(Photo Courtesy of the Miami Heat)
The Miami Heat needed to pick a direction this offseason, and it appears they’re leaning into their youth more heading into the 2025-26 season around Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, who will be due for an extension in October.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, developing their young core will be a priority for the short- and long-term future.
“According to people with direct knowledge, Miami’s intention is to ‘let our young guys show what they can do’ and see what this team looks like with Erik Spoelstra having a full training camp, with the Jimmy Butler distraction in the rearview mirror and with first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis added to a core of young players that the organization believes has a high upside,” Jackson’s report read.
“It also believes all of its recent draft picks — Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson and Jakucionis — all have a chance to ‘be really good players’ and that at least some of their roles will become more significant, which it characterizes as ‘internal change.’
“As one source said, ‘we’re getting them in their developmental years’ and moving them into larger roles if they earn it. The point was made that it takes players five or six years to reach their prime, so Miami has no idea has good this young core can actually become.”
Miami’s made seven NBA Finals over the last two decades with three Larry O’Brien trophies; competing at all costs is ingrained in its DNA. Though we’ve entered a transitional phase months after they traded away a disgruntled Jimmy Butler (who spearheaded a pair of Finals appearances) at the deadline.
The Heat have an … interesting young core, spearheaded by second-year big Kel’el Ware, newly-drafted Kasparas Jakucionis and fourth-year wing Nikola Jovic. We laud the Miami Heat for being one of the best developmental organizations in the NBA–now it’s time to put that to the test with these spices in the cupboard.
That said, while the Heat exchanged Duncan Robinson for Simone Fontecchio’s expiring $8.3 million salary, there’s still work that needs to be done.
As it stands right now, the Heat are $5.5 million below the luxury tax, which team president Pat Riley has been open about not exceeding because of the onerous repeater penalties. However, of the 15 spots allocated for on the roster, 13 will be of players who were on last year’s team that was mercifully swept out of the first round.
If their plan is really to dip their toes into their youth, they still have tradable contracts in Andrew Wiggins, Haywood Highsmith and Kyle Anderson … oh, and Terry Rozier (learn from your mistakes!).
At the forefront of their priorities should be collecting as many assets as they can–be it expiring contracts, dispensable multi-year contracts and, most importantly, draft capital. Yes, that even means kicking the tires on trading Herro before you lock yourselves into a cumbersome long-term contract.
Explore the market as much as you can, and don’t be afraid to lump yourself into a three- or four-team trade if you’re able to rid a contract in exchange for draft capital or another asset!
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