When it comes to the 2025 Miami Heat, it has truly been a season fans will wish to forget.
From Jimmy Butler trade drama casting a cloud over the team to limping their way into the play-in tournament once again, it seems like this team can't catch a break. To nobody’s surprise, the Heat have looked like a play-in team from the start of this disastrous 2024-25 campaign.
Whether Butler was on the roster or not, Miami has been mediocre at best for a while now. Unfortunately, his departure has only magnified just how stagnant this group has really been. And the losses are piling up to show it.
In regard to some players’ stock rising and falling, there are a few guys that wouldn’t be fair to critique at this moment.
Kel’el Ware is a rookie. Ups and downs are expected. Nikola Jovic has been shut down with a broken hand. Andrew Wiggins, Miami’s headliner in the Butler trade return, has played great when healthy. But he has dealt with injury issues of his own.
However, there is still room to assess the stock of several pieces in coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotation.
Rising: Tyler Herro
Tyler Herro is in the midst of a breakout year. He earned his first All-Star nod and won the 3-point contest at this year’s All-Star weekend. He is averaging career-highs in nearly every statistical category.
Herro has slowed down a bit during this second half of the season, but his progression is still one of the only highlights of this forgetful campaign for Miami. He looked every bit an All-Star in Wednesday's loss to the Pistons, when he scored 29 points on 50% shooting and tied the game with clutch free throws before Cade Cunningham's unfortunate buzzer-beater.
Rising: Davion Mitchell
As part of the Butler trade, Davion Mitchell was acquired in a quick asset flip for PJ Tucker. He has lived up to his gritty reputation, providing much-needed, point-of-attack defense.
Mitchell has also had some great offensive showings during his Heat tenure so far. He's made a case to be one of Miami's top priorities as a restricted free agent this summer.
Falling: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Whether it is the sophomore slump or something deeper, Jaime Jaquez Jr. has not been the same player compared to his rookie year.
His stats have decreased across the board, most notably going from nearly 12 points per game to about 8.5. Jaquez has struggled to find a consistent role in the rotation, and his inability to spread the floor has played a part in that. Even with more of an opportunity as a spot starter in Wiggins' absence, Jaquez has yet to take advantage.
Falling: Terry Rozier
Could Terry Rozier's stock drop any lower? Perhaps. Because he went from struggling off the bench to not playing at all in Miami's most recent game, getting a DNP-CD against the Pistons.