Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) reacts with center Kel’el Ware (7) after scoring against the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime at Thomas & Mack Center during the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League championship game. Lucas Peltier Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
There’s plenty of year-to-year turnover for summer league rosters, but the Miami Heat returns to Las Vegas with a chunk of the core from last year’s roster that won the Las Vegas Summer League championship.
As rookies, forward Keshad Johnson, guard Pelle Larsson and center Kel’el Ware played big roles on last year’s Heat summer league team that went 6-0 in Las Vegas and won the summer crown.
With the Heat opening this year’s Las Vegas Summer League on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center (4:30 p.m., ESPN2), the 24-year-old Johnson, the 24-year-old Larsson and the 21-year-old Ware are again important parts of Miami’s summer roster and even more is expected from them the second time around.
“We’re just looking for overall improvement every day,” Heat assistant coach and summer league head coach Eric Glass said.
So far, so good for Johnson and Larsson, who were selected for this year’s All-California Classic Team for their summer league work ahead of Las Vegas.
With the Heat going 2-1 during the three-game event in San Francisco, Johnson averaged 12 points, 6.5 rebounds, one assist and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 9 of 16 (56.3%) from the field, 2 of 7 (28.6 %) from three-point range and 4 of 6 (66.7 %) from the foul line in two appearances at the California Classic.
Larsson averaged a team-high 16.5 points to go with four rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 9 of 22 (40.9%) from the field, 1 of 7 (14.3%) on threes and 14 of 16 (87.5%) from the foul line in two appearances at the California Classic.
“Pelle is just a really steadying presence out there,” Glass said after the Heat wrapped up the California Classic on Tuesday. “He and Keshad both set the tempo for us on defense. All the habits that they’ve built during their rookie seasons and Keshad’s time in Sioux Falls, they bring that to the team. And it’s the example that the other guys that are a little bit newer to this, that are still learning our system, they see those guys doing all the right things and competing at a high level and setting that pace for the rest of the group. So I couldn’t ask for anything more when it comes to that.”
But more will be expected from Ware in Las Vegas than what he showed at the California Classic. After establishing himself as one of the NBA’s top rookies last season, Ware averaged 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 27.5 minutes per game while shooting 9 of 24 (37.5%) from the field and 1 of 8 (12.5%) from three-point range in two appearances at the California Classic.
“I think defensively he had his moments where he was a dominant threat at the rim protecting and then other times he wasn’t getting rebounds,” Glass said after Ware grabbed just three rebounds in Sunday’s summer league loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the California Classic. “He’ll be the first one to tell you that. So I think he can definitely take it up a notch. We’re seeing flashes, but I’d like to see it more consistently.”
While Johnson, Larsson and Ware are all signed by the Heat to standard contracts and are expected to be on the opening night roster this upcoming season, they are each in different situations.
Johnson, who just recently had his full $2 million salary for next season guaranteed by the Heat, spent most of his rookie season in the G League. After going undrafted last year, Johnson appeared in just 16 NBA games with the Heat last season and logged double-digit minutes in only three of those 16 NBA appearances.
Instead, Johnson made the most of what became a developmental season for him by averaging 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the field and 30.4 percent on threes in 32 appearances with the Heat’s developmental affiliate (the Sioux Falls Skyforce) last season.
Now, Johnson is working to prove to the Heat that he deserves a chance to play consistent NBA minutes as a versatile and athletic three-and-D forward in his second season.
“What we’re asking Keshad to improve on, he’s doing,” Glass said. “He’s doing his role. He’s taking shots when they’re there. He’s a good three-point shooter. We love what he’s been bringing for us.”
Larsson actually earned some significant NBA playing time as a Heat rookie last season, appearing in 55 games (eight starts) after being selected by Miami in the second round of last year’s draft. He began the season out of the Heat’s rotation before earning more playing time off the bench as the year went on, logging double-digit minutes in each of the final six regular-season games he was available for before missing the last three games of the regular season because of a sprained ankle.
With Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra labeling Larsson as an “elite role player” even before his rookie season began, he showed why Spoelstra put that tag on him when he did get playing time. Larsson’s hustle, pesky defense and cutting ability immediately stood out, averaging 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field and 36.8% on threes during his final six regular-season appearances.
Now, Larsson wants to prove he deserves a bigger and more consistent role with the Heat in his second season. He has $977,689 of his $2 million salary for next season already guaranteed, with the rest becoming guaranteed if he’s still on Miami’s roster on opening night.
“Just trying to be efficient every time I get [the ball],” Larsson said of his goal as a high-usage summer league guard. “Realizing I’m probably not going to be high usage [in the regular season], but even if my usage is up here, I can try to do the same things I do here in the NBA. So just mainly be ready to catch and shoot whenever. And when I have the opportunity, drive, get to the line and finish.”
As for Ware, he’s projected to be the Heat’s starting center this upcoming season after closing this past season in that role. So the summer league expectations are high for Ware, who was selected by the Heat with the 15th pick in the first round of last year’s draft.
After being moved into a full-time starting role midway through last season, Ware averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 54.4% from the field and 21 of 76 (27.6%) on threes during his final 38 regular-season appearances last season. That midseason push was enough for Ware to earn a spot on the NBA All-Rookie second team.
Ware has spent the first few months of his first full NBA offseason working to refine various areas of his game and adding new elements to his skill set. He also continues to focus on developing his body and adding muscle to his 7-foot frame, as he’s currently at 246 pounds after entering the NBA at 230 pounds.
The Heat wants to see the momentum that Ware built last season and the work he has put in this offseason translate to a dominant summer league.
“We just want to see him improve,” Glass said of his summer league hopes for Ware, who’s on a fully guaranteed salary of $4.4 million for next season as part of his rookie contract. “It’s a broad statement. But he’s got areas that he needs to improve on just like every other player, and we’re looking for him to take that step in summer league.”
How much Johnson, Larsson and Ware actually play during Las Vegas Summer League remains to be seen, but they all understand the importance of the days ahead in Las Vegas.
“They’ve, all three, really taken this with the right mindset, the right approach, and they know how important summer league is as a catapult into next season,” Glass said..” So they’re all taking this the right way.”
HEAT’S LAS VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
Fri. July 11: Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2
Sun. July 13: Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Mon. July 14: Heat vs. Boston Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPNU
Thu. July 17: Heat vs. Detroit Pistons, 4 p.m., NBA TV
(Plus at least one additional game)