The Miami Heat head into the 2025-26 season as one of the most interesting teams in the NBA. Although they have one of the youngest rosters in the league, the Heat are viewed as a dark horse to contend for the title.
This reputation can be attributed to the development of their young core over the last few years, specifically their star duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. With the growth of other key players like Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, and Davion Mitchell, the Heat also benefit from the offseason addition of Norman Powell to boost their offensive firepower. Overall, Miami looks solid.
However, when looking at the Heat roster, it is evident that some pressing needs must be addressed if the team intends to compete for the title next year.
While the issues associated with their big man rotation certainly demand attention, the Heat are also lacking in the point guard department, specifically in the role of a playmaker. To answer this, Miami could take a risk and sign free agent guard Russell Westbrook.
Herro, while brilliant in his role, isn’t primarily a playmaker. His strength lies in his shooting skills and overall offensive versatility. In response to their star’s strengths, the organization decided to draft Kasparas Jakucionis this year.
Jakucionis, while gifted, is still inexperienced. His struggles with turning the ball over at the Las Vegas Summer League are also a telling sign that he will require guidance and grooming before he is ready to lead the offense.
With this in mind, signing Westbrook should be considered a priority for Miami, especially considering that they were viewed as favorites to sign him earlier in the offseason.
Westbrook is currently among the several free agents still available on the market, which has been viewed as shocking by several former players, given the guard’s reputation.
While he is far removed from his prime, even at this stage in his career, Westbrook is undoubtedly a productive rotational piece. During the 2024-25 season with the Denver Nuggets, the nine-time All-Star demonstrated his ability to run an offense in the capacity of both a bench player and a starter.
Last season, he averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists while shooting 44.9% overall and 32.3% from three-point range. In addition to his work on offense, Westbrook also showed impressive effort on defense, albeit in limited bursts. His averages of 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks per game stand to prove this point.
On Miami’s roster, Westbrook could be considered an ideal fit. His high-octane playing style and aggression align with the organization’s mentality.
He is more likely to embrace a second-unit role, primarily acting as a replacement for Herro or Powell, depending on the circumstances. Given Miami’s flexibility with structuring lineups due to the talent at its disposal, there is enough reason to believe that the nine-time All-Star could be productive in any capacity.
The Heat will be looking to make further changes this offseason. With regard to Terry Rozier, the organization has been looking to offload the veteran guard. In light of the limited interest, the Heat have also reportedly considered the possibility of a buyout.
Rozier’s departure seems imminent. In this regard, bringing in a 35-year-old veteran who is capable of being a genuine contributor could be considered a wise decision.
The primary concern with signing Westbrook is the kind of contract the Heat will be willing to offer him. The former MVP has expressed that he doesn’t wish to sign a minimum deal, which is one reason he remains unsigned this close to training camp.
Currently, Miami is above the cap, but still has some space left before hitting the first tax apron. With this in mind, the Heat could use the mid-level exception or the bi-annual exception to sign Westbrook, although they would risk entering luxury tax territory by doing so.
In the event they succeed in trading Rozier and shed more salary, however, this could present a new outlook.
Should the Heat be interested in approaching the nine-time All-Star, they would be advised to do so at the earliest. With the Sacramento Kings expressing a keen interest in signing him, Miami could miss out on an opportunity to add a solid veteran to its lineup.
