Heat open 'new chapter' as roster reforms after Butler trade - ESPN

MIAMI — Things rarely happen in the NBA at 8:57 a.m. on a Sunday. But that was the moment when Miami's newest acquisitions — Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Kyle Anderson — walked into the Heat interview room for the first time.

The reason was simple: There's a lot of work to do.

With team president Pat Riley offering the official greeting, the new Heat players — who landed in Miami as part of Jimmy Butler's trade to Golden State last week — practiced with the team for the first time Sunday. All could make their Heat debuts Monday, when Miami hosts the Boston Celtics.

«It's time for a new chapter,» Wiggins said. «It's hard. But that's the NBA, transitioning midseason. That's the NBA. It's a business. I'm here. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited. I think we can do something special here. They've got a nice squad, great coaching staff, amazing fans. I'm looking forward to it.»

Wiggins, in his 11th season, was averaging 17.6 points per game for the Warriors this season. He has averaged 18.5 points over 749 games in his career.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said multiple times in the days following the trade that without Wiggins, Golden State wouldn't have won the 2022 NBA title. Stephen Curry was NBA Finals MVP after averaging 31.2 points in that six-game win over Boston, but Wiggins was Golden State's second-best player in that series, averaging 18.3 points and a team-best 8.8 rebounds.

«He changed a lot for us for the better,» Curry said. «I hope his experience with us changed a lot for him as well. He's got a lot of basketball left in him, obviously.»

The Heat feel the same way about Mitchell, the No. 9 pick in the 2021 draft who is joining his third team after stints with Sacramento and Toronto. The 26-year-old