Andrew Wiggins (22) laughs with Davion Mitchell (45) during the first day of Miami Heat Training Camp on Sept. 30, 2025, at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
As the start of the regular season inches closer, the Miami Heat’s roster is getting healthier.
After getting guards Kasparas Jakucionis and Pelle Larsson back from injury in Wednesday’s preseason home loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Heat is expecting to get guard Davion Mitchell back from calf soreness for Sunday’s preseason matchup against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center.
Mitchell missed part of training camp and the Heat’s first three preseason games, but was back as a full practice participant on Friday at Kaseya Center. However, Heat guards Tyler Herro (left ankle surgery) and Terry Rozier (strained left hamstring) did not practice, and forward Simone Fontecchio (left lower leg tightness) was limited in practice Friday.
“It’s super frustrating because you go through training camp,” Mitchell said when asked about missing part of the preseason. “You want to kind of, especially with the new offense we got, you kind of want to get that chemistry together to play faster. So I kind of got a little step behind not going through the actual games with them. But I’ve been doing it in practice, so I feel good about it.”
With Herro out for at least the first month of the regular season, Mitchell could even open the regular season as one of the Heat’s starting guards.
Mitchell, who re-signed with the Heat on a two-year contract worth $24 million in free agency this past offseason, was dealt to Miami as part of the Jimmy Butler trade midway through last season. Mitchell averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 44.7% on 3.1 three-point attempts per game in 30 regular-season appearances (15 starts) with the Heat last season following the trade.
Mitchell carried that late-season momentum into the postseason, totaling nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range in overtime of the Heat’s playoff-clinching win over the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament on April 18. He then went on to start in three of the Heat’s four playoff games during Miami’s first-round sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It was just a calf strain,” Mitchell, 27, said of the injury that kept him out for the start of the preseason. “It was kind of like one of the first days of training camp. I kind of felt something in my calf. They kind of have been cautious of it because obviously the calf is a big part, especially with the injuries [around the NBA] that we had last year and things like that. So they kind of just wanted to be cautious and make sure I’m ready 100 percent.”
LIPS ARE SEALED
While it’s not official yet, multiple sources confirmed that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to soon be named the next head coach for the Team USA men’s basketball team. A source indicated that a vote by USA Basketball is expected to formalize the announcement in the coming days. This role will have Spoelstra as Team USA’s head coach for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Spoelstra will also lead Team USA at the 2027 World Cup in Qatar.
USA basketball assistant coach Erik Spoelstra before a game against Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. John David Mercer John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
But with the news not yet official, Spoelstra did not comment on it following Friday’s practice. Even Heat center Bam Adebayo, who has already won two Olympic gold medals and is among the top candidates to be on Team USA’s 2028 Olympic roster, didn’t want to say too much on the topic Friday.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen with Spo,” Adebayo said when asked if becoming Team USA’s head coach was the clear next step for Spoelstra. “We just know he’s a mad scientist in the game. When he gets in his playbook, when he gets into the schemes and when he watches the game, he’s a mad scientist. From that standpoint, progression-wise, I feel like he could have done that six years ago if he wanted to.”
ROSTER MOVE
The Heat did some preseason roster maneuvering Thursday night, waiving guard Trevor Keels from his preseason contract to sign guard Gabe Madsen to a preseason deal.
Madsen, who went undrafted this year out of Utah, initially signed with the Heat on Sept. 11 before being waived on Sept. 25 to make room for the addition of center Precious Achiuwa. Now, Madsen is back on the Heat’s preseason roster.
“We like all of our young guys that will be transitioning to Sioux Falls,” Spoelstra said Friday when asked about bringing back Madsen. “But he showed a level of grit and competitive toughness that we like, and he’s also skilled. He knows how to play without the ball and shoot the ball or drive off those catches. So we’re encouraged by that.”
Keels and Madsen are both likely to end up with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this season.
The Heat’s roster remains at the preseason maximum of 21 players. The Heat also still has one empty two-way contract slot.