Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is currently working hard as an assistant coach for Team USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
But that job doesn’t prevent him from also having an eye on the upcoming NBA season.
Speaking to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Spoelstra talked about the current state of the team, while avoiding any mention of Damian Lillard.
“We have most of our work done. We’re bringing back the majority of our players and that’s a luxury in this league,” Spoelstra said.
He went on: “We feel great about our group. We made some nice additions we feel. Josh Richardson…Thomas Bryant…and [Jaime] Jaquez.”
“Tyler’s healthy. Jimmy and Bam. That’s a great core. So we’re excited about it,” Spoelstra concluded, as seen below.
“We have most of our work done. We’re bringing back the majority of our players & that’s a luxury in this league. We feel great about our group. We made some nice additions. J-Rich, Thomas Bryant & Jaquez. Tyler’s healthy. Jimmy & Bam. That’s a great core. So we’re excited” – Spo pic.twitter.com/xJtIeJMcPK
— Dru (@dru_star) August 18, 2023
Heat fans will also be excited to hear Spoelstra’s comments.
It really is clear that the team is still looking good as the new season approaches.
Does that mean they will be able to make another run at the Finals?
However, Spoelstra specifically didn’t touch upon the Lillard trade saga that continues between his team and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Is that because he doesn’t want to talk about speculation or because he believes that the trade won’t ever be completed?
Of course, if Lillard does eventually come over to the Heat, it’ll be because they give up quite a few assets.
Therefore, some of the players that Spoelstra mentioned to Windhorst – specifically Tyler Herro – could be gone.
The Heat impressed the entire league last season and performed far better than most people expected during the postseason.
Their playoff run will be one spoken about for many years to come.
As impressive as it was, it didn’t result in a Finals victory and that is obviously their main goal when 2023-24 begins in October.
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