As Heat falls to 1-2 in Vegas Summer League, Haslem says Bam-Herro fight ‘blown out of proportion’
Retired Miami Heat forward and captain Udonis Haslem found himself in more than a few altercations during his NBA playing career. But over the last few days, Haslem has found himself in the middle of an altercation that he wasn’t even involved in.
In the wake of the physical altercation between former Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro at a practice court set up outside of Resorts World Las Vegas on Friday morning, longtime Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green called out Haslem during an episode of Green’s podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” released over the weekend because the fight involved “two guys Udonis Haslem raised.” And Haslem shot right back at Green on X on Sunday night, again calling out Green for punching former Warriors teammate Jordan Poole during a practice in October 2022.
But it turns out, Haslem is also serving as somewhat of a mediator between Adebayo and Herro since their altercation.
I’ve talked to both of them,” Haslem said to South Florida media while sitting courtside for the Heat’s 90-73 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of Las Vegas Summer League on Monday night at UNLV’s Pavilion.
Some of the first reports indicated that Adebayo threw a punch at Herro’s head before the two were separated, but some league sources have indicated that initial portrayals of the fight were overblown. Haslem agrees.
“I don’t have any takeaway on it,” Haslem continued when asked about the Adebayo-Herro dust-up. “I mean, I felt like it was blown out of proportion, felt like it was made bigger than what it was. And there’s a lot of time that they’ll have to figure things out before the season comes around.”
The altercation between Adebayo and Herro was sparked by recent comments apparently made by Herro on social media critiquing Adebayo and also showing some resentment toward Adebayo.
Adebayo and Herro spent the last seven seasons as Heat teammates before Herro was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks this summer as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Haslem was their Heat teammates for four of those seasons prior to retiring.
“My only comment is no comment,” Herro said Friday when asked about the incident while on his way out of Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
A Heat spokesperson said Friday of the incident: “We are aware and not commenting.”
Herro, as of Monday afternoon, had neither filed a police report nor filed a lawsuit against Adebayo.
Whether the NBA plans to move on, without disciplinary action, is a decision that apparently hasn’t been made. A league spokesperson told the Miami Herald that it’s undetermined if the league will investigate.
Police were not called to respond to the Adebayo-Herro altercation on Friday, the Las Vegas Police Department told the Miami Herald.
Haslem, 46, has become the Heat’s vice president of basketball development and a studio analyst for Prime Video’s NBA coverage since his playing career came to an end in 2023.
Haslem also appeared on Prime Video’s broadcast of Monday’s Heat summer league game. Here’s some of what he said on Prime:
▪ On the Heat’s trade for Antetokounmpo and veteran forward Bobby Portis, Haslem said: “I think everybody understands that there was a great move made this summer. But I think that’s just the beginning. I think people really underestimate the impact of having a guy like Bobby Portis in that locker room. And then opportunity for these young guys. There’s going to be opportunity for one or two of these young guys from this summer league team to come in and get some positive minutes. Just because of the way the roster is going to fill out. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it. But there are so many more things that need to be done.”
▪ When asked what the Heat needs to fill out its roster, Haslem said “shooting.”
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, a five-time All Star and the fourth-most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history, has emerged as a player of strong interest to the Heat, multiple sources said
The Heat has interest in adding Thompson whether LeBron James joins the Heat in free agency this offseason or not, a source said.
Thompson, 36, would need to join the Heat through a buyout or trade. He’s entering the final year of his contract with the Mavericks and is due $17.5 million this upcoming season.
“You’ve got two guys [Adebayo and Antetokounmpo] that are going to be able to dominate their one-on-one matchups, they’re going to be able to get in the paint,” Haslem said of the Heat’s need for outside shooting. “But we all understand that once you get in the paint, that’s just the beginning of it. You get to your spots and now you have to make decisions, quick decisions on the fly. The ball can’t stick, so there’s got to be guys on the perimeter that have high basketball IQs, whether it’s shoot or pass or get off it.”
▪ Haslem added on the new-look Heat: “I think now we’re trending in the right direction. We’ve got a couple good pieces, but we’ve just got to fill the puzzle out. We know we have the coaching staff, we have the experience on that side. But these guys still have to get out there, they have to build those relationships, and they have to play together.”
Johnson still around Heat
Forward Keshad Johnson was around the Heat’s summer league squad for the California Classic in San Francisco despite Miami declining to extend him a qualifying offer this offseason. Johnson was also at Monday’s Heat summer league game in Las Vegas.
Johnson, who has spent the last two seasons with the Heat after going undrafted in 2024, is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He hopes to return to Miami, though.
“If the opportunity presents itself, I for sure want to be a Heat,” Johnson said Monday.
Would Johnson be open to returning to the Heat on a two-way contract? He spent last season on a standard deal with Miami.
“I’m open for whatever,” Johnson, 25, said.
LeBron update
During Prime’s broadcast of Monday’s Heat summer league game, NBA insider Chris Haynes said James’ agent Rich Paul hinted that James’ free agent decision could be coming soon.
“He said, LeBron James has all the information needed,” Haynes said of what Paul told him. “So now it’s all up to LeBron James to make a decision. So as of right now, he’s in deliberation phase.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Heat, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly the primary suitors for James.
The Heat believes it’s still in the mix to possibly land James, according to a league source.
Injury update
Guard Ryan Conwell, who was acquired by the Heat in the second round of this year’s draft, missed his second straight summer league game on Monday. Conwell is dealing with right hip soreness.
In Conwell’s only game Las Vegas Summer League game so far, he totaled 19 points and three assists in Friday’s win over the Bucks.
The Heat’s summer league team was also without guard Trevor Keels because of right knee soreness. Keels is an unrestricted free agent after closing last season on a two-way deal with Miami.
Conwell and Keels’ injuries are not considered serious.
The Heat also held out guard Meechie Johnson on Monday. Johnson went undrafted this year and is not signed to an NBA contract.
This and that
▪ With Monday representing the final day that NBA teams could withdraw qualifying offers from restricted free agents to make them an unrestricted free agent, the Heat’s two-way contract qualifying offer remains in place for Goldin and now can’t be rescinded by Miami. Goldin is the only player who holds a qualifying offer from Miami.
Goldin, 25, is now guaranteed at least a two-way contract salary from the Heat for this upcoming season. But Goldin can still accept a standard deal from another team.
Goldin, who also spent last season on a two-way contract with the Heat after going undrafted last year out of Michigan, struggled in Monday’s summer league loss. The 7-footer finished the defeat with four points on 0-of-6 shooting from the field, eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks.
▪ Heat guard Tre Donaldson finished Monday’s summer league loss with a team-high 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field and 1-of-5 shooting on threes, six rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Donaldson, who went undrafted out of Miami last season, is signed by the Heat to a two-way deal.
Two-way contracts, which pay half the NBA rookie minimum and do not count toward the salary cap or luxury tax, allow for players to be on their NBA team’s active list for as many as 50 regular-season games with other game action having to come in the G League. Two-way deals can be swapped out at any time
▪ The Heat is now 1-2 at Las Vegas Summer League.
The Heat has two days off before playing its fourth of at least five Las Vegas Summer League games on Thursday against the Toronto Raptors at the Pavilion (9 p.m. on ESPN2). Only the two teams that make the championship game playing a sixth game, but the Heat is likely out of the mix for the championship game with two losses in Las Vegas.
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 9:44 PM.
