The Miami Heat traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo to chase a title, but the player who could surprise people this season is 25-year-old wing Pelle Larsson, ClutchPoints argues.
Larsson, the 44th pick in the 2024 draft, played 70 games last season with 54 starts, averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes. He shot 49.6% from the field but just 32.3% from three on about three attempts a game. Miami still believes in him: he signed a four-year, $60 million extension that kicks in next season.
The Giannis deal reshaped the roster. Per ClutchPoints, Miami sent Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis to Milwaukee, plus three first-round picks, a first-round swap and a second-rounder, getting Bobby Portis back. Norman Powell is gone too, while Tim Hardaway Jr. and Klay Thompson were brought in as shooters.
The IAHHM Take
The logic is simple. Herro and Powell took a lot of shots. Those shots have to go somewhere, and Larsson is the guy Erik Spoelstra already trusts. With Giannis and Bam Adebayo pulling defenses into the paint, Larsson is going to see a lot of open looks on the wing.
The catch is that 32.3% from deep. Open threes only matter if you hit them. If Larsson gets that number up while staying the pesky defender he already is, he becomes the connector this roster needs, especially with Klay at 36 and Hardaway not known for his defense.
This is the Heat way: draft a guy in the second round, develop him, and turn him into a real piece.
Who is the Heat’s third-best player by the All-Star break: Larsson, Wiggins or somebody else?
More hoops: the Cavs are betting on James Harden, Peyton Watson and continuity and all IAHHM Sports.
Source: ClutchPoints
