The Miami Heat have revitalized their roster, keeping their Eastern Conference title hopes alive after making key moves at the NBA trade deadline.The Heat dominated NBA discussions in recent months due to the Jimmy Butler trade saga. Thankfully, they sealed a deal with the Golden State Warriors for Butler, avoiding a prolonged wait until the summer.
As part of the trade, three new players—Andrew Wiggins, PJ Tucker, and Kyle Anderson—joined the team. Tucker was soon traded to the Toronto Raptors for backup guard Davion Mitchell, which now makes the Heat appear much more formidable than they did in the month leading up to the trade without Butler or the reinforcements.
Let’s dive into what the Heat’s new starting lineup and bench look like after parting ways with Butler, who had been the franchise’s cornerstone for nearly six seasons.
Starting Lineup
Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, Kel’El Ware
The Heat have infused fresh energy into their starting five through careful trades and decisions over the past month. The standout addition is Andrew Wiggins, who seems like the ideal 3-and-D forward for the Heat.
With Tyler Herro taking on more responsibilities as a creator and scorer, the Heat needed a forward who could back him up as a secondary scoring threat while being a tough defensive presence. Wiggins, who averaged 17.6 points and 4.6 rebounds with the Warriors, provided that support for Stephen Curry. With Herro outproducing Curry this season, Wiggins could be a game-changer for the Heat.
Duncan Robinson has reclaimed his starting role after fluctuating in the rotation in recent years. His shooting ability remains crucial for spacing the floor, making it difficult for defenses to focus too much on any one player. Additionally, Robinson has become a more capable defender, which has solidified his place in the starting lineup.
Kel’El Ware has emerged as a breakout rookie, posting averages of 13.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks over his last 10 games. Ware can complement Bam Adebayo in the post while also offering perimeter shooting. Although his defensive game is still evolving, Adebayo continues to set the defensive tone for the Heat.
Reserves
Terry Rozier, Davion Mitchell, Kyle Anderson, Haywood Highsmith, Kevin Love, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Alec Burks, Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson, Josh Christopher (Two-Way), Dru Smith (Two-Way), Isaiah Stevens (Two-Way)
The Heat’s bench is stacked with players who can impact the game in multiple ways.
Davion Mitchell, the newest addition, fits Miami’s culture perfectly. His strong on-ball defense could challenge Robinson for a starting spot. A potential trio of Mitchell, Wiggins, and Adebayo could give coach Erik Spoelstra an elite defensive backbone to lean on.Kyle Anderson, after a rough stint with the Warriors, wasn’t initially a desired target for Miami. They had attempted to trade him to the Raptors for Mitchell before Tucker was sent in his place. Anderson, on a multi-year deal, could be a solid contributor off the bench, possibly alongside Haywood Highsmith, who is more defensively active.
Terry Rozier, who’s currently dealing with legal issues, could be the Heat’s sixth man if he returns, providing scoring off the bench. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic are also expected to continue playing important roles in the rotation.
Veteran Alec Burks may struggle for minutes, while young players like Pelle Larsson will develop throughout the rest of the season as the Heat push for a top-six seed and a return to the Playoffs.
