Heat Extend Larsson As Camp Opens Five Bodies Short

By the Heat Nightly Desk · Saturday, September 19

Miami extended guard Pelle Larsson four years before camp even opened, a bet on a 25-year-old who started 70 games last season. The move comes as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Trevor Keels, Ryan Conwell and Myron Gardner all work through injuries with camp underway.

Heat Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Larsson Locked In

Miami signed Pelle Larsson to a four-year extension worth $60M, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson. Larsson averaged 11.4 points and 3.4 assists last season across 70 games, and Miami is paying now rather than testing restricted free agency next summer.

Five Out Of Camp

Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo are both day-to-day, one with a back injury and the other with a left knee issue, and Miami has both aiming to be ready by Oct. 1. Ryan Conwell, Trevor Keels and Myron Gardner are also sidelined, leaving three depth pieces out as camp opens.

Preseason Opens

The preseason opens on the road at Toronto on Oct. 3, then Miami hosts New Orleans, Minnesota and Brooklyn before the regular-season opener against the Timberwolves on Oct. 21 on ESPN. That gives Spoelstra four exhibition games to settle a rotation that currently has five players unavailable.

Fontecchio's Efficiency

One number worth watching: Simone Fontecchio posted a 70.8% true shooting mark over his last 10 games last season, well above his season-long figure. The sample is thin, but it makes a case for more minutes this fall.

Bottom Line

Miami enters camp with its top two players and three depth pieces unavailable, no regular-season game played yet, and a fresh four-year commitment to Larsson at guard. The open question is whether Wiggins, Jović and the healthy bench can hold rotation continuity until Antetokounmpo and Adebayo return for the Oct. 21 opener against Minnesota.

Did the Heat re-sign Pelle Larsson long-term?

Yes. Miami signed him to a four-year extension worth $60M, according to ESPN and the Miami Herald, keeping him off next summer's free agent market.

Are Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo hurt for training camp?

Both are listed day-to-day, Adebayo with a back injury and Antetokounmpo with a left knee issue, with Miami targeting Oct. 1 for both to return.