The Miami Heat are beginning their season without Jimmy Butler and are focusing on a smoother, more cohesive campaign while relying on core players like Andrew Wiggins. As the team aims to improve in the Eastern Conference, doubts remain about Wiggins’s fit and Miami’s playoff prospects amid ongoing trade discussions involving the swingman.
Miami Heat’s Current Roster and Playoff Outlook
This offseason, the Heat made minor roster adjustments by adding Norman Powell and Simone Fontecchio but retained key contributors such as Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Andrew Wiggins. The team also plans to monitor rookie big man Ke’el Ware after his encouraging rookie year. Despite these pieces, Miami’s back-to-back first-round playoff exits have raised questions about the team’s ceiling and whether Wiggins can regain his 2022 All-Star performance level after a decent showing in 17 games last season.
A seasoned Eastern Conference scout expressed skepticism about Miami’s standing, placing the Heat just around a .500 team and a likely contender in the play-in tournament rather than among the top squads in the East.
“Let’s start with who’s better. I see six teams, for sure: New York, Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee. Philadelphia is better if they’re healthy. So I would say the Heat’s a solid play-in team,”
the scout said.
“It’s around a .500 team. If they won 45, it would be a great year. They’re not bad, but they’re not good. Chicago is mediocre.”
—Eastern Conference Scout
The Potential Future of Andrew Wiggins in Miami
The Heat have been exploring trade options for Wiggins as the offseason unfolded, despite holding onto him for most of last year. The Los Angeles Lakers showed the most interest, although Miami’s asking price—reportedly including a first-round draft pick—has stalled negotiations. One notable proposed trade would send Wiggins along with Haywood Highsmith to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Khris Middleton and two second-round picks for 2026, a move intended to free up cap space for Miami in the longer term.
Wiggins’s individual numbers have been solid but not spectacular, averaging 19 points per game in his limited appearances with the Heat. Still, his role in Miami’s long-term strategy seems uncertain. Observers believe a trade could materialize either before the season starts or at the trade deadline, with the team seeking to balance its roster surrounding foundational players like Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.
Implications for Miami Heat’s Competitive Outlook
As Miami transitions without Jimmy Butler, the organization’s ability to assemble a competitive team hinges on key acquisitions, consistency, and Wiggins’s performance. Being positioned as a middle-of-the-pack team in the Eastern Conference means the Heat must improve in depth and star quality to move beyond the early playoff rounds. The trade talks involving Andrew Wiggins highlight a pivotal moment for the franchise, as management weighs whether to retain his scoring ability or pursue other options to elevate the team’s long-term potential.
Meanwhile, the impending season will test the Heat’s resilience and ability to contend in a conference featuring strong contenders like the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers (if healthy), and Cleveland Cavaliers. Fans and analysts alike await how Miami’s moves will shape their chances to advance further in the playoffs this year.