Ira Winderman: Is Heat Depth a Quality or Quantity Issue? Uneven Offseason Raises Questions

MIAMI — In sports today, it’s all about the depth chart, with NFL and NCAA teams defining a definitive hierarchy.

In the NBA, such depth charts are merely estimates, available nowhere other than, say, a personnel board in the general manager’s office. If such a thing exists.

For the Miami Heat, who are just a month away from training camp, the idea of ​​a depth chart is vague at best at this point.

Backup center? At least an overview.

Backup power forward? Only a small option.

Reserve small forward? Sure, unless that same player is the reserve shooting guard.

Reserve shooting guard? The options seem to be only for the 30-somethings or the unproven.

Reserve point guard? Is there one?

Of course, depth can also be overestimated in a league where only five players play at a time.

Consider what the Boston Celtics brought to the court during their dominant run to the NBA championship last season. For starters, there was the elite quintet of Jayson Tatum (pre-Olympic version), Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White — each an All-Star prospect last season and each likely to be this season as well.

But also consider the bench, with all due respect, of Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet.

Yes, a bench and depth chart can be important. But a starting lineup is more important.

Still, given the lack of a player who falls into the superstar category, depth will be important to what Erik Spoelstra brings to the table this season.

That means the Heat depth map is important.

That raises as many questions as it answers.

Center

Starter: Bam Adebayo.

And then?: Probably, in order, Kevin Love, Kel’el Ware, and Thomas Bryant.

Love did not re-sign this offseason to return in a sort of Udonis Haslem-esque emeritus role. Part of the reason he requested his buyout from the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2023 was to remain an active NBA presence.

Ware certainly showed NBA caliber during the summer league, but the Heat’s way under Spoelstra is to earn a spot in the rotation. The No. 15 pick out of Indiana will play this season, but it could be a ride that starts outside of the primary rotation.

Bryant is back because of salary machinations and a definite need so deep in the rotation. He saved the Heat some luxury tax space by opting out and re-signing. Still, Bryant could serve as an emergency starter on nights when Adebayo can’t play, with Spoelstra preferring not to alter his rotation in response to a starter’s absence.

Power forward

Starter: Nikola Jovic.

And then?: But he also puts Jovic on paper in pencil instead of pen, simply because his skillset best matches the players the Heat had to redeploy last postseason due to injuries.

Unless Spolestra opts for the Adebayo-Ware or Adebayo-Love combinations, two very tall combinations he’s been reluctant to use in recent years, it appears that Haywood Highsmith, at 6-foot-5, is the only backup option left besides two-way player Keshad Johnson, who the Heat list as 6-foot-4.

Small forward

Starter: Jimmy Butler.

And then?: You write in this starting box with a pen and an indelible marker.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. would be the logical replacement here, with a similar attacking profile. He would be best off playing in place of Butler, not alongside him.

From there, there are the options of Duncan Robinson and Alec Burks further down the depth chart. While Robinson is often listed as a shooting guard, it’s not like his defensive skills work best against smaller, quicker, faster players.

Shooting guard

Starter: Tyler Herro.

So what?: Despite all the talk of past success as a sixth man, Herro has done nothing to warrant a move to the bench. This Heat roster only works if the Heat can finally find a way to make Herro-Butler-Adebayo work.

From there, the Heat essentially look to a pair of 30-somethings for backup at the shooting guard position, whether it’s the 33-year-old Burks or the soon-to-be 31-year-old Josh Richardson. Yes, there’s veteran depth at the position. But quality depth? Maybe this is where Josh Christopher makes a follow-up statement to his summer league success.

Ultimately, second-round pick Pelle Larsson could also potentially find himself in the mix.

Or Jaquez could play as a reserve two.

Point guard

Starter: Terry Rozier.

And then?: As with Herro, the speculation that Rozier will be benched remains just that. You don’t give up a future, potentially unprotected first-round pick for a player you would then use in reserve.

The problem is the lack of depth at the position, let alone a true point guard. Right now, rookies Dru Smith, Isaiah Stevens and Zyon Pullin are the remaining backup options.

If this were the NFL, with its evolving depth charts, a case could be made for the Heat to eventually see what becomes available after the NBA’s October 21 discount day. But this is the NBA, where the Heat are stuck with 14 guaranteed contracts without the luxury tax resources to add a 15th right now.

Yes, there is depth. But qualitative depth?

ON THE JOB

SWING VOTE: In his recent interview with Forbes, Heat guard Tyler Herro said one goal is paramount this season. “In terms of building on my strengths,” he said, “I really want to hone my efficiency to maximize my ability as a scorer.” It’s an approach that could prove to be a double-edged sword. On one hand, a more complete game, including better finishing at the rim, would make Herro even more of an offensive threat. But on the other hand, with mid-range scorers like Jimmy Butler And Bam Adebayo already in the starting lineup, more catch-and-shoot play would likely suit the team better. Herro took a small step in that direction last season, seemingly reluctantly. Now, it will be telling to see where he plans to “maximize.”

Fitting Tribute: In anticipation of Goran Dragic‘s retirement game this weekend in Slovenia, the Slovenian Basketball Federation KZS officially retired the number 3 of the country’s senior national team. “Words and actions are not enough to express gratitude and respect for such a great player as Goran Dragic,” said KZS President Matej Erjavec said, according to EuroHoops, of the former Heat guard. “His extraordinary career, his approach to wearing the Slovenian national team jersey and his success on the court speak for themselves. Goran Dragic deserves to be honored for everything he has done for Slovenian basketball. Retiring the number three jersey is a gesture from the Basketball Federation of Slovenia to show our deepest respect for him.” In contrast, Dragic’s Heat No. 7 remains in the game, worn after his departure as the first by Kyle Lowry and now in 2024 first round pick Kel’el Ware. Dragic, 38, led Slovenia to the 2017 EuroBasket championship while playing for the Heat.

OPPORTUNITY: While certainly the less traveled path to NBA success, G League tryouts like the one the Heat announced last week have had their success stories over the years. Among those who have made the NBA with such opportunities are Jonathon Simmons, Alfonzo McKinnie And Juan Toscano-AndersonThe Heat’s Miami tryouts for the Sioux Falls Skyforce will be held on Sept. 29 at the Kaseya Center, the day before the Heat’s annual media day prior to training camp. Tryouts run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. that Sunday, with check-in at 9 a.m. The registration deadline is Sept. 28. According to the Heat, “Applicants for this year’s local tryout must be eligible to play in the NBA G League and must pre-register by submitting the Registration, Release and Health Information Authorization forms, along with a $200 non-refundable fee.” Details are available at sfskyforce.com/3yI5Ctc.

76ERS ALSO: As the Heat have done three times before and will do again this October at the Baha Mar resort, the Philadelphia 76ers will hold their training camp in the Bahamas, using the facilities at the Atlantis Resort. Going away for training camp has become a regular feature for the 76ers under coach Nick Nursewho previously took his team to Charleston, S.C., in 2022 and Fort Collins, Colo., last year. The Heat have held camps in the Bahamas in 2013, ’16 and ’22, the first two times at Atlantis and most recently at Baha Mar. The Heat have not formally announced their camp plans.

NUMBER

3rd. ESPN’s Preseason Prediction for Heat Center Bam Adebayo‘s ranking for 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, behind the projected winner Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves. Adebayo finished third last year, with Gobert as the winner and Wembanyama as the runner-up.