MIAMI — Renewal was the theme of the day Monday as the Miami Heat gathered for their media day at Kaseya Center.
“I think it feels like a natural turning of the page for a lot of us,” coach Erik Spoelstra said prior to offseason additions Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway, Nick Richards and others doing their media rounds. “We’ll see how it all plays out.”
Last season, it played out as the Heat’s first time out of the playoffs in seven seasons, thus the need for change.
“I think the possibilities for us are exciting,” Spoelstra said. “We need everybody’s best version this year.”
The entire roster arrived in shape enough to pass the team’s grueling conditioning test of fullcourt sprints.
“Everybody did their jobs in the months of August and September,” Spoelstra said. “It’s not like we’re really going to have to teach them our level of how we want to compete.”
That should leave more time for indoctrination during training camp, which opens Tuesday in Boca Raton at Florida Atlantic University. The Heat then open their preseason schedule Saturday in Quebec City against the Toronto Raptors.
It will be a camp and exhibition schedule featuring more veterans than typical Heat preseasons.
“I think this team has a different kind of feel going into camp,” Spoelstra said. “I want the guys to bring their egos, being that competitive spirit. We have a lot of winners and former champions on this roster, a lot of Type A personalities.
“But we also don’t want to forget about our young guys. They are the lifeblood of our depth. There will be guys at different parts of the season where you wonder, ‘How did they get that opportunity?’ ”
As for those doubting his team’s ability to compete in an upgraded Eastern Conference, Spoelstra basically said to bring it on.
“That’s right in my wheelhouse, right? I love the bunker mentality, which we will get to,” Spoelstra said. “The guys are not unaware of it. I’m OK at the end of September if guys are using that as some internal motivation.”
The motivation is more than there.
“The energy is different now,” said forward Andrew Wiggins, the final player to address the media Monday. “You can feel it here. You can feel it in the whole city, in the building. The energy is different. We have a squad this year that can do crazy things. And the ultimate goal is obviously a championship and we have the squad to do it.”
Short stuff
Forward Bobby Portis said he is down 19 pounds from his Heat arrival in July, aware of the conditioning required for the Heat system . . .
Bam Adebayo once again will serve as captain. “I still hate it because you worry about the other 14 instead of you,” he quipped. “But I’m willing to make that sacrifice every day.” . . .
Center Nick Richards said the one-year, minimum-scale contract he took from the Heat was the best offer available to him. His deal becomes guaranteed on opening night if still on the roster . . .
With the composition of the Heat roster, Pelle Larsson said he is expecting to see time at point guard, expressing a willingness for the opportunity . . .
Wiggins said he had no issue with the extension that drops his salary in the second and third years. “I wanted to do what was best for everybody, because obviously I just wanted to be here,” he said . . .
Nikola Jovic expressed confidence he is past his back issues.