Former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy has voiced concerns over the Miami Heat’s current roster construction, saying it isn’t strong enough to contend for a title. According to Van Gundy, Miami seems to have been lulled into a false sense of security after their 2022 NBA Finals run. He questions whether the team’s core, led by Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro, is capable of taking them beyond the play-in tournament again.
Van Gundy’s comments came in response to a question from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald regarding the Heat’s decision to stick with their core group of players. He expressed confusion over why the franchise has not significantly upgraded the roster, despite being in a “win-now” mode. “They haven’t put a roster around that has a chance,” Van Gundy said. He pointed out that Miami’s unexpected Finals appearance two years ago may have clouded the team’s judgment about their roster’s true potential.
In Van Gundy’s view, the Heat are not on par with the top teams in the Eastern Conference. He specifically cited Boston, New York, and Philadelphia as having superior rosters. “They’re not even in the ballpark roster-wise,” Van Gundy remarked, emphasizing that Miami’s current group does not measure up to the contenders in the conference.
Van Gundy also mentioned other teams, including Indiana, Orlando, and Cleveland, as having more complete rosters than Miami. He acknowledged the impact of head coach Erik Spoelstra, noting that the Heat have been leaning on his ability to get the best out of limited rosters. “They seem like a team to me that has been reliant on Erik Spoelstra working miracles,” Van Gundy said. However, he warned that even Spoelstra’s coaching brilliance has its limits, adding that Miami’s current squad lacks the necessary depth and talent to compete with the best in the league.
The Heat finished eighth in the Eastern Conference last season and advanced to the playoffs through the play-in tournament. Despite reaching the NBA Finals in 2022, Van Gundy believes that the team’s overall performance and roster strength last season reflected their true level. Miami clinched the eighth seed again but was eventually eliminated by the Boston Celtics in five games. The injuries to key players Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier at the end of the season contributed to their early exit from the playoffs.
Van Gundy also expressed concern about Miami’s ability to contend without significant changes. “If Jimmy [Butler] can play 70 games, maybe it’s a little different,” he said, but noted that relying on Butler alone is not a sustainable strategy. He stressed the importance of building a roster that can compete night in and night out, particularly in a conference with so many strong teams.
Looking ahead to the 2024-25 season, Van Gundy remains skeptical about the Heat’s chances unless they make key mid-season moves. He acknowledged that there’s always a possibility for trades or roster improvements, but as of now, he doesn’t see them as legitimate contenders. “At this point, it would be foolish to say they’re a contender,” Van Gundy concluded.
