Heat again caught in wake of opponent COVID result; Udonis Haslem defers decision

For the second time in two weeks, the Miami Heat are facing additional COVID-19 testing due to an opposing player being forced to miss time to NBA pandemic protocols.

Two weeks ago, in the wake of the Heat’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets at AmericanAirlines Arena, Heat center Dewayne Dedmon found himself under contact-tracing scrutiny after Nets center Nic Claxton was placed in the NBA’s protocols.

Dedmon initially was not cleared to travel with the Heat for their April 21 game in San Antonio, before passing protocols and flying in on game day for the victory over the Spurs.

Now, with Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges entering the league’s protocols, the Heat, according to an NBA source, are in the process of closer inspection. The Heat defeated the Hornets on Sunday at the Spectrum Center, with Bridges playing 31:25 in that game.

According to a party familiar with the Heat’s vaccination progress, the team has had enough personnel vaccinated to avoid player absences due to contact tracing. However, the team has yet to clear the full post-vaccination waiting period that would alleviate certain monitoring requirements.

What does not change for a vaccinated team is the mandatory time away for a positive coronavirus test that is not followed up by a subsequent negative test.

The Heat several times this season have come under additional league focus after contact with opposing players who tested positive for COVID-19, including after early-season games against the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.

The Heat’s Jan. 10 game in Boston was postponed due to contact tracing that forced nearly half the roster to return to South Florida.

Heat players who have missed time this season due to pandemic protocols include Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Udonis Haslem, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and KZ Okpala.

Waiting game

Haslem said after Tuesday morning’s shootaround that he will not decide on whether to return next season until the offseason. The veteran forward, who turns 41 on June 9, went into Tuesday night’s game against the visiting Dallas Mavericks yet to play this season.

“Man, I just take it one day at a time. And we’ll figure it out,” he said. “The goal now is to win a championship, and then we’ll go from there.

“I can’t really think past today. I’ve been told just to take it one day at a time and when I get to the summer, that’s when I think about that. So that’s the advice I’m going to take from a wise man.”

Haslem said leadership has had to take different forms amid this pandemic-altered season.

“Man, there’s never been nothing like this season,” he said. “Obviously, this is new.

“But the thing that I miss the most is just the opportunity to bond and to grow. I think our biggest strength is that throughout the season we continue to build that bond, on and off the court.”

The face

Haslem had a quick retort when asked Tuesday whether he could envision center Bam Adebayo as the future face of the Heat.

“Definitely, definitely, no doubt,” he said. “He’s not as handsome as me, but you can try to put his face somewhere around here and hopefully it’ll catch on. But, yeah, he can try to be the face.”

As for the ugly side of the pandemic, Haslem said that is the story of his golf game.

“With the way our schedule has been this year and the travel and the games and stuff, I’ve actually taken not one step back but probably three steps back in golf,” he said. “I’m just wasting my money and my membership right now.”

But more money will be spent.

“I’m actually going to invest in a golf simulator,” he said.