The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The new look Miami Heat, without the services of All-Star guard Dwayne Wade, will be returning to the Bahamas for another training camp before the start of the National Basketball Association’s 2016/17 regular season.

The Heat, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, confirmed that they would hold their second training camp at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island September 27 through October 1.

While the camp sessions in the Grand Ballroom at the Atlantis Conference Centre will be closed to the public, the Heat revealed that a camp session would be opened to the public when they return to South Florida sometime in October.

The NBA season, its 71st, will begin on October 25. The preseason will commence October 1-21.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said the decision by the Heat to return to the Bahamas is paramount to the development of the relationship between the two entities.

“The Miami Heat’s decision to hold its fall training camp in The Bahamas for a second year is indicative of something very special going on in our destination. We are honoured that the Bahamas is the only international destination that the Heat has chosen to host its training camp,” Minister Wilchcombe said.

Wilchcombe said the relationship with the Heat continues to strengthen, grow and evolve.

“The Bahamas is a destination with year-round sunshine, an array of luxury beach resorts, first-rate sporting facilities and events. The Bahamas has capitalised on these assets to establish itself as a world-class sports tourism destination. We look forward to welcoming the Miami Heat’s players, coaches and executives.”

In 2013, the Heat made their initial trip to Atlantis to host their training camp. At the time, they had both Wade and LeBron James on their roster that included Chris Bosh.

After returning to the American Airlines in Miami, Florida, the Heat went on to repeat as the NBA champions with a 4-2 decision over the San Antonio Spurs as James clinched his second MVP title.

It was the last time the big three played together as James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers the next year and the Heat eventually lost 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs, led by MVP Kawhi Leonard.

This summer, Wade departed the Heat for his hometown of Chicago where he will be wearing a Bulls uniform and the Cavaliers and James, coming off his MVP performance, will be defending their title won last year as they dethroned the Golden State Warriors.

Bosh, recovering from blood thinners which prevented him from completing the season last year, will headline the Heat roster that currently has 19 players under contract, including centre Hassan Whiteside.

Last year was a breakout year for Whiteside, who averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game this season. However, he injured his knee in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Toronto Raptors, and the Heat lost in seven games.

During the off-season, Whiteside signed a four-year deal worth about $98 million to stay with the Heat, coached by Erik Spoelstra with former coach Pat Riley as president and Micky Arison as owner.

Other members on the team are guards Tyler Johnson, Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, Josh Richardson, Beno Udrih and Briante Weber, Wayne Ellington and Rodney McGruder; forwards Justise Winslow, Udonis Haslem, Derrick Williams, James Johnson, Josh McRoberts, Willie Reed, Stefan Jankovic, Dorell Wright, Luke Babbitt and Okaro White.

Teams are allowed to carry a maximum of 20 during the preseason before a mandatory cut to a maximum of 15 by October 24.

Last year, forward Luol Deng spent three weeks training in the Bahamas from September 3-25 and was joined by the the Miami Heat Dancers.

But during the off-season, Deng agreed to a four-year $72-million deal to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, now coached by Luke Walton, a former assistant coach with the Warriors.

One of the highlights for Bahamians this season with the Heat will come on March 15, 2017 when the Ministry of Tourism will hold a Bahamas Night at the AmericanAirlines Arena with the New Orleans Pelicans coming to Miami.

The Pelicans selected Grand Bahama Chavanno ‘Buddy’ Hield out of the University of Oklahoma in the NBA draft in June as the number six pick overall. Hield had an outstanding four-year career with the Sooners, winning just about every individual award up for grabs.