The Miami Heat are coming into the NBA season with playoff expectations and with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic healthy, the team is looking to get off to a strong start. Hassan Whiteside has been dealing with an ankle injury but should be ready for the opener, while the team has signed Briante Weber and he could be an option to make the roster with James Ennis.
Miami is coming into the year after missing the playoffs last season and many in the media have picked the team to finish in the top half of the east. Miami should be better than last season, as the team has added Amar'e Stoudemire, Gerald Green and Justise Winslow to the roster, while Goran Dragic now will get a full season of playing with the team after being acquired in a trade last season. Chris Bosh is healthy after dealing with a blood clot issue last year, while Dwyane Wade said his knees have been holding up well.
All of that makes for some high expectations this season and the team is hoping that the starting five can open the season healthy and on the court. Hassan Whiteside has been hampered by an ankle injury and he was back at practice on Tuesday and is expected to play again on Wednesday against the Wizards. Miami has only had Whiteside in for practice three times since the beginning of camp and head coach Erik Spoelstra said he wants to work on "chemistry" over the final week with the starters.
The team has only had their five starters (Wade, Bosh, Luol Deng, Whiteside, Dragic) on the court together three times in practice and Spoelstra would like to get more work done as a group. According to the Miami Herald, Dragic is dealing with some conditioning issues, as he is working to get his strength and stamina back after not playing for his national team this summer. Dragic was acquired in a trade with the Suns at the deadline last season and he signed a free agent deal with Miami this summer.
Miami has also added Briante Weber and waived Corey Hawkins, according to a release from the team. Weber had signed with the Heat last month, but failed his physical and now he is healthy and has a chance to make the team. Weber is a standout defensive player and he has experience in college at VCU, starting 65 games and playing in over 120. James Ennis is also trying to make the roster and the team has to get down to 15 players before opening night.
Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen were both shopped in trades by Miami this summer, but as things stand now it looks like both players will remain with the team. Chalmers and Andersen were being shopped to try and get the Miami luxury tax bill down and that is why players like Shabazz Napier and Zoran Dragic were traded. Chalmers could be moved with Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson as backup options for Dragic, but right now it looks like the guard is staying put.
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