Love is another option for that role who can play both frontcourt positions, albeit a bit undersized for the center spot. Bryant’s main competition for the backup center job is second-year big man Orlando Robinson. Bryant, who signed with the Heat in free agency this summer, averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 65.4 percent from the field and 22 of 50 (44 percent) from three-point range in 41 games (25 starts) with the Lakers last season before he was traded to the Nuggets in February. The Heat hopes the addition of veteran center Thomas Bryant can help fix that issue this season. Miami was outscored by four points per 100 possessions when Adebayo wasn’t on the court last regular season. Other power forward options on the Heat’s 15-man roster include Haywood Highsmith, Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr.įinding positive minutes from a backup center is one clear way the Heat can be better this season. But both are threats from three-point range, which is arguably the most important skill for this position as part of a starting lineup that’s anchored by non-three-point shooters Adebayo and Butler.

Both bring different skill sets to the position, as Martin features some defensive versatility but is undersized for this spot at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds while Love is not a versatile defender but is an above average rebounder at 6-foot-8 and 251 pounds. Love then took over as the Heat’s starting power forward after signing with Miami in the middle of the season. Martin opened last season as the Heat’s starting power forward before the Heat added Love with two months left in the regular season. Kevin Love and Caleb Martin appear to be the front-runners for this role. Another option for the Heat? Add a veteran point guard still available in free agency like Goran Dragic, who would welcome a Heat return but the Heat has yet to express interest in bringing him back, according to league sources. In that scenario, Adebayo and Butler can take some of the ball-handling pressure off Herro.

Despite being a score-first shooting guard, Herro is another option to open this season as the Heat’s starting point guard. The issue is Lowry is the only traditional point guard currently on the Heat’s 15-man roster. But Vincent left in free agency to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers and Lowry ideally won’t need to play heavy minutes at 37 years old. Kyle Lowry began last season as the Heat’s starting point guard before Gabe Vincent took over and played as the starting point guard during the Heat’s long playoff run. Obviously, Butler must stay relatively healthy this season for the Heat to reach its full potential. Butler missed 18 games last regular season, with most of those missed games coming because of a right knee issue. But Butler also turned 34 in September and has played deep into the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.

He has proven during his first four seasons with the Heat that he’s one of the few players in the league who’s special enough to be the best player on a championship-level team. What will regular season Jimmy Butler look like?īutler is still the Heat’s best player.

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