Miami Heat balances health and strategy early on

The Miami Heat's start to the NBA season focuses on roster moves.

The debate over starting Nikola Jovic instead of Kel'el Ware spotlights Miami's consideration of optimal player combinations on the court.

Tyler Herro's surgery sidelines him initially, leaving the Heat without a leading scorer. And the re-signing of guard Dru Smith, recovering from an Achilles injury, signals Heat's commitment to depth.

Catch up with our recent coverage.

Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) hangs in the air for a hook shot over Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) during the first half of an NBA game at the Kaseya Center on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Miami, Fla. By D.A. Varela

NO. 1: HEAT RE-SIGNS GUARD DRU SMITH. WHAT IT MEANS AND TEAM’S PLAN FROM HERE

Guard Dru Smith, who impressed the Heat early last season before sustaining a season-ending torn Achilles, agreed to a three-year, $7.9 million deal with Miami on Saturday, a league source confirmed. | Published August 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13), guard Tyler Herro (14), forward Andrew Wiggins (22), and center Kel’el Ware (7) huddle up during the first half of an NBA game against the Houston Rockets at Kaseya Center on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Miami, Florida. By D.A. Varela

NO. 2: IS HEAT BETTER STARTING JOVIC WITH ADEBAYO? WHAT METRICS SAY. AND SCRIMMAGE SET

Nikola Jovic’s encouraging play for the Serbian National team during the ongoing EuroBasket tournament, combined with Kel’el Ware’s uneven play early in summer league, has created a summer talking point: | Published September 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

Mar 4, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen warms up before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jon M. Huntsman Center. By Rob Gray

NO. 3: HEAT SIGNS FOUR PLAYERS. THEY WILL COMPETE FOR AN OPEN TWO-WAY CONTRACT

The Heat completed its roster, at least for now, on Thursday, when four players accepted training camp invitations. | Published September 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

Tyler Herro (14) talks during an interview at the Miami HEAT Media Day on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, at Kaseya Center in downtown Miami. By Alie Skowronski

NO. 4: HEAT’S TYLER HERRO DETAILS ‘CRAZY PINCH’ AND ‘EXTRA BONE’ IN FOOT THAT LED TO SURGERY

One of the biggest Media Day story lines surrounding the Miami Heat this upcoming season has to do with a player who won’t be available for the start of the season. | Published September 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) speaks to reporters after training camp at Abessino Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton on October 2, 2025. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 5: NIKOLA JOVIC GETS ‘EXTRA BOOST’ FROM IMPENDING EXTENSION WITH HEAT: ‘I’M HAPPY’

As of Thursday afternoon, Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic had yet to formally sign his extension. | Published October 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

Norman Powell (24) talks to the press during the first day of Miami HEAT Training Camp on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. By Alie Skowronski

NO. 6: WHAT HEAT’S TWO VETERAN PICKUPS WANT TO PROVE. AND NEWS ON WARE, HERRO, MITCHELL

The Heat knows that its two new veteran additions, Norman Powell and Simone Fontecchio, can shoot splendidly from distance, particularly Powell. | Published October 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

Precious Achiuwa (8) does a drill during the second day of Miami HEAT Training Camp on Oct. 1, 2025, at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. By Alie Skowronski

NO. 7: ACHIUWA WORKING TO MAKE MOST OF SECOND HEAT OPPORTUNITY: ‘THERE’S SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS’

Precious Achiuwa was selected by the Miami Heat with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but the big man only spent his rookie season in Miami before being dealt to the Toronto Raptors as part of the trade that brought Kyle Lowry to the Heat during the 2021 offseason. | Published October 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

Jahmir Young of the Miami Heat drives to the net against Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Kaseya Center on October 06, 2025 in Miami. By Carmen Mandato

NO. 8: JAHMIR YOUNG ‘GLAD AND THANKFUL’ FOR NEW TWO-WAY CONTRACT FROM HEAT: ‘IT JUST GIVES ME LIFE’

While a former Miami Heat first-round pick didn’t make the final cut, an undrafted guard did. | Published October 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.