NBA Notes: Heat, Bam Adebayo, Timberwolves, Julius Randle, Spurs

Heat

The Heat are on the move.

Through two games, Miami has gone full throttle under Erik Spoelstra, pushing pace and letting instinct take over.

“Playing with a pace like this, you love to see everybody collectively having fun,” Bam Adebayo said, via Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “You can’t really scout plays for us. There are no plays.”

Adebayo said the Heat barely ran any set offense in the first half of Friday’s win over Memphis, instead flowing from one possession to the next with cuts, swings, and constant motion.

“It’s hard to scout a team when everybody is live,” he said. “That’s starting to be our identity.”

Meanwhile, the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman believes the NBA owes Miami some restitution following Terry Rozier’s arrest for alleged involvement in illegal betting during his time in Charlotte.

Winderman argues the league should “right a wrong” by rescinding the first-round pick the Heat sent to the Hornets in that deal, or award Miami a compensatory pick.

The Heat reportedly weren’t informed about the investigation before the trade.

If the league granted that appeal, Miami would regain its full set of tradable first-rounders under the Stepien Rule, something Pat Riley’s front office would surely welcome.

Timberwolves

Julius Randle could’ve gone elsewhere this summer but instead chose stability in Minnesota. The forward told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports that his decision came down to trust, particularly with head coach Chris Finch.

“Finch ultimately trusts in me as a player,” Randle said. “He’s a hell of a competitor. He wants to win every single thing, and I know that’s his mindset every night. That’s my guy, man. I’ll ride with Finch all day.”

Randle added that Finch stood by him during adversity last season, something that meant as much as any contract pitch.

His full interview with Medina also touches on his bond with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, and the team’s belief it can win a championship.

Spurs

The Spurs are 3-0 for the first time since 2019-20, taking down the Nets 118-107 in their home opener.

Victor Wembanyama led the charge again with 31 points and 14 rebounds in 36 minutes, while rookie Dylan Harper impressed with 20 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in 29 minutes.

Harper credited his poise and instincts to a lifetime around the game.

“I’ve been around basketball right when I was born,” he told Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “Just seeing all that growing up and hearing all the different things with that, plus the film.”

Coach Mitch Johnson praised Harper’s defensive effort most.

“His offense was really good, but I thought his defense was better,” Johnson said. “Some of that was his team defense. He’s learning fast.”