The Miami Heat are going to open up training camp for the 2025-26 campaign with the daunting task ahead of them of figuring out how to keep the ship afloat without Tyler Herro to start the season. The All-Star underwent foot surgery and is expected to be out for at least the first month of the season.
Combined with a brutal schedule to open the year and a roster that lacks true star power even with Herro, Erik Spoelstra is going to have a challenging camp, to say the least.
Erik Spoelstra and the Heat must find an identity
In a weird way, Herro's injury does clear the way for a somewhat obvious starting five:
- Davion Mitchell
- Norman Powell
- Andrew Wiggins
- Bam Adebayo
- Kel'el Ware
Rotations beyond that could go a bunch of different directions, but at the core of what the Heat needs is a clear identity heading into the season. It's a roster that has a pathway to be effective, but Spoelstra has to decide which route he wants to take.
One thing we have highlighted throughout the offseason is the fact that Miami seldom got to the free-throw line last season, especially once Jimmy Butler departed.
The addition of Powell should help in this category, as he was in the top 50 in the NBA in free throws attempted. And we saw Pelle Larsson really attack the rim this summer, as well as rookie Kasparas Jakucionis being known as a driver during his time at Illinois.
But if Mitchell is going to run the point to start the season, Spoelstra needs to get Mitchell to attack the rim more than he has in the past, as he seldom drew contact last season.
From downtown
The other pathway Spoesltra might go with is to say screw it and turn the Heat into a version of the Boston Celtics. Powell shot over 40% from three last year, and Mitchell shot 44% during his 30-game stint with the Heat last year.
Add in Wiggins shooting from 37% last year and Adebayo getting the chance to bounce around the year in the four spot, and Miami could just morph into a squad that launches north of 40 attempts per game.
Once Herro does come back, this might be a system that also best suits his game.
Either way, Spoelstra has a choice to make as training camp is right around the corner.