TITLE: Spoelstra Mulls Frontcourt Shuffle While Heat Assess Rebounding, Rotation and Rozier Situation
SLUG: spoelstra-frontcourt-heat-rebounding-rotation-rozier
MIAMI — Head coach Erik Spoelstra is weighing whether to reunite rookie center Kelel Ware with Bam Adebayo in the starting five after Adebayo’s return from a toe injury on Wednesday left both Ware and Nikola Jović out of the opening lineup.
Frontcourt dilemma
Jović missed the game with a hip issue, and Ware shifted to the bench after starting six consecutive contests in Adebayo’s absence. Miami’s smaller, quicker lineups suit the club’s up-tempo offense but have magnified rebounding problems: the Heat rank 26th in overall rebounding percentage and 29th on the defensive glass. Ware has averaged 10.0 boards in 24.3 minutes this season and pulled down 16 rebounds in 19 bench minutes against Golden State, yet the Warriors still won the battle on the glass, 62-52.
Spoelstra indicated lineup choices could be made on a game-to-game basis. His options will be tighter over the weekend with Andrew Wiggins (hip) sidelined for the opposition and Tyler Herro projected to make his season debut Monday.
Backcourt adjustments
According to The Miami Herald, scorching-hot guard Norman Powell is expected to stay in the first unit when Herro returns. Either Davion Mitchell or Pelle Larsson is likely to slide to the bench to create room.
Guard Dru Smith could also be squeezed from the rotation once the roster is fully healthy. Smith is averaging 6.1 points and 3.3 assists in 17.1 minutes, but Miami owns a +8.1 net rating with him on the court compared with +0.2 when he sits, leaving his status uncertain.
Rozier’s trade status still unclear
The organization is still waiting for the NBA to decide whether Terry Rozier’s expiring $26.6 million contract can be included in trades for salary-matching purposes. Rozier was placed on administrative leave following an FBI investigation into illegal gambling. If the league bars Miami from using his deal in a trade, the Heat could consider waiving the veteran guard; only $24.9 million of his salary is guaranteed, a move that would create roughly $1.7 million in tax flexibility and allow the club to sign a replacement.
Source: Hoops Rumors
