Pelle Larsson signed a four-year extension with the Heat last month. However, training camp hasn’t gone as smoothly for the third-year wing.
Larsson has been dealing with a persistent illness, according to The Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. He tried to play in the Heat’s third exhibition game against Minnesota on Saturday but left early because he was still feeling sick.
“Really, just been having headaches,” he said. “So I caught something when we were in Quebec City [for the preseason opener], or on the way back, or something. So since then, I didn’t feel right and took some days off, came back, just came back a little too quick. I didn’t respect it, maybe, and tried to tough it out. And now, just taking it slower.”
Larsson’s status is in question for the Heat’s fourth of five preseason games on Wednesday against the Nets. He said Tuesday was the first day he didn’t wake up with a headache since his symptoms began.
“I’ll be taking it slow right now and just increasing the load, slow,” said Larsson, who did limited work in Tuesday’s practice.
Here’s more on the Heat:
Vladislav Goldin posted 18 points and six rebounds against the Timberwolves but his two-way spot is by no means nailed down, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel notes. If Miami retains center Nick Richards on the standard roster, Goldin may be expendable. “It’s been a matter of him keeping up with the speed of the game,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “When he gets quick and gets up and down, he’s really worked at it. His conditioning is great, but it’s the synapse change of getting onto the next possession.”
Nikola Jovic signed a four-year, $62.4MM extension last offseason, then had a disappointing 2025/26 campaign. Spoelstra believes Jovic can bounce back in a big way this season, Chiang writes. “It’s about handling it like we all have to when it doesn’t necessarily go how we want it to go,” Spoelstra said “I think he’s going to be able to make an impact with this team with his versatility. That’s going to be a really important thing. … What I’m saying is when it inevitably doesn’t go necessarily how he wants it to go, it’s OK. It’s really about the response. “It doesn’t have to be the end-of-the-world body language if you miss a couple shots or make a play that he wants to take back. He really cares, but we all make mistakes. I make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. It’s about showing the resiliency to be able to get back into the fight and make the next play, and he really worked on that and showed accountability this summer. I’m encouraged to see how that plays out.”
Second-round pick Ryan Conwell had 22 points and five assists on Saturday, making a strong impression on the coaching staff, according to Winderman. “He was very good with the play-making the other night. I’m not sure that we fully expected that, the nine assists without a turnover,” Spoelstra said. “But he has the makeup of a player that can not only make it as a second-round pick, but find a way to contribute. Second rounders, it’s tough. A lot of them don’t make it for whatever reason. Usually, I think it’s about fit, the right timing. But one of the biggest qualities is your makeup — to be able to come back every single day and learn and stack positive days. He has that quality about him.” Conwell was signed to a three-year deal shortly after the draft.