Erik Spoelstra Sorting Through Heat’s Backcourt, Frontcourt Options

The Miami Heat haven’t made the loudest headlines this summer, but the subtle moves they have made could give coach Erik Spoelstra plenty to work with once the NBA season tips off.

According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miami’s projected starting five includes Tyler Herro and Norman Powell in the backcourt, alongside Andrew Wiggins, rookie big man Kel’el Ware, and All-Star center Bam Adebayo.

That group brings scoring and defensive length, but also raises questions about ball movement. Winderman suggests Spoelstra could shake things up by sliding Nikola Jovic into the starting lineup in place of Ware, or even inserting Davion Mitchell for Powell to help stabilize the offense.

Ware, the No. 15 overall pick in 2024, may be best suited to come off the bench early on. That shift could also help bolster Miami’s center depth, which remains thin behind Adebayo. Vladislav Goldin, signed to a two-way contract, held his own this summer and could earn minutes in spots, but is still viewed as a developmental piece.

As for the bench rotation, Winderman notes that Jaime Jaquez Jr., Simone Fontecchio, and rookie Pelle Larsson are among those fighting for minutes. Jaquez, in particular, seems likely to have a continued role thanks to his versatility and ability to step into the starting lineup if Wiggins is moved in a trade.

The Heat have kept things relatively low-key this offseason, but Spoelstra has options. The mix of veterans, young talent, and lineup flexibility gives him several ways to shape the rotation. And that’s exactly the kind of puzzle Spoelstra tends to solve.

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