LeBron talk in the air as Heat open Vegas summer league with victory over the Bucks

LAS VEGAS — To say Friday was a case of split attention for the Miami Heat at the NBA Summer League would be an understatement.

On one hand, the Heat’s summer roster was pushing past the Bucks’ summer roster, 119-86 at Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus, with Heat general manager Andy Elisburg and coach Erik Spoelstra looking on.

On the other hand, just prior to tipoff, ESPN, from their perch in a balcony above the court, was interviewing LeBron James agent Rich Paul, who was offering his latest thoughts on his client’s approach to NBA free agency.

With the Heat an uninterested spectator in that regard, as well.

Asked during his appearance on ESPN where the process stands, Paul said, “We are taking this thing very seriously. But, at the same time, we’re having fun. I think it’s great for the fans.

"It’s his decision and he has earned the right to make any decision he wants.

“Just like you guys, we are all waiting.”

With the Heat included among those on that waiting list, their personnel moves on hold as they await whether there will be a return engagement with the forward who helped lead them to NBA championships in 2012 and ’13.

Paul downplayed a vetting process.

“He has to think about things from a playing standpoint,” Paul said. “When you have a player like him, he unlocks something on all 30 teams.

“The team he chooses? I don’t know yet. It’s his decision. I’m just waiting on his decision. We’ve been around this league long enough, It’s his 24th season. We understand how things work. We understand how teams operate.”

Should James bypass the Heat, the expectation is the Heat would quickly pivot elsewhere to fill out the two or three remaining spots on their standard roster.

But, for the moment, no James timetable.

“I don’t have one,” Paul said. “I don’t put a timetable on things. It’s not a game or something that’s a gimmick or trying to lead people on.”

While the Heat have about $6.5 million of their mid-level exception to offer, more than some other James suitors, Paul downplayed the salary aspect.

“Take the money out of it,” he said. “Most times, you are saying where is the most financially respectful opportunity? In this case, you throw that out that window. You can actually evaluate it and make the best decision for yourself. This is unchartered territory for an athlete.

“You want to be competitive, have the opportunity come late April or early May to give yourself the best opportunity of winning. He’s not chasing a ring. He will make the best decision for himself. He has earned the right.”

Five Degrees of Heat from Friday’s game:

— 1. Familiar faces: Seated opposite the Bucks bench were three of the players the Heat sent out in the trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware.

The other player sent out in the deal was on the floor for the Bucks, with Kasparas Jakucionis in Milwaukee’s starting lineup.

Jakucionis, back from playing for the Lithuanian national team earlier in the week, closed with 11 points in his 22 minutes on 2-of-10 shooting, six assists and five rebounds.

— 2. Herro says: Herro was interviewed on Prime’s broadcast during the first half, addressing the trade to the Bucks.

“I mean, it’s part of the business,” he said. “A place like in Miami, and organization like Miami, they wanted championships, they play for championships, and it’s part of the business. I know how good I am, and what I’m capable of. And I just got to continue to keep working and try to stay healthy and just represent this new team how I’m supposed to.”

While viewing it as a homecoming.

“I’m finally back home,” said Herro, a native of the Milwaukee area. “I’m super excited to be back home. It feels like a great opportunity for me — the guys that came with me from Miami, as well as the young guys that were on the roster.

“I’m a vet on this team and I just want to represent the city and the state that I’m from, so I’m super excited.”

With no rancor.

“It’s all love in Miami,” he said. “I’ve seen a couple of the guys, coaching staff. Chris Quinn, Spo. We’re all good in Miami, and an opportunity for both sides to reset and get a fresh start. We’re both super happy for this.”

Herro did not comment on a reported altercation with Heat center Bam Adebayo at a hotel prior to Friday’s game, brushing off comments attributed to Herro earlier in the week regarding Adebayo.

— 3. Other trade elements: Also taking in the action courtside was Portis, who sat with the Heat coaching staff and Heat guard Davion Mitchell.

In addition, in action for the Bucks was Nate Ament, the forward out of Tennessee taken with the No. 13 pick in last week’s NBA draft that the Heat sent out in the Antetokounmpo deal.

Ament closed with six points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes.

— 4. Conwell can: Second-round pick Ryan Conwell again played as a Heat featured attraction, closing with 19 points. The 3-point shooting again was uneven, with the guard out of Louisville missing his first five 3-point attempts.

The No. 37 pick last week closed 7 of 16 from the field, including 2 of 8 on 3-pointers, with three assists.

— 5. For starters: The Heat opened with a lineup of Conwell, Trevor Keels, Vlad Goldin, Tre Donaldson and J’Vonne Hadley.

Jahmir Young, playing off the bench, matched Conwell’s 19 points for the Heat, with Keels and Goldin each scoring 14.

Up next

The Heat continue their Las Vegas schedule with a 3:30 p.m. Eastern game Saturday against the summer roster of the Orlando Magic. A day off then follows, before a Monday 8 p.m. game back at the UNLV campus against the summer roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers.