The Miami Heat have taken a conservative approach this offseason, opting not to make any major roster changes. Instead, the franchise is betting on the health and development of its current players following last season’s first-round playoff exit to the Boston Celtics. The most notable addition to the team this summer has been Alec Burks, leaving head coach Erik Spoelstra with the task of maximizing the existing roster’s potential—a challenge he has proven to be adept at over the years.
One of the young players the Heat will be relying on heavily next season is 21-year-old Nikola Jovic. After a breakout season in 2023-24, where he went from playing just 15 games the previous year to starting 38 regular-season games and all five playoff games against the Celtics, Jovic is expected to play a significant role. He’s projected to be the team’s starting power forward for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
In a Q&A with The Sun Sentinel, journalist Ira Winderman addressed the possibility of Spoelstra opting for a different direction instead of starting Jovic next season. Winderman noted, “It gets interesting for the Heat on multiple levels. I’ve been listing Nikola Jovic as the starting four because I’m not sure I see another option on this roster. It seems too soon for Kel’el Ware, Haywood Highsmith would be an undersized stretch, and Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s skill set might not be fully utilized in that role. Plus, it looks like the Heat and Spoelstra have moved past the idea of pairing Bam Adebayo with Kevin Love in the starting lineup. So, starting Jovic at the beginning of the season could be the best way to assess the roster.”
It seems likely that the Heat will kick off the season with Jovic in the starting lineup. However, players like Jaquez Jr., Love, and Highsmith might also see time in that role. Concerns have been raised about Jovic’s offseason injury and his less-than-stellar performance in the Olympics, but the hope is that he’ll be back to full strength before training camp begins.
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