Heat’s Butler, at 33, says he is in his prime; Herro, teammates anxious about weather back home

For those who consider the Miami Heat to have an older roster, with Kyle Lowry 36 and Jimmy Butler having turned 33 two weeks ago, Butler takes exception.

Instead, he said he believes he is in his prime.

“I think so. I’m comfortable,” he said, with the Heat continuing training camp at the Baha Mar resort. “Like, I’ve got a group around me that allow me to just not worry about nothing on any given day.

“I’m fortunate I got shooters. We got defenders around me. We’ve got also some really good players that can put the ball in the basket.”

But he also added for the doubters, now that he is 13 seasons in, “So prime or not, I think we can do something special.”

That, he said, keeps him from sweating the small stuff, including coming in at No. 17 in ESPN’s latest annual NBA ratings, behind players such as Trae Young, Paul George, Damian Lillard and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Asked if the ranking was reasonable, Butler said, “Probably so. There’s probably about 25 of ‘em. So I get in where I fit in. I’m not worried about it. Seventeen, that’s a good number for me. From where I come from, 17? I’ll take it.”

In many ways, it is as if Butler has taken to the relaxed vibe of this time on New Providence.

“Right now, it’s about getting back in a groove, in a rhythm and having fun,” he said of this five-day camp being conducted on makeshift courts in a convention-center ballroom. “I think these first couple of days are about having fun, getting around the guys and the basketball stuff.”

Because, Butler said, the Heat enter aware of what — and who — matters, including however coach Erik Spoelstra chooses to round out the starting lineup beyond himself, Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry.

“It’s all about helping the team, who’s going to be the least selfish,” he said of the open competition for the remaining starting roles. “I’m not saying anybody’s selfish, but you gotta understand where the ball’s got to go.

“Bam has to get the ball. I have to get the ball. Kyle’s going to have the ball. And those other two spots, get in where you fit in.”

With those comments coming while reiterating his media-day preference of not having to play power forward, a vacant starting role that came open with P.J. Tucker’s free-agency move to the Philadelphia 76ers.

“There’s like five competing for the four, so they can all five, all four beat me out so I don’t have to play the four. That’s my hope,” he said of competition that seemingly includes Caleb Martin, Haywood Highsmith and perhaps Max Strus and Omer Yurtseven. “We have some guys, they should be thinking, ‘This is my spot. I deserve to start.’ But if you think you deserve to start, you’re going to have to go out there and prove it.”

External concerns

Guard Tyler Herro said Wednesday it was a somewhat helpless and harrowing feeling being in the relatively tranquility of the Bahamas at camp while knowing all that was going on in Florida, including the flooding in South Florida.

“It’s devastating, what’s going on,” he said. “We all have families back there. It’s not easy for anybody. My family is back at home and I know they’re scared. Hopefully everyone stays safe and can get through it.”

As for the trip, Herro said the Bahamas have become a frequent getaway from the team.

“We’ll probably be back here before the playoffs,” he said, with some players having made such a trip prior to this past postseason . . .

All three players who were limited during Tuesday’s opening camp practice were back on the court for the full session Wednesday: Gabe Vincent (knee), Dewayne Dedmon (foot) and Nikola Jovic (Achilles).

Minor details

Former Heat forward Kasib Powell will return for a second season as coach of the team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

The Heat also announced that Ronald Allen, a former Powell teammate with the Skyforce, will serve as a Sioux Falls assistant coach, after holding a similar role last season with the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate.

The Skyforce staff is assisting the Heat during training camp, with Heat camp prospects Jamaree Bouya, Jamal Cain, Orlando Robinson and Dru Smith expected to move on to the Skyforce after the preseason.