The Miami Heat were relatively quiet early in the offseason. But their recent moves have seen a significant boost to their overall roster strength, even putting them in a position to be a competitive side in the East.
One of the biggest aspects that has changed for the Heat going into the new season is the average squad age. With Jimmy Butler leaving the team at the trade deadline last season and players like Kevin Love being traded this offseason, Miami has shifted to a younger core.
With 32-year-old Norman Powell being the oldest player on the team, it is abundantly clear that this Heat team is served by youth. Led by a young star duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, this Heat squad is primed to grow and develop into a contender.
With several young members on this team, we break down the age distribution of the players across the roster.
Norman Powell – 32 years old
Terry Rozier – 31 years old
Andrew Wiggins – 30 years old
Simone Fontecchio – 30 years old
Haywood Highsmith – 29 years old
Bam Adebayo – 28 years old
Davion Mitchell – 27 years old
Tyler Herro – 26 years old
Jaime Jaquez Jr. – 24 years old
Pelle Larsson – 24 years old
Keshad Johnson – 24 years old
Nikola Jovic – 22 years old
Kel’el Ware – 21 years old
Kasparas Jakucionis – 19 years old
Average age: 26.2 years old
The most intriguing aspect of this team is that, by definition, the Heat aren’t a “young team”. Although they have young talent with players like Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, and their rookie Kasparas Jakucionis, most of their primary rotation players are experienced.
The likes of Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins have been in the league long enough to be considered veterans, while still being in their primes. Wiggins even brings championship pedigree, making him a significantly valuable veteran.
Simone Fontecchio adds valuable depth with his defensive upside and experience. Other players like Terry Rozier have played for multiple teams in their career, enough to be considered reliable veterans off the bench in some contexts.
Miami’s star pair may be young, but they are far from being inexperienced. Having made it to the NBA Finals twice in the span of the last five years, both Adebayo and Herro are talented players with scope for further development as franchise cornerstones.
At 28 years old, Adebayo is just entering his physical prime. This reflects in his performance as well. As one of the best two-way players in the league, the Heat center averaged 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He also put up 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks while anchoring Miami’s defense.
Herro has also taken a massive step in improvement over the past two seasons. With a significant rise in his scoring productivity, the 26-year-old recorded an average of 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists as Miami’s primary scoring option and facilitator.
Going further down the order, younger players like Davion Mitchell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Pelle Larsson have been viewed in high regard by the organization.
The team recently re-signed Mitchell with high expectations of him becoming a key rotation piece. Jaquez Jr. is considered an untouchable asset in trade talks. Meanwhile, Larsson showed signs of development as an offensive player in the Summer League. He’s expected to earn more minutes in the regular season.
Powell’s addition will help boost their backcourt rotation and scoring strength. But it is the development of Ware as a big man that the Heat will be looking forward to.
With teams such as the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers falling off due to injuries sustained by key players on their rosters, Miami could have an opportunity to establish itself as a powerhouse.
With the potential to feature one of the most balanced starting lineups in the league, along with relevant contributors off the bench, this Heat team could be a dark horse in the Eastern Conference.
