The Miami Heat have made significant changes to their roster this offseason. By parting ways with some key veterans on the squad, the Heat have seen an influx of young talent, presenting the team with a lot of potential for the future.
Led by the capable star duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, this updated Heat roster features a blend of talented young players and experienced veterans in their prime. In many ways, the Heat have the necessary pieces in place to be a competitive team next season.
Miami’s roster moves have also given the team a lot of flexibility to explore different lineups moving forward. With the young players making huge strides in development, the Heat could consider several options to respond to a variety of situations.
As players such as Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Davion Mitchell, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. take on a larger role with the team next season, we explore how the Heat could best utilize their roster pieces with three variations of their starting lineup.
Balanced
PG – Tyler Herro
SG – Norman Powell
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Bam Adebayo
C – Kel’el Ware
This variation of the Heat rotation is more closely aligned with the traditional approach to the game. With a solid player in each position performing their role, this variation provides the most structural balance.
Over the last season, Tyler Herro showed significant growth as he embraced the role of the team’s primary facilitator on offense. While maximizing his scoring efficiency, the 25-year-old also explored his abilities as a playmaker. This growth saw him earn his first All-Star appearance, potentially being the first of many more.
Last season, Herro posted impressive averages of 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Given that he’s capable of creating shots for himself, he will likely sustain his scoring production. But with capable offensive talent surrounding him, the 25-year-old could see an uptick in his assist figures.
Norman Powell will join Herro in the backcourt in this variation of the lineup. Powell is among the Heat’s newest additions to the roster. The 32-year-old brings a lot of experience and scoring prowess, increasing the team’s overall firepower.
Powell is an extremely capable offensive player. As the third option for the Clippers last season, he recorded an average of 21.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.4% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range. Given his versatility as a scorer, the Heat could look to him to boost offensive production.
The frontcourt trio will feature Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, and Kel’el Ware in this iteration.
Wiggins will play a major role in maintaining balance on the roster. As a solid two-way player, the forward plays the role of anchoring the perimeter defense, while also being a contributor on the offensive front.
Although the 30-year-old has been mentioned in several trade rumors this offseason, Wiggins brings a lot of value to the table for the Heat. His skill set and championship experience will be crucial in the long run.
He recorded an average of 18.0 points and 4.5 assists per game last season. With a season under his belt and some increased familiarity with the team, there is a possibility of improving upon his productivity with this lineup.
Adebayo and Ware will make up the team’s big man rotation. As one of the premier defensive players in the league, Adebayo will play a major role as the team’s defensive anchor. Although undersized, the Heat star has often made up for his physical shortcomings in the position with his athleticism, length, and instincts.
Last season, Adebayo recorded an average of 18.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. In this rotation, he may not be expected to contribute on offense as much, allowing him to be more effective on defense.
Along with Adebayo, the Heat will also feature Ware in the starting rotation. This will be a noteworthy addition, as the development of the young center could be crucial in dictating the team’s performance in the upcoming season.
Ware’s versatility as an offensive player presents a major upside. With Adebayo anchoring the defense, the 21-year-old could play a significant role on offense, especially as a floor-spacing big man.
Ware had an impressive outing in his rookie season, as he posted an average of 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. With the scope for increased production, this rotation allows Ware to showcase his growth over the offseason.
3-Guard
PG – Davion Mitchell
SG – Tyler Herro
SG – Norman Powell
PF – Andrew Wiggins
C – Bam Adebayo
The 3-Guard lineup is also based upon the team’s existing “small ball” rotation. By replacing Ware with Davion Mitchell, the Heat essentially add a gritty on-ball defender to increase their defensive integrity on the perimeter.
The backcourt trio of Herro, Powell, and Mitchell has a lot of potential. As gifted an offensive player as Herro is, he is limited as a defender. In this regard, Mitchell acts as a solid cover.
The 26-year-old has proven himself to be a valuable defensive presence, even earning the nickname “Off-Night” for his ability to induce poor performances from his assignments. With an average of 7.9 points and 4.9 assists per game last season, he may be limited as a scorer, but as a secondary playmaker, he could bring a lot of value to the offense.
This lineup sees Adebayo return to his traditional position as the center for Miami. With Ware out of the rotation, the emphasis on the star to be a significant contributor on offense is much greater.
One of Adebayo’s most impressive assets is his conditioning. When considering his ability to manage his workload on both ends of the floor, the Heat can still rely on him to be a key contributor to their efforts.
The wings remain present to support Adebayo. Powell’s familiarity with his role allows him to be an asset in such contexts. Even as a shooting guard, he is effectively acting as a second small forward with Wiggins. Thus, both players can be more effective on offense, as their versatile skill sets can be utilized to their fullest in this lineup.
The only drawback of this rotation is the lack of size. While the athleticism and length of players may still make up for it, the Heat may be risking their productivity on rebounding for speed and offensive production.
Flexible
PG – Tyler Herro
SG – Norman Powell
SF – Andrew Wiggins
PF – Nikola Jovic
C – Bam Adebayo
This iteration of the starting lineup has some similarities with the “Balanced” version. By injecting Nikola Jovic into the rotation in place of Ware, the Heat effectively maintain their size and offensive versatility. Instead, by moving Adebayo into his traditional role as center, Miami gains flexibility in the power forward position by adding a talented stretch forward.
Jovic’s development over the offseason would be essential in deploying such a rotation. When considering the performances the 22-year-old has put up at the preparation games leading up to the EuroBasket, the Heat could look to Jovic being a more significant role player next season.
Last season, the Serbian forward notched an average of 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds, while shooting 45.6% from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc. Although his rebounding numbers are not at par with Ware’s, having Jovic in the rotation ensures the presence of a capable floor-spacing big man, who is also a reliable finisher at the rim.
Defensively, this rotation may have the most shortcomings, especially in the frontcourt, as Jovic’s limitations would be made quite apparent. However, the offensive upside also cannot be ignored.
Which Lineup Should The Heat Opt For?
Each variation of the lineup serves a purpose, primarily helping them respond to their matchups. But when considering overall production across departments, the “Balanced” lineup may have the most merit.
While allowing Herro to grow as an offensive player, it also aids the development of a talented young big man like Ware by giving him a significant role on the team. This has major implications for the team’s future.
In addition to this, the production from players like Powell and Wiggins remains unhindered, as their roles on offense and defense are established. While it may have an impact on Adebayo’s offensive figures, the overall increase in defensive performance could be in Miami’s best interests over the course of the regular season.
