The Miami Heat have created arguably the best interior pairing in the NBA with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and six-time All-Defense honoree Bam Adebayo. Miami also has an elite guard defender in Davion Mitchell and a top-tier 3-and-D wing in Andrew Wiggins.
The question mark is who will slot in alongside them. Pelle Larsson is the key to not only answering that question, but determining Miami's ceiling.
Larsson, 25, has been one of the Heat's best NBA Draft success stories in recent years. Selected at No. 44 overall in 2024, he's quickly become one of the best-kept secrets in the Association as an excellent wing defender with improving offensive production.
After averaging 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 14.2 minutes per game as a rookie in 2024-25, he posted 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes in 2025-26.
Larsson also increased his field goal percentage from .438 to .496, and brought his free-throw percentage from .672 to .796. He even made a leap toward the elite on defense, ranking in the 94th percentile in perimeter isolation defense in 2025-26, per Basketball Index.
The last remaining question mark for Larsson is simple yet nothing short of essential: Can he improve his jump shot to the point of being able to consistently share the court with Antetokounmpo?
Pelle Larsson improving jumper would unlock Heat's potential
Antetokounmpo is a phenomenal player who impacts the game in virtually every area. If there's one manner in which he struggles to produce or perform, however, it's as a jump shooter. The 31-year-old is a career 28.5 percent three-point shooter whose offense is instead built around getting downhill—an approach that inevitably requires optimal spacing.
Unfortunately, Larsson shot just 33.7 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie and 32.3 percent from distance during the 2025-26 campaign.
Larsson is still a sensational talent who plays comfortably above the rim and ranked in the 71st percentile in defensive positional versatility, per Basketball Index. If he can't at least somewhat consistently knock down open jumpers, however, then playing him big minutes will be a tough sell.
The Heat could thus be forced to rely on players approaching 40, including known offseason targets DeMar DeRozan, 37, and Klay Thompson, 36, for a role that they'd benefit from being able to hand to an athletic player in or entering their prime.
Clearly, there's value to be found in DeRozan's scoring arsenal and Thompson's three-point shooting. Larsson is simply too great on the defensive end of the floor to not ponder the impact he could make, particularly when one considers that neither DeRozan nor Thompson are guaranteed to be acquired.
If Larsson improves his jumper, then the Heat will have an efficient all-around scoring threat who offers tremendous two-way value. If not, then Miami will likely need to look externally for stability.
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