WASHINGTON — There was a time when Pelle Larsson being unavailable to the Miami Heat would fall somewhere along the lines of minor inconvenience.
This no longer is that time.
Sunday, when the Heat had to go without Larsson against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena due to the elbow contusion sustained in the first half of Friday night’s loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, it meant having to go without a player who had started the previous 13 games and 32 overall this season.
From late selection out of Arizona in the second round in 2024, Larsson has emerged this season into what Erik Spoelstra often refers to as a “connector,” the type of player who makes teammates and lineups better.
“He’s that example we talk about, ‘Make us watch you and make us have to play you and make us have to move things to make sure that you’re getting out there and playing and not going a different direction,’ ” Spoelstra said before Sunday’s game. “So he’s been really a plus in whatever lineup he’s been in.
“I think that shows his versatility. And he’s pretty much cemented himself in the rotation regardless of where that is.”
The Heat said an MRI on Larsson showed no more than the elbow contusion.
Dunk perspective
Not only does this season’s dunk contest at All-Star weekend feature the field with the lowest-ever cumulative scoring average, but more perspective arrived in the Heat’s injury report for Sunday.
A day after being named to the contest, Heat second-year forward Keshad Johnson was sent to the G League Sioux Falls Skyforce for additional seasoning.
Johnson is averaging 3.1 points per game for the Heat this season, just below the composite 4.53 scoring average of the field that also includes Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs), Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers) and Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic).
“The two things I really like about it is, one, I’m really excited about KJ having the opportunity to go experience the All-Star Weekend. I just think it’s awesome for young guys,” Spoelstra said, with Johnson’s competition on Saturday. “And when you’re a young player, I just think it’s great to have an opportunity to mingle with the greats of the game and just see all of it and experience all of it.
“The second thing would be, yes, athleticism is big time. We see it after practices, some of these dunks he does. He can take off from right inside the free-throw line. He can do a lot of trick dunks. And he’s also really starting to figure out how to weaponize that athleticism, and show it more in the game of basketball where it’s not just a dunk contest.”
When it comes to dunking, guard Jahmir Young, who is on a two-way contract and has played with Johnson with the Heat and Skyforce, said the potential for a contest breakout is undeniable.
“He’s one of the most athletic guys in the league, whether that’s seeing it in warm-ups, or even the time that he gets in the game,” Young said. “His nickname is Showtime for a reason.”
Goldin, too
In addition to Johnson, the Heat also sent bulky 7-foot rookie center Vlad Goldin back to the G League for additional seasoning.
“Vlad, he hasn’t gotten a lot of opportunities with us, but I’m really encouraged by him,” Spoelstra said. “It forces us to look at him in a unique way. He’s a throwback big. He’s got a great motor for somebody his size.
“So if there’s some areas where he may lack in some athleticism, he makes up for it in his consistent motor, that energy. And then he’s got a really unique touch inside the paint. He can do these little flip shots, finishes. Even though he’s not elevating off the ground, he can do it with either hand. So I like his development.”