Projecting what the Heat’s starting lineup might realistically look like in 2025-26

PF and C: Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware 

The pairing that every optimistic Heat fan is itching to see is an Adebayo and Ware duo in the frontcourt. Adebayo shined next to Anthony Davis in this summer’s Team USA games, and has vocally expressed interest in wanting to become an everyday power forward. Doing so would unleash him on the perimeter on both sides of the floor; posing a scary threat to opposing teams with size and strength of his own.

Adebayo has also been working on adding a regular 3-point shot to his arsenal, and made significant progress in doing so towards the end of last season. He shot a career-high 36% from that department and continued that trend in the Paris Olympics as a floor spreader. Ware has 3-point capabilities as well, shooting 43% from deep in his last college season at Indiana.

He brought that success over to the Heat’s undefeated summer league championship team by playing as a respectable outside shooter. The two-way versatility is something that caught the scouting department’s eyes with Ware. If he really wants to play with Adebayo, that versatility will need to be shown.

This 2025-26 season lineup of Herro, Butler, Jovic, Adebayo and Ware is all hypothetical based on roster changes or their ability to shoot the ball as a group. But if things go well with that major aspect, this is a five-man unit that could be dangerous with size on both ends.