Goran Dragic, Derrick Jones Jr on verge of return

The Miami Heat’s official Twitter account made some big news Wednesday afternoon: both Goran Dragic and Derrick Jones Jr., who each suffered significant injuries, fully participated in the Heat’s practice today and will travel with the team to Philadelphia for a game against the 76ers tomorrow.

Dragic has missed Miami’s last 30 games after sustaining a right knee injury that required surgery in December. And Jones has been out since Jan. 27, when an awkward fall in a game against the New York Knicks gave him two bone bruises. Dragic started as the Heat’s point guard before his injury, and Jones emerged as a backup power forward earlier this year.

While speaking to reporters after the Heat’s practice, Erik Spoelstra emphasized caution, saying they both need a bit of work. We probably will see Justise Winslow remain as the Heat’s starting point guard. But will Rodney McGruder be squeezed out of the rotation, with Dragic and Dwyane Wade demanding playing time off the bench?

And as for Jones, the spry forward supplanted Kelly Olynyk as the Heat’s backup to James Johnson before his injury. But since then, Spoelstra has swapped his lineup and started Olynyk. How does Jones’ return jostle Miami’s front-court rotation?