Even if Erik Spoelstra is going to resort to playing Bam Adebayo at the center next to Giannis Antetokounmpo the majority of the time, the Miami Heat still need to find their answer to a full-time backup center.
If they're going to have any shot to compete in the first year of the Giannis era, they're going to need to fill that roster blind spot sooner rather than later. The most worrying part is that this concern is nothing new. All last season, this was a battle that the front office never truly conquered.
Miami never found a consistent third big man to be part of the rotation next to Bam and Kel'el Ware. The Heat could have a similar issue this season, even though Giannis is a much better player than Ware.
The Heat needs to find a consistent and reliable backup center
If the Heat wants to put the frontcourt of Giannis and Bam in a position to be successful, they're going to need to find a consistent backup center to help take the wear and tear of the regular season off their dynamic duo.
And sure, if the Heat keeps its roster the way it currently is, Bobby Portis and/or Nikola Jovic should be able to spell Giannis and Bam from time to time, but they'd still like the necessary size needed to fill the role of a backup center for Miami.
More than anything, that was one of the biggest problems for the Heat last season. Right now, that onus would probably fall on Vlad Goldin, a second-year undrafted free agent.
Despite having some bright moments here and there, Goldin is nowhere near ready to play a consistent role for a team that is expected to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.
That means the Heat almost have to look outside of their developmental system to find a veteran big man who could help give them the necessary depth in the frontcourt.
The Heat's offseason moves will come into picture this week
But, at this point, it's difficult to predict how the Heat will operate as they fill out the rest of the roster around Giannis. In theory, though, many of those answers will be addressed this week.
With the new league year officially beginning July 6, this is the moment when the Heat will be able to process the Giannis trade and then any other moves they have lined up after that.
The overwhelming belief is that the Heat should be busy over the next few days in crossing the T's and dotting the I's on their roster construction in the first year under Giannis.
The question is, will that include adding another center or power forward? Time will tell, but there's reason to believe that the Heat almost have to.
Add us as a preferred source on Google