Heat depth to be tested, with injuries to Meyers Leonard, Tyler Herro and Justise Winslow
The Heat has played most of the season with a short-handed roster because of Justise Winslow’s extended absence. But Miami’s depth will be even thinner than usual during its five-game West Coast trip that begins Wednesday against the Clippers.
Starting center Meyers Leonard, who sprained his left ankle in Monday’s win over the 76ers, did not travel with the Heat to Los Angeles on Tuesday. Coach Erik Spoelstra said Leonard will miss the entire five-game trip, which would have included Leonard’s return to Portland after spending the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the Trail Blazers.
Rookie guard Tyler Herro did travel with the Heat to Los Angeles, but he was ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Clippers because of lingering right ankle soreness. While Herro was in a walking boot at the team’s morning shootaround Wednesday at UCLA, the Heat is hopeful he will be able to play at some point during the trip.
“We’ll be smart about it,” Spoelstra said of Herro in advance of Wednesday’s game against the Clippers. “But right now we’re just giving him rest and treatment, trying to protect him from himself. He really wants to be out there. He has been able to grind through it for the last 10 days, but we want to take care of this right now and make sure it doesn’t become anything more.”
In addition, Winslow is not expected to join the Heat on its five-game trip as he continues to miss time with a lower back bone bruise. Winslow has played in just one game since Dec. 6.
With Herro, Leonard and Winslow all dealing with injuries, the Heat called on reinforcement from the G League to provide depth. Second-round pick KZ Okpala and two-way contract players Kyle Alexander and Gabe Vincent joined the Heat in Los Angeles.
Okpala, who was sent Dec. 12 to play in the G League for the organization’s developmental affiliate, flashed his potential with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The rookie forward averaged 15.7 points on 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 4-of-13 shooting on threes, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last seven games with the Skyforce.
This strong stretch came after a slow start in the G League. Okpala, 20, averaged 7.5 points on 25.8 percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in his first 10 games with the Skyforce.
“Really, just the sets and everything,” Okpala said Wednesday of what he learned in the G League. “Defensive schemes and really just how hard they want me playing and how they want me to play is the main thing. It was different from how I was playing in college, using my skills and what I do. But it’s their system and just growing as a player. I think that was the biggest thing.”
What was the biggest adjustment for Okpala?
“Probably setting screens and being a four,” Okpala said. “I was always handling the ball and I never set screens in college. It was always people setting screens for me.”
The Heat’s plan for Okpala was for him to continue to get game experience in the G League this season, even as he counts toward the team’s 15-man roster while on a standard contract. But Miami’s injury issues changed things.
Okpala, who played two college seasons at Stanford, was acquired by the Heat this past summer in a draft-night trade with the second pick in the second round (No. 32 overall).
“I think it was really valuable, just being able to see the results,” Okpala said of his G League experience. “In practice, it’s practice. But in the game, it’s different. It’s actual run.”
