Inside The Heat

Miami Heat Working Out Former First-Rounder For Frontcourt Help

Ethan J. Skolnick|
Aug 12, 2023; Springfield, MA, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley walks the red carpet at the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Aug 12, 2023; Springfield, MA, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley walks the red carpet at the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

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Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are still planning to start a true center, Ke'lel Ware next to Bam Adebayo this season.

But that doesn't leave them much in reserve.

Only Nikola Jovic, who is 6-foot-11 and has put on considerable muscle, is slated for the rotation -- but Jovic operates best on the perimeter, as a playmaker. And two-way contract addition Vlad Goldin didn't look ready for primetime in summer league, largely due to slow feet.

So it's not surprising that, even with limited capital and roster room, the Heat are canvassing available athletic frontcourt help. A week ago, Five Reasons Sports Network heard they had interest in Kai Jones, a former star at the University of Texas who was drafted 19th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. But after some social media ranting and a trade request, the Hornets waived him. He has since played a total of 40 games for the Clippers and Mavericks.

Now, according to Chris Haynes, the Heat are taking a closer look.

Jones, who is seeking a standard contract, spoke recently with Timothy Bain (@timmaay_ of Five Reasons Sports from his native Bahamas) about his musical and basketball ambitions:.

Jones reportedly has an options overseas, including one offer:

The Heat likely wanted to jump in before Jones signed elsewhere; he was scheduled to leave the Bahamas for Nicaragua on Tuesday to train for the Bahamian national team.

But that doesn't mean a signing is imminent. Miami is already $1.63m over the luxury tax line, and wants to get back under that eventually to avoid the repeater tax. Still, Jones is only 24, and he's the type of project Erik Spoelstra and company might not mind taking on, considering the strength of their development program.

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Ethan J. Skolnick
ETHAN J. SKOLNICK

Ethan has covered all major sports -- in South Florida and beyond -- since 1996 and is one of the longest-tenured fully credentialed members of the Miami Heat. He has covered, in total, more than 30 NBA Finals, Super Bowls, World Series and Stanley Cup Finals. After working full-time for the Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Bleacher Report and several other outlets, he founded the Five Reasons Sports Network in 2019 and began hosting the Five on the Floor podcast as part of that network. The podcast is regularly among the most downloaded one-team focused NBA podcasts in the nation, and the network is the largest independent sports outlet in South Florida, by views, listens and social media reach. He has a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.S. from Columbia University. TWITTER: @EthanJSkolnick and @5ReasonsSports EMAIL: fllscribe@gmail.com

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