Former NBA forward Vin Baker, a four-time All Star as a player, is expected to join Erik Spoelstra’s Heat coaching staff, a source confirmed Friday.
Baker, 54, has spent the past eight seasons as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks and developed a very close relationship with new Heat superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has expressed admiration for Baker’s character and for Baker’s successful battle against alcoholism earlier this century.
Baker, who was born in Lake Wales, was the eighth overall pick (of the Bucks) in 1993 and averaged 15 points in a 13-year career with six teams, including five years with Seattle and four with Milwaukee. He was named All NBA third team in 1997 and all NBA second team in 1998.
He last played in the NBA in 2025-06 and began his coaching career as an assistant high school boys basketball coach at St. Bernard School in Uncasville, Connecticut.
He later managed a Starbucks in Connecticut, worked as a Bucks broadcaster and headed up the basketball department at a sleepaway camp in rural Massachusetts. The Bucks are the only NBA team that he has worked for as a coach.
Baker isn’t expected to replace anyone on the Heat’s staff. Spoelstra’s other assistants – including Chris Quinn, Malik Allen, Caron Butler, Octavio De La Grana, Wayne Ellington and Eric Glass – are all expected back.
14th roster spot update
As the Heat finalizes a deal with Klay Thompson for its 13th roster spot – a deal could be formalized as early as Sunday – work already is being done on the 14th spot, which the Heat prefers to use on a power rotation player who could log minutes at center or power forward.
Veteran 6-11 center Nick Richards has emerged as a player of considerable interest to Miami, but Richards is considering several options and it’s unclear if another team has offered him more guaranteed money.
There are a couple of other unidentified centers on Miami’s radar, and the Heat could opt to see if any big men become available before the NBA’s Aug. 29 deadline for teams to waive players but stretch their cap hits over multiple seasons.
Richards — who has been working out with Heat players at Kaseya Center while dressed in Heat gear — averaged 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 14.6 minutes in 48 games and six starts for Phoenix and Chicago last season.
Richards, 28,, has averaged 7.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 305 games (114 starts) over six seasons for Charlotte, Phoenix and Chicago.
The Heat must sign a 14th player to either a guaranteed, non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contract before signing players to training camp tryout “Exhibit 10” deals.
As a result, Miami has been waiting to formally sign Kansas guard Tre White, Louisville forward J’Vonne Hadley, Southern Cal forward Ezra Ausar and Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin to Exhibit 10 deals.
▪ Free agent forward Keshad Johnson continues to work out with the Heat and has talked to the team about a return, according to a source. Miami could bring back Johnson on a standard contract or on a two-way deal.
Here’s more on Klay Thompson and his expected addition.
This story was originally published August 21, 2026 at 7:40 PM.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.