The Miami Heat open training camp this week and players Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts are all healthy and ready after dealing with injuries the past year. The team is unlikely to trade either Mario Chalmers or Chris Andersen before the season starts and if they remain on the roster, the team will have strong depth along with Justise Winslow, Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green.
Miami is coming into the season with high expectations this year, as the team missed the playoffs last season following LeBron James heading back to Cleveland. Wade dealt with knee issues, McRoberts was out for most of the year and Bosh missed the second half of the season after a blood clot was discovered on his lung. All those players are ready to return and with Goran Dragic now getting a full offseason with the team after being traded, things could add up to a playoff run for Miami.
According to the Miami Herald, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were both fully cleared to participate in camp workouts. Neither player has limitations to start camp and Erick Spoelstra said that he expects Bosh to be able to play his usual minutes after dealing with the scary injury last season. Bosh said ahead of camp that he was feeling strong and that the time off last year only helped him get better over the summer.
The guard position will be one of the more interesting positional battles to watch for Miami, as the team has Goran Dragic starting and everything behind him is uncertain at the moment. Dragic was acquired at the trade deadline last year and that put Mario Chalmers and his future in question. The Miami Herald reported that all summer the Heat looked for a deal with Chalmers (and Chris Andersen) but did not find any takers. The Herald later reported that Miami now planned to keep Chalmers into camp so they could take a "long look" Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson before making a final move.
Chalmers is in the last year of his deal and Johnson comes in after dealing with a jaw injury over the summer. Richardson was a second round pick and Wade praised him heading into camp and those two will be competing to make the roster as Dragic's backups. Chalmers could end up staying, but Miami likely will look for a deal. Chris Andersen has also been mentioned in trade talks, but the Herald reported that no other teams were interested in taking on his $5 million salary. Miami had been looking to lower their luxury tax.
The Heat added two key players in Stoudemire and Green in the offseason and they both should provide solid depth off the bench. Green can help give Wade a rest if his knees need a break and there is a chance he could start at times if Wade needs a night off. Miami is bringing a bunch of players to camp and depending on how things play out, the team could have a stacked reserve unit this year. Keith Benson, Greg Whittington and Tre Kelly will try and make the roster, but those players could end up in the D-League. James Ennis also comes in with his status uncertain and if he plays well he also could be in the mix to make the roster. Miami has until the start of the season to make a decision on Ennis.
