Top storylines shaping Miami Heat’s 2025-26 NBA season

The articles focus on the key factors shaping the Miami Heat’s 2025-26 season. They share themes around roster changes, contract negotiations, playing style adjustments, and off-court decisions that influence the team’s direction.

Nikola Jovic agrees to a four-year contract extension while the team asks him to improve his rebounding. Precious Achiuwa returns on a one-year deal that is not guaranteed, seeking a fresh start and a chance to prove himself. The team goes winless in preseason but tests different lineups and rotation strategies. Miami shifts to a faster pace during games, aiming to change its old style. The Heat also faces contract drama with Terry Rozier after his arrest, which creates uncertainty and cap management issues. Decisions on the waive-and-stretch provision and two-way contracts for players like Jahmir Young further affect roster makeup. Each of these storylines draws together the ways the front office, coaching staff, and players respond to challenges that will determine the team's performance.

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. 1: 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 mascot Burnie holds the flag of Puerto Rico as the team announces a preseason game against the Orlando Magic in Puerto Rico during a press conference at the Heat practice court at Kaseya Center in Miami on August 12, 2025. By SAM NAVARRO

NO. 2: HEAT HEADING TO PUERTO RICO FOR PRESEASON GAME VS. MAGIC. HERE’S HEAT’S FULL PRESEASON SCHEDULE

The Miami Heat will take a trip to Puerto Rico before the start of the regular season. | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and assistant coach Chris Quinn look from the bench during overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center in Miami on April 5, 2025. By David Santiago

NO. 3: HEAT DOESN’T USE WAIVE-AND-STRETCH PROVISION AHEAD OF FRIDAY’S DEADLINE

The Heat opted not to use the waive-and-stretch provision ahead of Friday’s 5 p.m. | Published August 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. 4: 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

Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) drives on Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the first half of an preseason NBA game at Kaseya Center on October 6, 2025, in Miami. By D.A. Varela

NO. 5: HEAT PUSHING NIKOLA JOVIC TO BECOME BETTER REBOUNDER: ‘I’M HAPPY THEY’RE ON ME FOR THAT’

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has been impressed with forward Nikola Jovic’s growth since the Heat selected him late in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. | Published October 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

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. 6: 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

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) drives the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward (23) defends in the first half of their NBA preseason game at Kaseya Center on Oct. 17, 2025, in Miami. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 7: HEAT FALLS TO GRIZZLIES TO CLOSE SECOND WINLESS PRESEASON IN TEAM HISTORY. TAKEAWAYS

Five takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 141-125 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at Kaseya Center to close its six-game preseason schedule with a winless 0-6 record. | Published October 18, 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

Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat reacts in the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on October 22, 2025 in Orlando. By Julio Aguilar

NO. 9: HEAT’S SPOELSTRA ‘NOT LOOKING FOR MORAL VICTORIES,’ BUT ENCOURAGED AFTER SEASON-OPENING LOSS

So much was different about the Miami Heat in Wednesday’s season opener, but unfortunately so much was also the same. | Published October 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Anthony Chiang

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (24) compete for the ball in the second half of their NBA preseason game at the Kaseya Center on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in downtown Miami, Fla. By Photo by Matias J. Ocner

NO. 10: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON ROZIER SITUATION AND WHETHER HEAT CAN REPLACE HIM

The Heat won’t have guard Terry Rozier after his arrest Thursday, and the team won’t be getting any immediate cap relief to replace him, either. | Published October 23, 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.