The Heat knows that its two new veteran additions, Norman Powell and Simone Fontecchio, can shoot splendidly from distance, particularly Powell.
And even on a team that’s often deficient offensively, displaying both defensive skill and a defensive bent remain the quickest way to Erik Spoelstra’s heart. Powell and Fontecchio are determined to convince the Heat they can do that.
Considered a very good defender earlier in his career, Powell said recently that he has assured Spoelstra that he will be reliable on that side of the floor, too.
“I told Spo I’m locked into that role [defensively],” he said. “We’ve talked about it. People have glossed over that side of things [defensively]. I’m looking to make that the main thing while still trying to produce on the offensive end as well.”
Powell’s defensive metrics were pretty good for the Clippers in 2023-24; he allowed the player he guarded to shoot 45.6 percent.
Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio drives on guard Norman Powell during the annual Red, White and Pink intrasquad Heat scrimmage at Kaseya Center on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Miami, Fla. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Last season, he struggled to keep his man from scoring. Players he guarded shot 49.4%, far worse (from a defensive perspective) than the 45.8% that those same players shot overall. That 3.6 difference tied for 20th worst in the league.
What’s more, that shooting percentage allowed was the fourth highest among NBA starting shooting guards, better than only Jordan Poole, Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
That statistic obviously doesn’t reflect other elements of defense, including close-outs, helping a teammate who’s beaten or blow-bys.
Meanwhile, the 6-7 Fontecchio reminded reporters earlier in training camp that Utah once used him to guard the other team’s best scorer, at times.
He wasn’t always successful in that role, allowing the opposing player to shoot 50.9% in 2022-23, his final season with the Jazz. Those same players shot 46.5 percent overall that year, per NBA.com.
Last season in Detroit, players he guarded shot 48.7% compared with 46.2% overall.
“He’s really been competing on the defensive side of the floor,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the first thing I talk to him about is being able to use his size.
“And he has shown, particularly in EuroBasket and one of his years in Utah when they tasked him with defending a lot of the other team’s better wing players, he’s shown an ability to be physical defensively.
“He’s been well-coached in the league, so he has a way of doing it where we think in our system that can get better. But that’s his challenge, to be able to defend with physicality and discipline. Then offensively, he has a skill set that will fit this group nicely. He knows what he’s doing, and he feels comfortable with or without the ball, which is important.”
This and that
Tyler Herro (ankle surgery) and rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis (groin) are out for Wednesday’s opener at Orlando (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Sun).
Center Kel’el Ware returned to practice after missing Monday’s session with neck spasms but then sustained a sprained left ankle late in practice. The Heat has listed him as questionable for the opener because of the ankle sprain.
Spoelstra has not said whether Ware or Nikola Jovic will start alongside Adebayo. Jovic said Tuesday that he hopes to be a starter but isn’t sure if he will be and that the starter might change from game to game depending on the matchup.
▪ Herro was not on the court when reporters were ushered in Tuesday; he hasn’t commented on Monday’s deadline passing without receiving a contract extension. He’s under contract this season at $31 million and next season at $33 million.
Herro, 25, was eligible to sign an extension worth as much as $149.7 million with the Heat this year. The window to sign such a deal opened on Oct. 1 and closed Monday at 11:59 p.m.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) dribbles a ball on the sidelines during the first half of an NBA preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center on October 6, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Herro’s next opportunity to sign an extension with the Heat will come next year, and that negotiating window will open July 1, 2026, and close on June 30, 2027.
He will be eligible to sign an extension worth as much as $206.9 million through four seasons during that window and would become supermax eligible (five years, $380 million) if he’s selected for an All-NBA team this season.
If the Heat and Herro can’t agree to an extension by June 30, 2027, he would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.
“It is important for me,” Herro said on Sept. 29 regarding the possibility of signing an extension. “I’ve been here six years. I feel like I’ve earned it. I’m not saying what I’ve earned, but I’ve earned something. I think I deserve it, and I want to be here ultimately. I’ve vocally said that.”
But Herro also made clear last month that if the sides couldn’t strike a deal before the start of this regular season, he wouldn’t let any frustration from those negotiations affect his play.
“But I do want to say that it’s not like a top priority, and I’m not going to hinder this season on getting an extension or not. I’m not going to lose my joy,” Herro said on Sept. 29 with a laugh, alluding to former Heat teammate Jimmy Butler’s viral “joy” comment that eventually led to his ugly breakup with the organization. “I ain’t going to lose my joy. I’m excited to play.”
Spoelstra, asked about Herro not getting an extension, said: “He sees the possibilities with our group. We need him… The business part of it, that’s between Tyler’s agent and the front office. I’m encouraged by the progress he’s been making from a health standpoint.”
▪ Does Spoelstra know how good his team will be?
“No, I don’t fully know, and I’m OK with embracing the unknown,” he said Tuesday. I said that the first day of training camp. I think our team is set up for great potential for growth as the season goes on. While we’re improving, while guys are growing hopefully a lot of guys are surprising us – hopefully we can get some Ws under our belt, too.”
▪ Davion Mitchell believes teams will defend him more closely on the three-point line in the aftermath of his torrid shooting on threes following his February trade to the Heat.
“More teams are not going to let me get open,” he said. “Maybe I don’t get the same looks. But I can still hit them at the same rate.”
Mitchell shot 44.7% (42 for 94) on threes for the Heat, much better than his career 34.4% accuracy.
Mitchell or Dru Smith figures to start alongside Powell while Herro recovers from ankle surgery. But Mitchell is eager to see Powell and Herro play together.
“With both of them together on the floor, it’s going to be a hard thing to stop,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know who the best defender [on the other team] is going to guard.”
▪ Reggie Miller, who moved over to NBC after TNT lost NBA rights, said the Heat needs to see a fully healthy roster before giving any consideration to an overhaul.
“They’ve got to get everyone together to see what they have,” Miller said. “They don’t know what they have until everyone is whole. They’ve got to get Tyler back healthy after the surgery and have to see where they are as an organization.
“Can they sneak into one of the top six spots? I don’t know. They’ve been part of play-in these last three years; they are still in that realm. [But] I don’t think [tanking] is in their DNA.”
Here’s my Tuesday piece with a viewer’s guide to the NBA’s new television plan and where to watch the game.
This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 2:20 PM.
Barry Jackson
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.
