Miami begins testing the fit of its new frontcourt
The Miami Heat enter their preseason opener against Toronto with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo at the centre of a reshaped roster. Their first exhibition is scheduled for October 3 in Québec City, or 7 a.m. on October 4 in the Philippines, as Miami starts evaluating its new combinations against NBA opposition.
Antetokounmpo’s arrival gives the Heat a different foundation after the trade that brought him from Milwaukee. Axios reported that Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware were among the players sent out in the deal, which also brought Bobby Portis to Miami.
The frontcourt’s performance will depend on more than the names involved. A useful question for the preseason is how Miami creates space around Antetokounmpo’s drives while using Adebayo effectively. Yahoo Sports analyst Steve Jones identified spacing, cutting and the defensive schemes used when the pair share the floor as areas to watch.
Those are questions for observation, not established outcomes. Lineups, minutes and responsibilities can change throughout the exhibition schedule as the coaching staff tests its options. One short outing would offer only a limited view of the partnership.
Antetokounmpo’s participation against Toronto was not confirmed in the reporting checked for this preview. The game is the start of Miami’s preseason evaluation, with the full picture dependent on availability and the combinations the Heat actually use.