Could the Heat use their final roster spot by signing Montrezl Harrell?

The Heat could have benefitted from signing free agent big man Montrezl Harrell this summer, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel opines in his latest “Ask Ira” mailbag. While Miami can still theoretically sign him, the team re-signed Udonis Haslem last week, meaning it only has one spot left.

If the Heat were to sign a player with that final roster spot, it would dip into the luxury tax. Winderman believes Harrell’s size and energy could benefit the team. However, his inability to shoot from distance could make him an awkward fit, especially when playing alongside Bam Adebayo.

Harrell split the 2021/22 season with the Wizards and Hornets, averaging 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game. The Heat lost starting power forward to the Sixers last month and have a number of undersized options it can play, including Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin. Other East contenders such as the Celtics and Bucks start bigger lineups featuring Al Horford and Giannis Antetokounmpo, respectively, at the four.

Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference:

• In a separate article for the Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman examines why Heat first-round pick Nikola Jovic is unlikely to crack the team’s rotation this season. Jovic, 19, was tabbed by Heat president Pat Riley as a “development piece” during his end-of-season press conference in June.
• Brian Lewis of the New York Post examines the Nets‘ mentality with Kevin Durant now returning to the team. Brooklyn is expected to compete for a title this season, sporting a roster that includes Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Joe Harris and others. The team is clearly hoping to move past its off-court issues and focus on contending.
• Ethan Fuller of BasketballNews.com dives into what the next level could look like for Celtics center Robert Williams III. Williams has established himself as an elite rim protector and rebounder, but as Fuller notes, he can still improve his game offensively. At 24 years old, he has plenty of time to do so.