Miami Heat need to figure out their final roster spot

The reigning NBA champion Miami Heat have some work to do prior to the regular season – much like any team in the NBA at this point of the year.

For Erik Spoelstra and the Heat, that includes a decision on Miami's final roster spot, as the team prepares to defend its 2011-12 title.

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald believes that the final roster spot will come down to two players – two big men at that:

More than likely, the Heat will award the last seat on the bench to a big. Right now, it seems like a two-man competition between Mickell Gladness and Josh Harrellson. Gladness played well in the Heat's first game against the Clippers and Harrellson shined in the second game. Gladness worked out in Miami the entire offseason and Harrellson has worked extremely hard since moving to Miami. He's lost about 20 pounds over the last eight weeks.

Gladness was with the Heat at three different points last season, making the initial roster, before being waived on Feb. 7. Gladness would go on and sign two separate 10-day contracts with the Heat, before signing on with the Golden State Warriors for the remainder of the season.

Harrellson was selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft, but was then traded to the New York Knicks, and later, traded to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets waived Harrellson in July, and Harrellson eventually signed with the Heat in September.