Heat Summer League Spotlight
Summer League is here! The California classic brings teams to the Chase and Golden One center before teams head off to Las Vegas for the annual tournament. This year’s Heat team has some new faces. Draft picks and G league standouts alike.
Image from Sportskeeda
The squad starts off One and One. After a sixty-six-point slog against the Golden State Warriors, the team returned with a decisive win playing against the opposing Sacramento Kings.
Rotations are bound for some change, but I’ll be shedding some light on some key players for the event. Miami has a habit of finding some diamonds in the rough and I believe that may be the case once again.
Kel El Ware
By Getty Images
Over the past two games: 19 pts/ 8.5 Reb/ 1.5 Ast
The rangy center rebounded from an average game against the Warriors to a dominant one against the Kings. Proving to be a force not only in the paint but on the glass. Kel’el had twenty-six points and eleven rebounds. In his first outing he gathered five blocks as well. He has a higher ceiling than the rest. A prospect pick for sure but there’s some real talent in the Indiana Alumni. He posted splits of 15.9 Points, 9.9 Rebounds, along with 43% from three on limited attempts. Kel’el was also awarded Big-Ten All Defense and All Big-ten honors.
Cole Swider
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Over the past two games: 19pts/ 0.5 Reb/ 1 Ast
Cole Swider already has NBA experience with seven games on the Lakers along with eighteen games with the heat. After leading the G league with a scorching 47% from 3 he hopes to gather a spot on the Heat roster. He’s shown some touch below the 3-point line but holds a similar build to our very own Duncan Robinson. A high-volume movement 3-pt shooter. Like Robinson he’ll have to prove his ability on the other side of the court. He’s larger, given his 6 '8 frame but even at this level they opted to attack him on defense.
Pelle Larsson
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Over the past two games: 8.5 pts/ 4 Reb/ 3 Ast/ 2.5 Stls
The Swedish sensation, he’s called. Pelle Larsson, the Arizona guard, proved to be a positive defensive player, showing great feel and ability to stop perimeter players. Pelle moves well laterally, doesn’t foul often, and has an eye for switches. He has a lower ceiling similar to a josh richardson. A defensive minded combo guard with some offensive chops to add. He’ll be a key rotational player if he pans out accordingly.
Isaiah Stevens
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Over the past two games: 8.5 pts/ 1 Reb/ 4 Ast
Pass-First point guard Isaiah Stevens is a Colorado State legend. After leading the program in Assists and Scoring he looks to fill a deep need for point guard play on the team. After seeing limited action in game 1 the coaching staff gave him the reins a bit. He ran the floor, gathering seven assists along with his ten points on four of five shooting. Kyle Lowry will be missed and Miami's need for a point guard will always be a present issue. But maybe he can mend the tide a bit.
Miami will continue the California classic in their next game against the Lakers