NBA Notes: Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Clippers, Blazers, Damian Lillard

Heat

The Heat underwent a significant makeover this offseason, but longtime Miami reporter Ethan Skolnick believes the transition may be smoother than it appears.

Writing for Sports Illustrated, Skolnick suggested Miami could get off to a fast start despite adding Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Bobby Portis Jr. and others to a roster that lost several rotation players.

One reason is defense. Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo give coach Erik Spoelstra two elite defensive anchors, while Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell have established themselves on that end as well.

There’s also more familiarity than might immediately meet the eye. Wiggins and Thompson were teammates with the Warriors, including during Golden State’s 2022 championship run. Antetokounmpo arrived from Milwaukee with Portis, while three expected Miami starters in Adebayo, Mitchell and Wiggins were already together last season.

Then there’s Antetokounmpo himself. After appearing in just 36 games last season and missing the playoffs, Skolnick expects a highly motivated Giannis to enter the season rested and eager to reestablish himself among the NBA’s very best.

“The start of this build could really be something,” Skolnick wrote.

Clippers

The Clippers may not be finished reshaping their roster.

Cem Yolbulan of Sports Illustrated argues that LA’s current roster is too guard-heavy and lacks sufficient frontcourt depth, potentially creating the need for another trade before opening night.

The Clippers currently have Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Keaton Wagler, Max Strus, Bradley Beal, Kobe Sanders, Gradey Dick and Cam Christie among their backcourt options. Restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin could potentially return as well.

The frontcourt isn’t nearly as crowded. Brook Lopez is 38, Yanic Konan Niederhauser is recovering from foot surgery, and Isaiah Jackson and Johni Broome round out the primary big-man options.

Yolbulan floated Dunn as one possible trade candidate, though that’s his own speculation rather than an indication that the Clippers are shopping him.

Either way, LA still has some roster housekeeping to do. It currently has 17 players under contract and will need to get down to 15 before the regular season.

Trail Blazers

New Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori has plenty to sort through in his first training camp, particularly with Damian Lillard returning from an Achilles injury and Ja Morant joining the roster.

Jeremy Brener of Sports Illustrated writes that establishing an identity should be Nori’s biggest priority.

Portland finished 42-40 last season before changing coaches, with Nori replacing Tiago Splitter after five seasons as Chris Finch’s top assistant in Minnesota.

Finch has praised Nori’s work with rotations, lineup combinations and late-game situations, telling The Athletic’s Jason Quick that Nori is “elite” in those areas.

The personnel is certainly intriguing. Along with Lillard and Morant, the Blazers return Deni Avdija after his All-Star season.

How Nori fits all of it together may go a long way toward determining whether Portland’s 42-win season was merely a step forward or the beginning of something more substantial.