaranteed deal for the veteran’s minimum.
On the Kyrie Irving front, Winderman answered a reader’s question by saying a Heat trade for Irving doesn’t make much sense for Dallas, since the Mavericks would likely be able to get better offers from teams with stronger-fitting contracts and more attractive draft assets.
Winderman also looked ahead to camp and the Heat’s final roster decisions. He wrote that Miami may open training camp with several Exhibit 10 players instead of filling the 15th spot with a standard non-guaranteed contract.
He also broke down the two-way battle, noting that Tre Donaldson may currently be on the “most solid ground.” The Exhibit 10 invitees could challenge Donaldson, Keshad Johnson or Vladislav Goldin for one of the two-way slots, with Goldin appearing the most vulnerable, Winderman wrote.
In Other News...
Erik Spoelstra Could Eventually Face A Huge Heat Role Change
Erik Spoelstra has been the face of the Heat sideline for so long that it is easy to forget just how rare that kind of stability is in the modern NBA. Since taking over in 2008, he has guided Miami through multiple eras, and his new eight-year extension signed in 2024 only reinforced the sense that he remains central to everything the franchise wants to do.
Still, veteran Heat reporter Ira Winderman has floated a different long-term path, one that would come after the 2027-28 season and would shift Spoelstra away from coaching and into a front office role. It is the kind of transition that has precedent around the league with figures such as Pat Riley and Brad Stevens, but in Miami it would depend on Spoelstras own choice as well as what the organization wants when that time comes. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Could Get Aggressive Fast If This New Core Stumbles
Miamis roster makeover has given the franchise a different look, but it has also raised the usual question that follows any major reset: how long will the Heat wait before deciding the current group is not enough? An insider raised the possibility that, if this new core does not come together the way the organization hopes, Miami could quickly shift into pursuit mode and put itself in position to chase star talent again.
The names attached to that kind of pivot are as big as it gets, with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant mentioned as potential trade targets. Nothing is official, and no move is close, but the idea underscores how thin the margin can be for a team trying to retool while still staying in the hunt. If the early returns are uneven, the Heat may not just be patient and see what happens. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]