The Miami Heat have set a clear goal for the franchise by trading for NBA champion and Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. They're not only hoping to get back to the NBA Finals for the third time this decade, but to win their first championship since 2013.
Having blown up the roster to acquire Antetokounmpo, however, three non-stars will need to step up to give the Heat a realistic shot at a title: Ryan Conwell, Nikola Jovic, and Pelle Larsson.
Miami has a captivating interior duo in Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as an elite defender at point guard in Davion Mitchell. It also has a former All-Star and NBA champion in Andrew Wiggins, and a two-time Sixth Man of the Year finalist in big man Bobby Portis Jr.
Though that gives Miami five quality players to build its rotation around, depth is king in the modern NBA and many have questioned if the Heat have enough of it.
Thankfully, the trio of Conwell, Jovic, and Larsson has the potential to answer that question with a resounding, "Yes." If they live up to their potential, then they can help address critical voids and permit rotational versatility that the Heat will otherwise lack.
That all starts with the rookie, who may be the best bet of any of the three to step in and occupy the essential role of sharpshooter in an interior-based offense.
3. Ryan Conwell
It's perhaps unfair to include a rookie who was drafted in the second round here, but Ryan Conwell will have an instant opportunity to contribute. The Heat's single biggest question mark is three-point shooting and Conwell made a college career out of knocking down jumpers.
Conwell's efficiency dipped as a senior, but his form is tried and true. If he can translate his past success to the NBA, then the Heat will instantly become a more legitimate contender.
Conwell shot 34.5 percent on three-point field goals in 2025-26, but he also attempted an unsustainable 9.6 per game. With more reasonable volume, he's shot the lights out at a competitive level. For instance: He shot 40.7 percent on 7.1 attempts per game in 2023-24 with Indiana State.
Conwell then shot 41.2 percent on a matching 7.1 attempts per contest in 2023-24 with Xavier, which he helped go 13-7 in the Big East and reach the NCAA Tournament.
If Conwell can step in and bury open shots as a rookie, minutes should be easier to come by and the Heat should improve as a team. Adebayo and Antetokounmpo are both interior-based bigs who need optimal spacing around them in order to play their respective games as they prefer to.
That puts pressure on Conwell to step up, but it also creates an opportunity that many second-round draft picks could only dream of receiving.
2. Pelle Larsson
Pelle Larsson flew under the radar outside of Miami, but he turned in an excellent 2025-26 season relative to his role. In just his second season, he started 54 of his 70 appearances, and increased his field goal percentage by 5.8 percent and his free throw percentage by 12.5 percent.
More importantly, Larsson established himself as one of the best young wing defenders in the NBA. The question is: Can he also develop a jump shot to help Miami optimize its spacing for Antetokounmpo?
Larsson finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 offensive board, 0.7 steals, and 0.9 three-point field goals made on .496/.323/.797 shooting. He soared through the air for highlight-reel dunks, showed promise as a playmaker, and locked in on defense.
According to Basketball Index, Larsson ranked in the 94th percentile in perimeter isolation defense, the 95th percentile in post defense, and the 64th percentile in screener mobile defense.
If Larsson can build upon that success in 2026-27, the 6'5" wing should have another opportunity to start for the Heat. In order to help Miami create a sustainable formula for offensive success, however, he needs to at least become respectable as a three-point shooter.
The good news: Larsson buried 39.7 percent of his 2.6 three-point field goal attempts per game through four collegiate seasons. If nothing else, he has the tools to be a quality low-volume option.
1. Nikola Jovic
Nikola Jovic will play a direct role in determining what type of ceiling the Heat will have in 2026-27. If he rediscovers his jump shot and taps into his potential as an all-around player, the Heat could overwhelm opponents with three high-volume players who stand at 6'9" or taller.
If Jovic fails to fix his jump shot after it disappeared in 2025-26, however, then the Heat will have trouble playing him alongside Adebayo and Antetokounmpo.
Jovic shot just 26.9 percent from beyond the arc in an uncharacteristically poor 2025-26 campaign. Thankfully, he shot 39.9 percent on 3.5 attempts per game in 2023-24 and 37.1 percent on 4.6 attempts per game in 2024-25.
If Jovic can return to that level of efficiency, then the Heat's spacing will support lineups that include three players who can overwhelm opponents with their size.
The question facing Jovic entering 2026-27 isn't just about his jumper, however, but instead how his all-around offensive game will progress. He's long been heralded as a captivating talent who can pass, dribble, and shoot at 6'10", but it's unclear how ready he is to perform in a volume role.
If Jovic is able to provide efficient production with reasonable volume, however, then Antetokounmpo's odds of competing for a championship will instantly improve.
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