Don’t look now, but we’re nearly three weeks away from the start of Miami Heat training camp, which begins on September 28th.
The Heat will be holding a camp for tryouts to fill in the final two roster spots, including former New York Knicks center Josh Harrellson, who was recently invited to camp in Miami.
Over the next two months, the Heat will also be monitoring the progression of All-Star shooting guard Dwyane Wade and sharpshooter Mike Miller. Wade was hampered throughout the 2011-’12 season with injuries that caused him to miss 17 regular season games, while Miller recently decided to forgo back surgery that would have put an end to his season, as well as possibly his career.
The Heat can survive without Miller now that Allen and Lewis on the team, but they won’t be nearly as efficient if Wade is still ailing and not up to 100 percent. Wade underwent knee surgery early July, one that was described as a cleaning. Dwyane dealt with knee problems throughout the postseason to the point where he had to have it drained in between games just so he could return to form.
Luckily for Miami, the organization will be happy to know that as of September 4th Wade is ahead of schedule. Via Tim Reynolds of the AP:
"Wade on knee: “I’m ahead of schedule.”"
Rejoice, Heat fans. The player who is still widely believed to be the true leader of the team should be healthy for the start of the 2012-’13 season, where he will look to defend the NBA championship for the first time since an unsuccessful 2006-’07 campaign. This time around, however, the Heat made significant strides in free agency and greatly improved the outlook of their offense with an elite shooter in Ray Allen and a former elite in Rashard Lewis, who were former teammates in Seattle.
Mike Miller’s progress is yet to be determined. However, the Heat are willing to wait with the new acquisitions.
In the middle of the keen observation of Wade’s knee, enthusiasts of fatherhood, basketball and Dwyane Wade will be delighted to know the two-time NBA champion has officially set out on his book tour.
Wade will be promoting his book “Fatherhood” up until September 22nd where he’ll finish up in Washington, D.C. He was recently in New York signing on the 4th and 5th, but will be in the South Florida area with signings on September 7th in Fort Lauderdale and another in Miami on the 9th. He will then travel to Atlanta, Milwaukee, Chicago and Los Angeles within four days.
For those living in the tri-county area of South Florida and are interested in meeting Wade and receiving a copy of his book, he will be at Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale at 1 East Las Olas Boulevard on the 7th and will then be at Books&Books at 265 Aragon Avenue in Miami on the 9th.