Heat’s roster shuffle prompts strategic lineup decisions

Jul 21, 2025 2:33 AM

While the Miami Heat haven’t made as many splashy moves this offseason as some other franchises, their roster changes have nonetheless created intriguing possibilities for head coach Erik Spoelstra, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Winderman projects that the team’s starting five on opening night will most likely consist of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell in the backcourt, with Andrew Wiggins at small forward, rookie big man Kel’el Ware at power forward, and Bam Adebayo anchoring the center position.

That said, the analyst also highlights a potential concern with this lineup: a lack of natural playmakers.

This could prompt Spoelstra to make adjustments, such as inserting Nikola Jovic in place of Ware to improve ball movement, or swapping in Davion Mitchell for Powell to provide additional facilitation and on-ball defense.

Benching Ware would also allow the team to better manage its center rotation, which Winderman identifies as a weak spot at the moment.

Although rookie center Vlad Goldin – currently on a two-way contract – had a strong showing in the Summer League, the depth at the five remains thin.

Another storyline to watch is how the Heat will structure their second unit. Simone Fontecchio, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Pelle Larsson are all expected to compete for meaningful minutes off the bench.

Of those three, Winderman suggests that Jaquez may have the edge due to his versatility and proven ability to step into a starting role if needed – particularly if Wiggins is moved in a potential trade.