Today, two AllUCanHeat contributors take a closer look at the 2018-19 Miami Heat training camp roster.
It’s almost time for training camp… what player on the roster, who doesn’t have a guaranteed deal with the Miami Heat, are you most excited to keep an eye on?
Allana Tachauer (@AllanaTachauer): There are a lot of people I’m intrigued by, but I think Duncan Robinson will have most of my attention. He definitely caught my eye in Summer League, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he’ll look in training camp. On paper, Robinson absolutely seems like he could fit the Miami Heat bill, given how much time and effort he’s put in to be able to effortlessly swack the ball from downtown. During his time at Michigan, he really put himself on the map as a shooter, shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 41.9 percent from 3, and 86.4 percent from the foul line, ultimately finishing fourth on the school’s all-time 3-point field goals made list (with 237). His future with the Heat will really just come down to how he looks alongside the rest of the roster.
Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonNBA): At first glance, I’m interested in Briante Weber. After all, he was brought back four times. While Miami has the starting point guard duty locked up with Goran Dragic, the team lacks a traditional backup guard. Justise Winslow spent time at point last season, as did James Johnson and Tyler Johnson, but none of these options brought the same level of positional expertise that Dragic did. Weber however, is a career point guard. He’s found success in the G-League. Last season, he posted averages of 16.1 points and 7.1 assists on a 29-21 Rio Grande Valley Vipers team that made the playoffs. His defense-first mentality likens him most to Patrick Beverly and would surely bolster the Heat’s already top-10 defense. Making the team this season won’t be any easier as far as space is concerned, but Weber’s familiarity with the organization should help swing votes in his favor.