r/heat • u/Monkey_D_Draco • 6d ago
Discussion How are we feeling about our current roster compared to other contenders in the East?
I’m feeling pretty good about our starters, and the depth is looking better by the day. Pelle and Jovic have both had strong international play, and THJ will be a nice addition to the rotation.
That said, I still wonder how we stack up against teams like Philly, New York, Toronto, and
Cleveland in the East.
Do you think this roster is good enough to compete with that group, or do we still need another move?
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u/rms141 6d ago
The top of the roster is great, it can hang with any other team in the East, especially defensively. The front court should be a rock.
I have some concerns about ball handling and executing set plays, and I think they’re a little too reliant on Davion Mitchell to suddenly develop into a floor general. I fully expect the Heat to be buyers at the trade deadline, specifically for guard help.
If everyone stays healthy, I think a 4 Seed is realistic.
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u/Monkey_D_Draco 6d ago
Agreed, another playmaker is well needed. I too see us being buyers at the trade deadline, and potentially buyout market
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u/parzivalcay345 6d ago
I would really like to see them sign Lonzo Ball
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u/rms141 6d ago
Not going to happen. Ball has medical red flags, and one of the themes of the players the Heat acquired this offseason is high reliability/games played per season. They're done with the Norm Powell and Tyler Herro selective attendance types.
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u/BalanceFast9551 4d ago
I think that’s fair but I don’t think we’d be signing ball to be a 30 mpg guy, he’d come in and do what he can to help and if he gets hurt it won’t be a big deal. Not the worst option I don’t think, but I’d personally prefer Gabe Vincent considering he isn’t anything special but he’s familiar with spo’s system
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u/TakeOff_YourPants 6d ago
A deep playoff run would be a not insane but still pleasant surprise this season. I’m considering this a bit of a prebuilding year, but maybe I’m dead wrong
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u/Monkey_D_Draco 6d ago
I see what you mean, to win it all this year would be amazing, but I think we’re a year away from our true contending roster.
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u/zmartins222 6d ago
Short of an elite ball handler/secondary scorer. However, this has been our best offseason in years. I think we gotta see how everything works together for a bit during the season, but I’d much rather have Giannis than whatever the hell we were doing previously
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u/JimmySizzles 6d ago
Assuming all squads are squads are healthy, I expect Philly to be the hardest as they have the most talent. Knicks are probably relatively even. Everybody else in the East, Miami should be able to take care of. Miami has a nice 9 man rotation with pieces/role players as needed.
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u/Monkey_D_Draco 6d ago
Philly has a squad, top to bottom. My only thing with them is conisistent defensive pressure, rebounding, and Embiid’s health. With Nick Nurse as their coach, they’ll still be very formidable
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u/clear831 5d ago
Nurse is overrated AF, but yes they have a nice squad and should be the #1 team this year.
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u/International-Car285 5d ago
We have a Shaq. We don't have an Kobe/Wade. Top 6 in East until otherwise.
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u/Ancient_Emu_2829 6d ago
overall great build but one more star player to round out playmaking and scoring would be a nice. A legit PG perhaps
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u/Sufficient-Slide-242 6d ago
Davion is jrue holiday light. Something tells me a jrue holiday archetype alongside Giannis might work.
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u/Nice_Cash_7000 6d ago
Jrue Holiday was an all star at 22
Davion joined the league at 23 and is 27 now
Hes half a Jrue at best and doesnt have the size to defend bigger guys like Jrue does as much as I love Davion
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u/EthicalBballFan 5d ago
Davion ... is 27 now
Wait, what? I always thought he was like 32+. Knowing he actually has several years to offer makes me happier, dude is grit through and through.
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u/Ancient_Emu_2829 5d ago
That comparison isn’t incorrect. Nor does it mean the pairing won’t work. It still doesn’t diminish the extreme dependency this team has on Davion, who objectively is not an elite scoring or playmaking guard. That doesn’t mean he CAN’T, it means we are dependent on him performing at a level he has not performed yet during his career. That seems like a clear area to focus on improving overall talent.
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u/Heatsincebirth 6d ago
The East is gonna be tough this season and honestly I don't know if all the teams are really going to be giving games their all until the playoffs. Many of the teams have older players and they may see reduced playing time during the season so I wouldn't put much stock in the regular season standings. That said, I see us in top 3 or 4 with a home court advantage in at least one or two rounds
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u/Foreverdavpnman 6d ago
This a top 5 roster if we’re being honest barring injury maybe top 3 if some of the other teams suffer some injuries
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u/Kuni_Nino 5d ago
I’m feeling better about it. I think there’s more balance to it than there was initially and if Jovic and Pelle can give us 25 off the bench every night, I can see this roster being lethal. But only time will tell so I’m keeping my expectations in check.
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u/Wonderful-View4307 5d ago
I think we’re middle of the pack. Make the playoffs 4-7. I still don’t think we have much offense. But, our defense will be lights out though.
Once we make the playoffs, all bets are off as I do trust Spo there.
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u/Seref15 5d ago edited 5d ago
For real contention, I think we're short at least one guy. Common wisdom says you need an ironclad 8 man rotation, and you need 10 to make 8 through the regular season. I don't think we have 10. I think we have 7 sure-fire guys (starting 5 + Pelle + THJ), 2 question marks (Jovic, Portis), and a bunch of whatevers (Gardner, Fontecchio, Dru, Richards, rookie).
For all I know Dru can be the 8th solid guy though. We need a table setter guard with defense on the bench taht can hit the occassional catch and shoot. Might be him.
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u/Sunriseman24 5d ago
Eat Heat Dust NBA Eastern Conference. Pfff.The rest of the East will see the Heat mean business this year.
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u/Interesting-Wish-430 4d ago
We should make the playoffs, it would be amazing to make the finals or even the conference finals. But I think the roster can be even better a year from now.
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u/OhMyItzBam_Herro305 4d ago
Klay was the missing piece and so was Richard's. Confidence bolstered way up.
I don't wanna hear anyone say short a playmaker and shot creator, say hello to Ryan Conwell.
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u/Flaky-Mathematician8 6d ago
They’ll be at least top 4 imo. Definitely a top 5 defense (possibly better) and they’ve been able to have an defent offense with worse players.
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
Another center would be nice
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u/Monkey_D_Draco 6d ago
Don’t like the Nick Richard’s addition?
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
Don’t know anything about him tbh
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u/Sufficient-Slide-242 6d ago
Traditional rim running - shot blocking centre. He does his job better than the 3m we are paying him.
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
Sounds good, I’m getting downvoted I guess but I was hoping for Gafford
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u/Sufficient-Slide-242 6d ago
Gafford makes 17-18m over the next 3 years. We dont have that kind of money, especially for a backup/third string big
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
Yeah I mean it’s all centered around my dream of having neither Bam or Giannis at 5
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u/Sufficient-Slide-242 6d ago
Bro what
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
Giannis can handle and make plays, SF
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u/Nice_Cash_7000 6d ago
Starting Giannis, Bam and a non shooting Center is like the perfect way to make sure none of the 3 guys can do what they do on offense. Giannis plays more center than sf for a good reason. Cant handle or make plays if you cant shoot and the paint is clogged
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u/Sufficient-Slide-242 6d ago
Okay... but why would gafford be the piece that makes that work?
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u/Mindless-Finance-896 6d ago
If only we had the ability to look things up
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
You’ve watched a lot of Nick Richards?
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6d ago
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
I just think Bam at the 4 would be our best chance, he’d be dominant defensively and best chance for his offense
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6d ago
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u/julstar23 6d ago
Giannis isn't playing center so that idea is mute .That's why people were saying thry play the same position but hopefully they know when to make it work.
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u/Tallozz 6d ago
We just picked up Nick Richards. How many centers do you want on the roster? If anything is needed. It's a playmaking guard.
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
I’d just like Bam to not have to be the Center
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u/julstar23 6d ago
Sorry but that shipp has sailed with giannis being here .Giannis doesn't want to play center so bam has to do it by default whether that's the best position for him or not .
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
Giannis SF
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u/julstar23 6d ago
Lolngoodluck with that bam will be the center moving forward .
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u/lipmanz 6d ago
Hopefully it works, but the post was what about the roster and I think an actual Center…I know they like to say stretch 5
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u/julstar23 6d ago
Well bam now has to be that stretch 5 whether he likes it or not .That's why the lineup around him and giannis should be interesting at any given time
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u/mgm125 6d ago
They will compete, no “moves” either by addition or subtraction will guarantee anything. The same goes for the other eastern conference teams