As the Miami Heat continue to search for the final pieces of their championship puzzle, it’s time to review what’s currently rostered. The Heat have 13 players under standard contract, leaving space for a potential trade with about a month left of the offseason. Each of the players that are on Miami’s roster has their strengths and weaknesses that will be underlined in the list below.
Jimmy Butler:
Pro: Time and time again the Miami Heat have ridden the hot hand of Jimmy Butler late in the game. He’s one of the best fourth-quarter players in the league and shows up each and every time the Heat need an answer to come back or close a game. Butler led the league with 148 fourth-quarter points in the 2023-24 postseason, helping the eighth-seed Heat punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. If it’s a close game late in the fourth and Butler’s fully healthy, Miami has a strong chance to come out with the victory.
Con: At this point in his career, it’s difficult to ask a player to really improve something in their game, but maybe a few tweaks here and there would be a benefit. The best-case scenario for Butler next season would be shooting the ball more efficiently from 3-point range. He’s a career 33.2% shooter from beyond the arc, taking a massive leap from 23.3 to 35.0 in the last two seasons. If Butler can continue that consistency from 3 and possibly raise that percentage even more, it would do wonders for the offense, like opening the lane for him and Bam Adebayo.
Bam Adebayo:
Pro: Undoubtedly one of the most versatile players in the league, Bam Adebayo poses a threat to any team on either end of the floor. Adebayo has been a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award multiple times, averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals last season. He can catch fire on the offensive end with his ability to sink in a shot from the elbow and his quickness to find the rim against larger, slower opponents. He’s also the anchor in the middle on defense, being one of the only players in the league that can arguably guard all five positions.
Con: As the Heat’s starting big man, Adebayo needs to make a bigger impact on the glass. He plays over 34 minutes a game, securing 2.5 offensive rebounds and 6.7 defensive rebounds on an average night. Miami will benefit tremendously if it’s able to increase the amount of second-chance points opportunities. A starting center needs to be responsible for creating more opportunities for the offense.