The Miami Heat have not made any significant moves this offseason, deciding to trust the group of players that they already have. The franchise seem to believe that the answer lies in the roster being healthy and not in making wholesale changes on the back of last season's first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics.
The Heat's biggest addition this summer has been Alec Burks. So, it is safe to say that Erik Spoelstra once again needs to get the most out of his roster. Thankfully, he is an expert at that.
The Heat will be depending on a number of their young players to improve and step up to the plate if they are to be successful next season.
Nikola Jovic is someone who looks set to play a significant role for the Heat in the 2024-25 season. He is projected to be the team's starting power forward.
Jovic enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023-24. After playing just 15 regular season games the year before, he started 38 times in the previous campaign and was in the starting lineup for all five of their playoff games against the Celtics.
In a Q&A on The Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman was asked about Spoelstra possibly going a different direction and not starting Jovic next season. The journalist replied: "Then it gets interesting for the Heat on multiple levels. First, I've been listing Nikola Jovic as the starting four because I'm not sure I see another option on this roster. I still think it would be too soon for Kel'el Ware. Haywood Highsmith would be an undersized stretch. It hardly would be maximizing Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s skill set. And it seems as if the Heat and Erik Spoelstra have moved beyond a pairing of Bam Adebayo and Kevin Love in the first five. But . . . if the Heat do move in such a direction, then I'm not sure where Nikola Jovic might fit as Erik Spoelstra cycles through his rotation, considering the volume of wing options he has at his disposal in smaller-ball pairings. So I almost think you start Nikola at the start of the season to initially get the best read on your roster. Of course, that all could be what camp is about."
It feels likely the Heat will start the season with Jovic in the first five. The likes of Jaquez Jr, Love and Highsmith could feature in that role as well.
Of course, some are concerned about Jovic's offseason injury and his unimpressive play at the Olympics. Hopefully, he will be back to full fitness before training camp starts.
