2025 Training Camp & Preseason Thread

[Bishop45]

I thought Precious on the roster was a typo-- I haven't been paying attention

[contract]

I think the first preseason game was a positive sign of the team.
The defense looked better and the team played faster.

Jovic may fit better as a pf because he provides better spacing and plays fast.
I liked Ware and Dru Smith.
It will be interesting to see the rotation of pgs when they will be healthy.

Norman Powel lost some shots but he played well overall in his first game.
Wiggins seems ready for a big role this season.
I think he can be the #1 option, he is ready for this.

I think that this team will be good this season.
The chemistry seems better and the defense seems better.

Sometimes I feel like Heat fans have all lost their minds. Wiggins can't be a #1 option. If you're building your offense around Andrew Wiggins, you're playing for the lottery. If Andrew Wiggins is taking a bunch of shots, something has gone horribly wrong or is in the process of going horribly wrong.

No one on this team should be a #1 option. We don't have that kind of talent.

[contract]

Looked like we had the game pretty in hand until the bench scrub crew came through.

Hard to get a read with so many rotation players out, but we could probably pretty comfortably roll with a:

Smith / Mitchell
Powell / Larsson
Wiggins / Jaquez
Jovic / Fontecchio
Adebayo / Ware

I think this lineup could work well tbh.

So you're telling me we just locked up Mitchell at $12 mil per to back up a minimum salary guy coming off of a torn Achilles?

Mitchell has to start and play 30 minutes a night.

[al bondiga]

What contract says is obvious...
nobody on this team should be the number one option!!!

If we get super lucky we work beautifully as a TEAM and we make the playoffs interesting

[SA37]

Spoiler:

I think the first preseason game was a positive sign of the team.
The defense looked better and the team played faster.

Jovic may fit better as a pf because he provides better spacing and plays fast.
I liked Ware and Dru Smith.
It will be interesting to see the rotation of pgs when they will be healthy.

Norman Powel lost some shots but he played well overall in his first game.
Wiggins seems ready for a big role this season.
I think he can be the #1 option, he is ready for this.

I think that this team will be good this season.
The chemistry seems better and the defense seems better.

Sometimes I feel like Heat fans have all lost their minds. Wiggins can't be a #1 option. If you're building your offense around Andrew Wiggins, you're playing for the lottery. If Andrew Wiggins is taking a bunch of shots, something has gone horribly wrong or is in the process of going horribly wrong.

No one on this team should be a #1 option. We don't have that kind of talent.

Yeah, Wiggins is a good scorer in the NBA, but not a #1 option. That said, I will push back a little on the "we don't have that kind of talent".

While Miami doesn't have a superstar talent or an elite scorer on paper, Herro was 17th in scoring last year and Normal Powell was 24th. That's 2 guys in the top-5% in the league. And despite it not being their best offensive seasons -- and with Wiggins only playing 17 games with Miami -- Bam and Wiggins finished in the top-50, at 47th and 49th respectively. In fact, Wiggins averaged 19 a game with Miami which, had he done it over the season, would have had him finish 40th.

So we're talking 4 guys in the top ~15% of the league in scoring.

What I think Miami lacks is a guy who can take players off the dribble and create for themselves and others and get to the line in crunch time. Herro has improved here, but he is not elite at it. Will he ever make that leap? I'm not convinced he will, but we'll see.

[vagelis]

I think the first preseason game was a positive sign of the team.
The defense looked better and the team played faster.

Jovic may fit better as a pf because he provides better spacing and plays fast.
I liked Ware and Dru Smith.
It will be interesting to see the rotation of pgs when they will be healthy.

Norman Powel lost some shots but he played well overall in his first game.
Wiggins seems ready for a big role this season.
I think he can be the #1 option, he is ready for this.

I think that this team will be good this season.
The chemistry seems better and the defense seems better.

Sometimes I feel like Heat fans have all lost their minds. Wiggins can't be a #1 option. If you're building your offense around Andrew Wiggins, you're playing for the lottery. If Andrew Wiggins is taking a bunch of shots, something has gone horribly wrong or is in the process of going horribly wrong.

No one on this team should be a #1 option. We don't have that kind of talent.

Somebody has to be the #1 option in every team regardless how good or bad the team is.
In the current situation for Miami, Wiggins or Powel will be the #1 option imo.

Wiggins the last time he was #1 option, it was 10 years ago, when he was a 20yo child.
He is a better player now and he is more than capable imo.
But we will see, the season will start soon

[Voltron914]

What contract says is obvious...
nobody on this team should be the number one option!!!

If we get super lucky we work beautifully as a TEAM and we make the playoffs interesting

like someone said in the last offseason thread, we should be like the 05 pistons with the Wallaces, Hamilton, billups and Prince. 5 guys that can give u double digits a night and the one who steps up as top scorer any night can change. With Herro out it forces Spo to see who can take on that role. Norm can be that guy and might mess around and earn that extension. im excited to see this team play with no pressure from the media to be a contender

[twix2500]

I think the first preseason game was a positive sign of the team.
The defense looked better and the team played faster.

Jovic may fit better as a pf because he provides better spacing and plays fast.
I liked Ware and Dru Smith.
It will be interesting to see the rotation of pgs when they will be healthy.

Norman Powel lost some shots but he played well overall in his first game.
Wiggins seems ready for a big role this season.
I think he can be the #1 option, he is ready for this.

I think that this team will be good this season.
The chemistry seems better and the defense seems better.

Sometimes I feel like Heat fans have all lost their minds. Wiggins can't be a #1 option. If you're building your offense around Andrew Wiggins, you're playing for the lottery. If Andrew Wiggins is taking a bunch of shots, something has gone horribly wrong or is in the process of going horribly wrong.

No one on this team should be a #1 option. We don't have that kind of talent.

Somebody has to be the number one option. Everyone cant be taking 10 field goal attempts a game.

[HeatFan_NC]

Also for those complaining about the Niko contract, it’s basically the same as the 3/48 that Detroit signed Duncan Robinson too. Nikos is 4/62.

I know who I would rather have under contract for the next 3-4 years.

At least Jovic and Fontecchio offer other skills that Duncan didn't have. Nothing against Duncan, but he wasn't very versatile

[Voltron914]

I think the first preseason game was a positive sign of the team.
The defense looked better and the team played faster.

Jovic may fit better as a pf because he provides better spacing and plays fast.
I liked Ware and Dru Smith.
It will be interesting to see the rotation of pgs when they will be healthy.

Norman Powel lost some shots but he played well overall in his first game.
Wiggins seems ready for a big role this season.
I think he can be the #1 option, he is ready for this.

I think that this team will be good this season.
The chemistry seems better and the defense seems better.

Sometimes I feel like Heat fans have all lost their minds. Wiggins can't be a #1 option. If you're building your offense around Andrew Wiggins, you're playing for the lottery. If Andrew Wiggins is taking a bunch of shots, something has gone horribly wrong or is in the process of going horribly wrong.

No one on this team should be a #1 option. We don't have that kind of talent.

Somebody has to be the number one option. Everyone cant be taking 10 field goal attempts a game.

yea #1 option doesn't mean we have a superstar it just means put the player who can get the highest % shot off first then #2 #3 etc. for a long time Duncan was #2 even tho he wasn't near the best player. Ware should get fed a good amount of lobs too

[lastb1ckman]

The number 1 option is probably still Herro when hes back. Hes still the best offensive player on the team, he proved it last year. I just get the impression its going to be an everyone eats offense, with Herro, Bam, Powell, or Wiggins bailing us out when defenses disrupt it. Instead of it just relying on Herro or bust.

[SA37]

What contract says is obvious...
nobody on this team should be the number one option!!!

If we get super lucky we work beautifully as a TEAM and we make the playoffs interesting

like someone said in the last offseason thread, we should be like the 05 pistons with the Wallaces, Hamilton, billups and Prince. 5 guys that can give u double digits a night and the one who steps up as top scorer any night can change. With Herro out it forces Spo to see who can take on that role. Norm can be that guy and might mess around and earn that extension. im excited to see this team play with no pressure from the media to be a contender

Indiana didn't have any great scorers and got to the Finals last year. Miami is also comparable to Cleveland.

[carnageta]

What contract says is obvious...
nobody on this team should be the number one option!!!

If we get super lucky we work beautifully as a TEAM and we make the playoffs interesting

like someone said in the last offseason thread, we should be like the 05 pistons with the Wallaces, Hamilton, billups and Prince. 5 guys that can give u double digits a night and the one who steps up as top scorer any night can change. With Herro out it forces Spo to see who can take on that role. Norm can be that guy and might mess around and earn that extension. im excited to see this team play with no pressure from the media to be a contender

Indiana didn't have any great scorers and got to the Finals last year. Miami is also comparable to Cleveland.

We're comparable to Cleveland if they didn't have Donovan Mitchell lol. Herro it closer to Garland than he is Mitchell.

[shanedude]

It's gonna Herro/Norm/Wiggins/Niko/Bam once Herro is back. This is a team that needs to start it's best players. Davion and Ware will be our next best players and that's a good thing, they'll bring a good change of pace. I also don't think Norm will come of the bench like a lot of heat fans are assuming. I feel like he's kind of the forgotten man in all this. He's too dynamic and Spo isn't going to insult the guy coming off a great season and almost being an all star in the loaded west.

From there we just need 2 of Pelle, Fontechhio, Precious, Keshad, JJJ, Dru, Kasp and Rozier (ugh) to having a really nice rotation. I'm hoping Pelle, Keshad and Fontechhio will be our guys.

[SA37]

like someone said in the last offseason thread, we should be like the 05 pistons with the Wallaces, Hamilton, billups and Prince. 5 guys that can give u double digits a night and the one who steps up as top scorer any night can change. With Herro out it forces Spo to see who can take on that role. Norm can be that guy and might mess around and earn that extension. im excited to see this team play with no pressure from the media to be a contender

Indiana didn't have any great scorers and got to the Finals last year. Miami is also comparable to Cleveland.

We're comparable to Cleveland if they didn't have Donovan Mitchell lol. Herro it closer to Garland than he is Mitchell.

Yeah, but when we get Giannis...

[Wiltside]

Looked like we had the game pretty in hand until the bench scrub crew came through.

Hard to get a read with so many rotation players out, but we could probably pretty comfortably roll with a:

Smith / Mitchell
Powell / Larsson
Wiggins / Jaquez
Jovic / Fontecchio
Adebayo / Ware

I think this lineup could work well tbh.

So you're telling me we just locked up Mitchell at $12 mil per to back up a minimum salary guy coming off of a torn Achilles?

Mitchell has to start and play 30 minutes a night.

Sometimes it’s about fit. Davion played his best for us off the bench, when he came in and gave us that energy and spark. He can still play 28-30 mins a night as a 6th man anyway. I think he would pair nicely with Ware in that second unit too. It’s not like Davion is some proven “must start” PG.

Smith fits better in that starter group as a guy who doesn’t need the ball, when we got Wiggins, Powell, Jovic and Adebayo who will all be offensive hubs for us.

[HeatFan_NC]

I would start Powell along with Herro. I'm not thrilled with Herro being the #1 option, mainly because he's very turnover prone and is not much more than a jump shooter. If he was a better ball-handler and a facilitator, I would be fine with him as the #1. Honestly, I think the offense should run through Powell and let Herro and Bam be #2 and #3. That way, there wouldn't be so much pressure on those two to create offense. They could flow freely and do their thing.

[lastb1ckman]

I would start Powell along with Herro. I'm not thrilled with Herro being the #1 option, mainly because he's very turnover prone and is not much more than a jump shooter. If he was a better ball-handler and a facilitator, I would be fine with him as the #1. Honestly, I think the offense should run through Powell and let Herro and Bam be #2 and #3. That way, there wouldn't be so much pressure on those two to create offense. They could flow freely and do their thing.

I want him to start too, but I'm much more comfortable with Herro being the 1 than Powell full time. He was killing it with Kawhi out, but he eventually went down with injury. It might be too much to go a whole season like that.He also isnt the passer Herro is.

[Hallstar]

I would start Powell along with Herro. I'm not thrilled with Herro being the #1 option, mainly because he's very turnover prone and is not much more than a jump shooter. If he was a better ball-handler and a facilitator, I would be fine with him as the #1. Honestly, I think the offense should run through Powell and let Herro and Bam be #2 and #3. That way, there wouldn't be so much pressure on those two to create offense. They could flow freely and do their thing.

1.8 to/2 ast

2.6to/ 5.5 ast

Hot takes season has started. Of the top 20 scorers last year, 15 had more tos per game than Herro,13 had more assists. Can we please stop the 5 year old takes? Can we use a point guard? sure, but Herro is by far the best option on the current roster.

[MadD23]

I would start Powell along with Herro. I'm not thrilled with Herro being the #1 option, mainly because he's very turnover prone and is not much more than a jump shooter. If he was a better ball-handler and a facilitator, I would be fine with him as the #1. Honestly, I think the offense should run through Powell and let Herro and Bam be #2 and #3. That way, there wouldn't be so much pressure on those two to create offense. They could flow freely and do their thing.

1.8 to/2 ast

2.6to/ 5.5 ast

Hot takes season has started. Of the top 20 scorers last year, 15 had more tos per game than Herro,13 had more assists. Can we please stop the 5 year old takes? Can we use a point guard? sure, but Herro is by far the best option on the current roster.

Fact! Turnover prone and only a jump shooter? Jesus lol. Thank God some people have common sense in here and keep these flawed narrative pushers at bay.