With less than two weeks until Miami Heat training camp begins, the stakes are high for several players looking to secure their spot in the rotation or prove their long-term value.
The Heat will hold training camp at Baha Mar in the Bahamas from October 1st to October 5th. Here are some players who must have a good training camp:
1. Josh Christopher
It's been a winding road for Josh Christopher since he was taken in the first round of the 2021 draft. Then, he went out to Summer League and got MVP honors, helped lead the Heat to their first-ever Summer League title, and received a two-way contract with the Heat.
Now comes the next step.
Miami is a very competitive team, and only those who put their best foot forward get a spot, especially since the Heat commonly depend on developing undrafted players. He will need a strong training camp to ensure his spot on the roster and avoid becoming an NBA journeyman.
Christopher had been quite great for the Rockets at times but inconsistency has been the huge problem. He has the tools to be capable on both ends of the floor, especially defensively given his size and athleticism. On offense, he must prove he can knock down open shots and contribute as a secondary playmaker, as well. The Heat will be further observing to see if he can deliver on the court with more reliable performances each day.
Even then, Christopher will have to fight for minutes in a crowded Miami backcourt that will also
include Tyler Herro, Josh Richardson, Terry Rozier and Alec Burks. He's going to have to prove his energy, defense and shooting can give the team a boost off the bench.
Training camp is going to be huge for Christopher to prove that he can be part of the rotation in Miami and that he still belongs in the NBA. If he proves consistent two-way play and fits in with Miami's intense, defense-first culture, he has a real chance at restarting his career and a meaningful role with the Heat.
Kevin Love
Love will turn 36 this season, and the first obstacle is proving he can still be a vital member of the rotation.
His 3-point shooting was valuable at times, as was his rebounding and leadership for the Heat last season. He is, of course, very limited on defense, and the loss of athleticism has clearly set in, so it begs the question of what role he could possibly play. He must prove he can still be that same stretch big, spacing the floor and anchoring his team through pivotal moments, especially in a Heat system where defense and conditioning are important.
Between the development of younger players in Nikola Jović and the first-round selection of Kel'el Ware, Love could find himself seeing a reduction in minutes. Training camp will give him an opportunity to carve out a consistent role within the rotation. If he can prove that his shooting and basketball IQ remain assets, he could remain an important veteran presence off the bench. If not, he might see a dwindling of minutes and a slide further down the depth chart.
Even as Love's physical skills decline, he is going to be big this year as a veteran leader on a young team. The Heat are big on experience and culture, and at this stage of his career, the mentorship of guys like Bam Adebayo and Jović could keep Love relevant to the Heat. Training camp will give him a chance to set the tone as a leader. That might extend his on-roster period of relevance, even if his minutes decline from here out.
Tyler Herro
After being at the center of rumors upon rumors again this trade season, Herro needs to show the Heat front office he can be a legitimate cornerstone for the franchise.
Despite being a proven 20-point-per-game scorer, there are questions about whether Herro can be more than a sixth-man-type scorer. Training camp allows him to prove he can take things up another notch, especially as a playmaker and defensively, and prove to the Heat that he's worth building around.
One of the main critiques of his game is his defense. In a Heat culture steeped in grit, effort, and two-way play, Herro will have to prove himself on the less glamorous end if he wants to be a lock as a starter or high-usage bench scorer. Opposing offenses have picked on him throughout his career so far, and training camp will be very important in showing he can be more cognizant and physical on that end to not be a real liability in the Heat's switch-heavy scheme.
Now in his sixth season, Herro's days of being a young up-and-comer are behind him, and he's now expected to be one of the leaders. With veterans like Jimmy Butler aging, the development of Herro into a vocal leader and on-court presence is so important. The Heat will look for him to not only perform at an All-Star level but also take some leadership with younger players and set the tone for the culture of the team.
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