The 2023-24 season for the Miami Heat did not go as expected. Pat Riley and the team’s front office failed to land Damian Lillard last summer, leaving Miami to run it back with their core. A fully healthy Tyler Herro was supposed to make a big impact until injury issues arose for him and the rest of the team.
Outside of the team’s third-best player struggling to stay on the court, the Heat had a lot of other issues. Injuries affected not just Herro, but a lot of the team’s supporting cast. A mid-season acquisition of Terry Rozier was supposed to provide a spark until a neck sprain ended his season.
Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Heat’s first play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers. All in all, it was essentially a lost season.
Still, there are a few stats that could be reason for optimism ahead of a new season beginning in the fall.
1. Rebounding
Miami was a solid rebounding team last season, but more so on the defensive end. They ranked sixth in defensive rebounding rate and 15th when including offensive rebounds. That is a repeatable stat for next season and something that can even be improved, especially with the addition of newly drafted Kel’el Ware.
The 15th overall pick from Indiana, Ware is a true 7-footer and double-double threat. He was at the top of summer league on the boards and brings much-needed functional size into the picture. Heat assistant GM Adam Simon noted that Ware is essentially a 3-and-D big man.
Ware's ability to add two-way versatility and presence in the paint should do wonders for the Heat. If Ware can position himself to be active on the offensive glass, Miami can expect a jump in the team’s overall rebounding statistics.