The Miami Heat's strong start to the 2025-26 NBA season has been largely about making do with what they have. If they want to keep the good times rolling, though, they need to start focusing on something they're clearly without: frontcourt depth.
Now, that doesn't mean they have to rush into an Anthony Davis trade (though they could explore that option), that does mean they need a more reliable option than hoping undrafted rookie Vladislav Goldin is ready for the rotation. Because these stumbles on the interior could derail their 82-game marathon if they're never addressed.
Miami needs more help in the middle.
Even with Nikola Jovic's failure to launch, it's been a pretty promising start for Miami's frontcourt. Bam Adebayo has paired his signature all-purpose defense with an offensive arsenal that finally features an outside shot, and Kel'el Ware has hinted at a solution to his inconsistency problem.
Behind those two, though, it's basically crickets. Precious Achiuwa was cut loose before the campaign tipped off, and Goldin's next NBA minutes will be his first. Keshad Johnson, a 6'6" swingman who sometimes serves as small-ball big, has only handled mop-up duty and the few minutes he's received have been a mess.
The Heat can't be cool with this setup, can they? This looked like a problem spot on the roster before the season got started, and it has proved to be exactly that.
It's not just a depth concern, by the way. Even the Heat's rotation regulars could do a better job of tipping more interior battles in their favor.
Miami's 47.5 rebounding percentage is fifth-worst in the league, per NBA.com. It's also been a bottom-third performer in terms of opponents' shooting in the restricted area (68.3 percent, 10th-worst). And it's given itself a nightly five-point deficit on second-chance points (19.7 to 14.7).
Now, the Heat are getting by so far based largely on their transition attack and outside shooting. But why not just fill this hole rather than keep finding ways to try climbing out of it?
A reliable depth piece in the center rotation could do wonders for this roster. Beyond filling that basic need, maybe Miami can add someone who suit up alongside one or both of Adebayo and Ware. Given the fact that both seem like, at the very least, adequate floor-spacers, that shouldn't be too difficult to manage.
Add someone willing and able to do the dirty work on the interior, and maybe the Heat start coming out ahead on the glass and providing more resistance around the rim. And, hey, even if those are marginal upgrades, this is a team that needs to routinely win on the margins, because it's not overwhelming anyone with its star power.
The Heat have had their hands tied behind their backs for long enough. It's long past time to get someone they can plug into the power rotation.