Miami Heat 2025-26 storylines: roster changes and challenges

The articles highlight Miami's ongoing roster changes, injury issues, and unresolved lineup questions. Several stories focus on new additions such as Norman Powell, the loss of veteran Jimmy Butler, and the challenge of integrating players like Kel'el Ware and Dru Smith. Injuries, especially Tyler Herro's ankle surgery, shape the team's early-season approach and expectations. The franchise also faces declining national exposure, with fewer nationally televised games scheduled compared to previous years.

Norman Powell joins the team after a trade and is expected to fill a scoring need while Herro recovers. Coaches weigh the effectiveness of starting Ware or Jovic alongside Bam Adebayo, with data suggesting better results when Adebayo and Ware share the floor. Miami deals Haywood Highsmith in a trade to get under the luxury-tax threshold, which adds flexibility but reduces roster depth. The Heat re-sign Dru Smith, banking on his defensive skills and three-point shooting to address needs at guard. Miami enters the season with many unknowns, lacking a clear identity after major exits, a tough preseason, and continuing battles with injuries.

Miami Heat stand for the National Anthem before a game against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla. By Alie Skowronski

NO. 1: WHERE DOES HEAT STAND IN EAST? VETERAN SCOUT WEIGHS IN. AND KAI JONES UPDATE

Where has a busy NBA offseason of transactions left the Heat in the Eastern Conference hierarchy? | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) and center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. By Brad Penner

NO. 2: FOUR HEAT GAMES REVEALED FOR UPCOMING SEASON, INCLUDING ONE ON NATIONAL PLATFORM

Taking a page from the NFL, the NBA is releasing parts of its schedule in bits and pieces before the full and formal rollout at 3 p.m. | Published August 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

Miami Heat players react on the court while huddling up during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on April 26, 2025, in Miami. By D.A. Varela

NO. 3: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HEAT’S 2025-26 SCHEDULE: LIST OF GAMES, HOW MANY ON NATIONAL TV AND MORE

Following the departure of Jimmy Butler and two consecutive first-round playoff exits, the Miami Heat is apparently no longer a national draw. | Published August 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra speaks with forward Haywood Highsmith (24) during the first half of an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center on January 27, 2025, in Miami. By D.A. Varela

NO. 4: HEAT TRADES HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH AND PICK TO NETS TO ESCAPE LUXURY TAX. HERE ARE THE DETAILS

During what’s usually a quiet period in the NBA offseason, the Miami Heat made a trade. | Published August 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

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. 5: 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. 6: 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

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra walks on to the court past center Bam Adebayo (13) after calling a timeout during the first half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on April 28, 2025, in Miami. By D.A. Varela

NO. 7: LIVE UPDATES: WHAT SPOELSTRA, ADEBAYO, POWELL ARE SAYING AT HEAT MEDIA DAY

The Heat held its annual media day at Kaseya Center on Monday in advance of Tuesday’s start of training camp at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. | Published September 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra signals during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks at Kaseya Center in Miami on October 26, 2025. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ

NO. 8: HEAT CHECK: BREAKING DOWN THE HEAT’S SURPRISING AND HIGH-SCORING START TO THE SEASON

It has been an eventful start to the season for the Miami Heat. | Published October 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra looks on from the sideline during the second half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on April 28, 2025, in Miami. By D.A. Varela

NO. 9: PLENTY OF QUESTIONS SURROUND THE HEAT ENTERING MEDIA DAY AND TRAINING CAMP

For the first time since 2018, the Miami Heat will begin a season without Jimmy Butler on its roster. | Published September 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

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. 10: 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 teammates interact on the court during an NBA preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs at Kaseya Center on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in Miami, Fla. By D.A. Varela

NO. 11: HEAT AT RISK OF SECOND WINLESS PRESEASON. WHAT HISTORY SAYS ON THAT. ADEBAYO OK

A six-pack of Heat notes on a Tuesday: | Published October 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

USA basketball assistant coach Erik Spoelstra before a game against Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. By John David Mercer

NO. 12: SPOELSTRA REACTS TO BEING NAMED U.S. OLYMPIC COACH. AND HEAT SHUFFLES ROSTER

Erik Spoelstra’s expected appointment to the role of Team USA men’s Olympic basketball coach was made official on Wednesday, when the nation’s basketball federation named him Steve Kerr’s successor. | Published October 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson

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.