Miami Heat Season Preview: The Shooting Guards

Mar 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) celebrates with forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and guard Pelle Larsson, after becoming the NBA's second highest scorer of points with 83 in a game against the Wshington Wizards at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Miami Heat Season Preview: The Shooting Guards

Originally posted on Miami Heat on SI | By Austin Dobbins | Last updated Sep 10, 2026 3:00 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Sports are always evolving, and basketball has been on the forefront of major changes in it's game. As we approach the regular season we have previewed each of Miami's position groups, and there is one remaining, the shooting guards.

Basketball has become positionless in a sense, there are multiple times people are just slotted into positions but that is not the role they are actually playing. Giannis Antetokounmpo will run the point for the Heat on numerous occasions, Andrew Wiggins may be in a lineup where he is actually the power forward, and that's why many don't give it too much thought.

But this season, the Miami Heat have two traditional shooting guards, and a wing who is very diverse.

1. Klay Thompson

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Although aging, Klay Thompson was the exact player the Miami Heat needed to bring in. He is one of the NBA's greatest shooters, he is a traditional shooting guard, and he will thrive in an offense that has so much gravitation down low, giving him some of the best looks of his career. Last season in Dallas, Thompson averaged 11.7 points per game while shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc and he will see increased usage and minutes in Miami. Expect a full, productive season out of Klay Thompson.

2. Tim Hardaway Jr.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Tim Hardaway Jr. was another Miami Heat acquisition who will make in immense impact in South beach. Likely off the bench and in staggered units, Hardaway Jr. will be Miami's primary scorer off the bench and will also thrive in minutes shared with Antetokounmpo. Hardaway Jr. is one of the NBA's best catch and shoot players in the NBA and Erik Spoelstra will ensure he gets plenty of looks within Miami's offense. Hardaway is coming off a strong season in Denver where he averaged 13.5 points per game, the veteran guard proved to be one of the league's top perimeter threats, shooting a career-best 40.7% from three-point range. The Nuggets offensive rating was a +5.9 with Hardaway on the floor.

3. Pelle Larsson

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Swiss-Army Knife of the Miami Heat does it all. He will get plenty of opportunity off of Miami's bench and will likely be a member of the closing unit. Larsson does all the little things. He is an energizer, he embraces his role, he gets to the free throw line, and he stays busy on the defensive end. Should Larsson take a leap from three he could be one of the Miami Heat's most impactful players this season.

This was the last positional preview for the upcoming Miami Heat season. The roster is deep all across the board, but nothing means anything until we hit the basketball court. Head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat staff have been working to create the perfect scheme for this squad and the players have done their own hard work off the court.

Basketball is just under a month away, and the Miami Heat are on the forefront of everyone's mind.