Heat Nightly
All teams
The Biscayne Brief · Morning

Heat Confirm Three Signings Before Wolves Test

Smith Jr., Madsen and Kelley are officially Heat, and Minnesota's up next on the preseason slate.

8-13Giannis FG vs Pelicans
By the Heat Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 10

The Heat made it official on October 9: Dennis Smith Jr., Gabe Madsen and Kylor Kelley all joined the roster, one day after the bench outworked New Orleans in a 128-118 win. Kelley arrived with a right calf issue already attached, leaving a crowded roster to sort out minutes before the regular season even starts.

Heat Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Signings Confirmed

Heat.com and the transaction log both logged Smith Jr., Madsen and Kelley as Heat on October 9. The Smith Jr. report that stalled Wednesday against Miami's cap room is no longer a report. Three new names, zero clarity yet on who sits when the rotation tightens.

Giannis, Clean Fit

Antetokounmpo scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting in just 18 minutes against the Pelicans, adding four rebounds and four assists. Wiggins chipped in 13 on 4-of-5. The fit keeps looking easy in exhibitions; Minnesota is a different gear.

Wolves Visit Kaseya

Minnesota arrives tonight for a preseason game off a 49-33 season and a net rating of plus-3.1. Anthony Edwards averaged 28.8 points a year ago. Donte DiVincenzo is out with a right Achilles issue and will not play.

Health Watch

Kelley is day-to-day with a right calf issue, the same week he signed. Dru Smith carries a day-to-day calf tag of his own. Pelle Larsson is day-to-day with an illness. Keshad Johnson stays out with a hamstring injury, not expected back until October 26.

Bottom Line

Three new names and four hurt bodies is not depth, it is a roster still sorting itself out days before the opener. The record is 0-0 and preseason wins do not change that. The open question: who actually makes the regular-season roster.

Did the Heat officially sign Dennis Smith Jr.?

Yes. The transaction log lists Smith Jr. joining the Heat on October 9, along with Gabe Madsen and Kylor Kelley.

Who is out for the Heat against Minnesota?

Keshad Johnson remains out with a hamstring injury. Kylor Kelley, Pelle Larsson and Dru Smith are all listed day-to-day.

By the Heat Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

More from The Biscayne Brief

all Heat news →
By the numbers · Fri, Oct 9Bench Outscores Starters By Twenty As Payroll Clears ApronRumor check · Fri, Oct 9Smith Jr. Rumor Stalls Against Miami's Tight CapMorning · Fri, Oct 9Heat Push Past Pelicans As Wiggins, Giannis DeliverMorning · Thu, Oct 8Illness Clouds Larsson, Wiggins Before Pelicans TipMorning · Wed, Oct 7Heat Carry Rest Edge Into Pelicans Preseason TestMorning · Tue, Oct 6Spoelstra Invokes Magic Johnson, Giannis Shrugs It Off