Will Erik Spoelstra Sit the Main Miami Heat Cast Against Minnesota Timberwolves?

MIAMI, Fla. – It’s unusual for any standard roster in the league to play through the whole preseason; when head coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about the Miami Heat starters seeing action on Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the jury remains unclear.

“I’m going to sleep on it,” he said at Friday’s practice media availability. “Think about it, I’m all over it.”

Both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo played the first two quarters in the first two preseason games against the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans. After gaining some experience playing together, Spoelstra could start to decrease the workload ahead of Opening Day. As the Heat’s top stars, Antetokounmpo and Adebayo can’t afford to be sidelined early with injuries.

Plus, it would present an opportunity for others to see more time on the court.

Veteran center Nick Richards is the only one signed to a non-guaranteed standard contract. He’s only played a combined 25 minutes to start the preseason. Spoelstra has played Nikola Jovic and Bobby Portis Jr. in the frontcourt. They’re both lengthy forwards who can take on big matchups and space the floor offensively with three-point shooting. Richards is a more traditional center, looking to establish a paint presence.

Second-round rookie Ryan Conwell has an opportunity to crack the rotation early. However, the former Louisville Cardinals star has shown much in the preseason yet. Conwell has scored just nine total points through two games. He’s known as an electrifying scorer, but playmaking is a bigger demand for the 22-year-old, especially with veteran Dru Smith sidelined with a right calf strain.

Tre Donaldson established momentum from Thursday’s 128-118 win over the Pelicans. He finished with 12 points on 62.5 percent shooting and two assists in 15 minutes. The two-way rookie is a prime candidate to move up to the standard roster, especially with the Heat’s playmaking needs. Donaldson grew into a well-rounded point guard in the 2025-26 college basketball season with the Miami Hurricanes and head coach Jai Lucas.

The Heat have Ian Schieffelin, Gabe Madsen, Bez Mbeng, and Kylor Kelley on Exhibit 10 contracts. They could be looking at extended playing time with hopes of securing a spot in the league. However, all of them are likely to start the 2026-27 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat’s G League affiliate.

As Spoelstra continues to navigate through several changes to the roster, it’s showing promising signs ahead of the regular season. The Heat are scheduled to tip off against the Timberwolves at 8:00 p.m. and will be televised on WPLG Local 10.

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