One-sentence progress reports of all 18 Miami Heat players on the roster

It’s a bit of a misnomer to say the Miami Heat don’t care about the regular season. It’s not that they dismiss the 82 games before the playoffs – it’s just that they have bigger priorities than winning enough games to be one of the top seeds in the conference.

The Heat are 32-25 and in sixth place in the East. To be clear, that’s not good enough. They do need to win a few more games. Fortunately, they are playing their best basketball of the season. Winners of eight of their last 10, the Heat are percentage points ahead of the sevent-place Indiana Pacers and need to stay there to escape the play-in tournament.

But Miami’s biggest priority during the season is progress. Players making progress. Coaches making progress. The team and schemes making progress. All to ensure that the Heat are peaking at the right time when the playoffs come around.

With that in mind and the All-Star break in the rearview, now is a good time to check in with every player on the Heat roster and see how they are progressing. 

We’re going to do this quickly, as to save everybody some time. Here’s what you need to know about each Heat player at this point in the season.

End-of-bench guys

Thomas Bryant: Started the season as Miami’s primary backup center but has since fallen out of the rotation because of his inconsistent play on defense.

Jamal Cain: Miami’s most productive two-way contract player is mostly used when the team is afflicted with injuries, but he’s paving the way for a 15-man roster spot next season.

Orlando Robinson: The Heat have shuffled between Bryant and Robinson for backup center minutes but, like Bryant, Robinson is mostly used for spot minutes in certain matchups.

Dru Smith: Has been out for the season since injuring his knee in the Heat’s 15th game of the season in Cleveland. 

Cole Swider: Hasn’t played much at the NBA level but is one of the standouts on Miami’s G League affiliate, averaging nearly 25 points on 46.4% shooting on 3s.

Alondes Williams: Was recently called up from the G League and landed a two-way contract with the Heat after averaging 21.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

[Read More: 5 Free agents who should be on the Heat's summer wish list]

Occasional contributors

Haywood Highsmith: Has emerged as one of the Heat’s best overall defenders but needs to more of a threat on offense to crack a healthy rotation.

Nikola Jovic: Regularly goes between DNP-CDs to starting depending on injuries and matchups but has made the most of his opportunities.

Delon Wright: Signed with the Heat during the All-Star break and should add steady ball-handling, defense and 3-point shooting as a backup point guard. 

Rotation mainstays

Jaime Jaquez Jr.: The steal of the 2023 draft, Jaquez has emerged as one of the league’s top rookies, biggest surprises and a natural fit for Heat Culture.

Kevin Love: Began the season as Miami’s starting power forward but has since transitioned into Bam Adebayo’s primary backup. Has developed great chemistry with Jimmy Butler in the second unit.

Caleb Martin: Injuries derailed the first half of Martin’s season but he has since found his footing as Miami’s do-it-all wing.

Josh Richardson: In his return stint with the franchise, Richardson has 21 games with 10 or more points and 22 games in single digits.

Duncan Robinson: Miami’s most improved player, Robinson is averaging a career-high in assists and points in the paint while shooting 41% on 3s.

Bonafide starters

Bam Adebayo: Along with Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Adebayo is one of only four players to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 stocks (steals plus blocks) – while also putting together another Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season.

Jimmy Butler: Over his last eight games, Butler is averaging 24.1 points, 8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 56.5% overall.

Tyler Herro: In what could be a make-or-break season for his future in Miami, Herro is second on the team in scoring and averaging a career-high in assists while playing the best team defense of his career.

Terry Rozier: Has yet to see his shot come with him from Charlotte (shooting 35.9% in 10 games) but is providing much-needed rim pressure and defensive fight at the point of attack since the Heat traded for him in January.