It's time for the Heat to shift gears

The Miami Heat built their identity on never saying die. From undrafted success stories to improbable playoff runs, the franchise has thrived on belief. But sometimes, belief isn’t enough. With Tyler Herro sidelined again and no true star to raise their ceiling, Miami looks more like a team stuck in the middle than one capable of contending.

The injury to Herro only underlines a deeper truth: the Heat don’t have a player they can trust to carry them through a playoff gauntlet. Jimmy Butler is gone and Bam Adebayo is a great defender and versatile big but not a primary offensive engine. The rest of the roster is made up of rotation players and specialists. That’s enough to make the postseason, maybe even look competitive in spurts, but it’s not enough to actually win.

A roster without a ceiling

The Heat are deep with secondary pieces. Norman Powell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic -- they can all contribute. Erik Spoelstra’s system will squeeze every ounce of production out of them. But that depth doesn’t translate into a true contender without a top-tier star.

The comparison to last year’s Clippers is hard to ignore. L.A. finished top five in the West despite Paul George leaving for Philadelphia and Kawhi Leonard missing months with injury. They played hard and won regular-season games, but everyone knew the ceiling was capped. When the playoffs arrived, they were simply outgunned. Miami looks headed for that same track: gritty enough to pile up wins, too limited to thrive when it matters most.

And there’s no quick fix. The Heat don’t control much of their future draft capital. They also lack the kind of centerpiece trade asset that would bring back a superstar. Adebayo has immense value, but moving him would mean starting from scratch. Herro’s health keeps his market in flux. That leaves Miami with a lot of solid role players—exactly the kind of pieces contending teams want at the deadline but not the kind that return an immediate difference-maker.

A smarter path forward

This is where Miami has to be realistic. Instead of clinging to the idea of contention, the Heat should treat the 2025-26 season as a chance to reset. If the Lakers really are interested in Andrew Wiggins, explore that deal and squeeze them for multiple picks. If other teams come calling for more veterans, listen. Miami has built a culture that produces useful players every year; there’s no reason it can’t replenish the cupboard with draft stock.

For now, the Heat are running on fumes. They can be competitive, but there’s no scenario where this group is hoisting a trophy. The best way to honor that Heat DNA of competitiveness is to set up the next version of a contender—one that will actually have the star power and flexibility to make a run.

Hanging onto the illusion of contention only wastes time. Moving pieces now, cashing in role players while their value is high and stockpiling picks is the play. The sooner the Heat accept that, the sooner they can build a roster worthy of the culture they’re so proud of.