![\"Dominique](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285562179.jpg\" "\\"Dominique")
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Dominique Ruotolo, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware of the Milwaukee Bucks and Nada Bassyoni attend a 2026 NBA Summer League game between the Bucks and the Miami Heat at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2026 in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Ethan Miller<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
LAS VEGAS<\/p>\n
The Miami Heat opened Las Vegas Summer League with a 119-86 blowout win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday afternoon, but the attention wasn\u2019t all on the on-court action.<\/p>\n
With the Heat beginning the Las Vegas circuit with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 summer roster, all the players involved in this offseason\u2019s blockbuster trade between the Heat and Bucks that landed two-time NBA Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami (except for Antetokounmpo) were at UNLV\u2019s Thomas & Mack Center for Friday\u2019s summer league contest.<\/p>\n
All four players \u2014 Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and Kel\u2019el Ware \u2014 who the Heat traded to the Bucks were in attendance. Herro, Jaquez and Ware sat courtside across from the Bucks\u2019 bench, and Jakucionis made his summer league debut for the Bucks after spending time with the Lithuanian national team.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, newly-acquired Heat forward Bobby Portis sat courtside next to Heat coaches Erik Spoelstra, Chris Quinn, Malik Allen, Eric Glass and Octavio De La Grana for Friday\u2019s summer league game. The Heat acquired Antetokounmpo and Portis from the Bucks in a deal that was agreed to in late June and finalized on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all love in Miami,\u201d Herro said during an appearance on Prime during Friday\u2019s game. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a couple of the guys, coaching staff. Chris Quinn, Spo. We\u2019re all good in Miami, and an opportunity for both sides to reset and get a fresh start. We\u2019re both super happy for this.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s part of the business. A place like in Miami, and organization like Miami, they wanted championships, they play for championships, and it\u2019s part of the business. I know how good I am, and what I\u2019m capable of. And I just got to continue to keep working and try to stay healthy and just represent this new team how I\u2019m supposed to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Herro did not comment on an ESPN report from Shams Charania that Herro got into a physical altercation in Las Vegas on Friday.<\/p>\n
Charania reported: \u201cThe altercation occurred at a practice court in a Las Vegas hotel this morning, sources said — starting when Adebayo approached Herro about comments the guard made critiquing the center on social media after their seven-year run in Miami ended.<\/p>\n
The Heat is aware of the incident, but is declining comment on it.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the ongoing LeBron James watch, with the Heat among the teams that the future Basketball Hall of Famer is considering in free agency this summer.<\/p>\n
James\u2019 agent Rich Paul appeared on ESPN just a few minutes before the start Friday\u2019s summer league matchup between the Heat and Bucks to discuss James\u2019 impending free agent decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are taking this thing very seriously,\u201d Paul said during his ESPN appearance. \u201cBt at the same time, we\u2019re having fun. I think it\u2019s great for the fans. It\u2019s his decision and he has earned the right to make any decision he wants. Just like you guys, we are all waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul again made clear there\u2019s no timetable for James\u2019 decision, saying: \u201cI don\u2019t put a timetable on things.\u201d NBA free agency opened on June 30.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s his decision,\u201d Paul said. \u201cI\u2019m just waiting on his decision. We\u2019ve been around this league long enough \u2014 it\u2019s his 24th season \u2014 we understand how things work, we understand how teams operate. He trusts me. But ultimately, I\u2019m working to help him make the best decision for himself and his family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul also again downplayed the money factor as part of James\u2019 decision, instead emphasizing the fact that James wants \u201cto be competitive\u201d and \u201chave the opportunity come late April or early May to give yourself best opportunity of winning.\u201d The Heat has about $6.5 million left of its midlevel exception or a minimum contract to offer James since it is hard-capped at the first apron because of the mechanisms used in the Antetokounmpo trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a game or something that\u2019s a gimmick or trying to lead people on,\u201d Paul said. \u201cTake the money out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost times, you\u2019re saying where is the most financially respectful opportunity. In this case, you throw that out that window. You can actually evaluate it and make the best decision for yourself. This is unchartered territory for an athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Paul didn\u2019t identify any of the teams in the running for James, he said on ESPN that there are a \u201chandful\u201d of teams in the mix. Paul added that there\u2019s \u201ca communication from players directly to\u201d James in trying to recruit him.<\/p>\n
James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, has a history with the Heat.<\/p>\n
James spent four seasons with the Heat from 2010 to 2014, winning NBA championships with the organization in 2012 and 2013 in four NBA Finals appearances. He also was selected as the NBA\u2019s Most Valuable Player two times while with the Heat.<\/p>\n
James left the Heat as a free agent in 2014 to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he left to join the Heat in 2010.<\/p>\n
The relationship between the Heat and James initially was frosty after their breakup, but is now strong. The Heat would welcome a return by James, a source has said.<\/p>\n
Even at 41, James remains a very effective player. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 51.5% from the field and 31.7% on threes in 60 appearances for the Lakers last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will make the best decision for himself,\u201d Paul said. \u201cHe has earned the right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here are other things to know from Friday\u2019s Heat summer league opener …<\/p>\n
\u25aa Jakucionis struggled to make shots in his Bucks summer league debut against his former team, finishing with 11 points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shoooting from three-point range, three rebounds and six assists in 22 minuts.<\/p>\n
The Heat selected Jakuconis with the 20th overall pick in last year\u2019s NBA Draft. Miami was reluctant to include the 20-year-old Jakucionis in its trade offer to the Bucks before ultimately deciding to add him to the trade package later in the process to help complete the deal.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The Heat\u2019s summer league team went with a starting lineup of Tre Donaldson, Ryan Conwell, Trevor Keels, J\u2019Vonne Hadley and Vlad Goldin on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Conwell, who the Heat acquired in the second round of this year\u2019s draft, totaled 19 points in his first Las Vegas Summer League game.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Donaldson, who the Heat signed to a two-way contract immediately after he went undrafted in June, recorded 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting on threes and six assists.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Along with a chunk of the Heat\u2019s coaching staff, Heat general manager Andy Elisburg and assistant general manager Adam Simon were in attendance for Friday\u2019s game in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The Heat will play its second of at least five Las Vegas Summer League games on Saturday against the Orlando Magic at UNLV\u2019s Pavilion (3:30 p.m. on WPLG Local 10 and Prime). Only the two teams that make the championship game playing a sixth game.<\/p>\n
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