#miami-heat

#miami-heat

All of us really loved it, The guys mentioned after the practice: The battle between [Kasparas Jakucionis] and [Davion Mitchell]. They're both pitbulls. Davion's a more veteran, seasoned NBA pitbull, but Kas has those kind of qualities in him. They were going at it after each other - in a good way. The scrappiness. If you didn't know them, you'd think it's something else. (Jakucionis) lost a couple of battles, but he's putting his nose in there. I love his competitiveness.

Ware started 36 games last year, while Jovic started just 10. The latter was a "scapegoat" at the start of the regular season and was eventually moved to the bench, even though the starting lineup's shortcomings weren't necessarily his undoing. Ware showed flashes, but wasn't consistent. Miami's spacing was poor when he and Adebayo shared the floor together, and that doesn't figure to be much different without Herro.

That last point may be the understatement of the century. Mitchell is among the NBA's most suffocating on-ball defenders. If he is suddenly going to be an above-average shooter, on real volume, he's not simply a net-positive player. He's one of the Heat's most valuable players, on one of the league's best contracts. Period.

The Miami Heat needed depth in the frontcourt, and they finally addressed the issue on the eve of the start of NBA Training Camp. After the Heat signed Precious Achiuwa to a one-year deal, there may not be a happier man on the Heat than Bam Adebayo. The move to bring in another big man will certainly take some of the pressure off Bam's shoulders.