Stan Van Gundy recently expressed his skepticism about the Miami Heat’s ability to compete for an NBA championship with their current roster. In an interview with the *Miami Herald*, the TNT analyst and former Heat coach questioned the decision to retain the core trio of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro for the sixth straight season. Van Gundy critiqued the Heat’s strategy, stating, “I really don’t understand what’s going on there. They’re really a win-now team… but they haven’t put a roster around them that has a chance.” He argued that the Heat might have been misled by their unexpected run to the Finals in 2023, suggesting that while the team performed well during that postseason, they did not have an overall strong season or a solid roster.
Van Gundy was particularly critical of Miami’s recent player movements. He pointed out that, since their Finals appearance, the Heat have lost key players like Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Caleb Martin to free agency. These departures, in his view, have weakened the team, and he expressed concern that Miami has not adequately filled those gaps. He referred to Miami’s current roster as potentially being “a play-in roster again,” meaning they may struggle just to secure a low playoff seed through the NBA’s play-in tournament.
The *Miami Herald* countered Van Gundy’s claim by noting that the Heat have made some acquisitions, including Terry Rozier and rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., which they see as improvements. ESPN’s annual top 100 player rankings also show some promise for Miami, with four Heat players making the list: Jaquez at No. 86, Herro at No. 76, Butler at No. 28, and Adebayo at No. 18. Interestingly, ESPN’s rankings suggest that Adebayo could surpass Butler as the team’s best player this season, a notable shift in expectations. ESPN’s rankings are forward-looking, based on how the players are projected to perform in the upcoming season, which supports the idea that Adebayo may take on a more prominent role.
The *Ringer* also released their top 100 rankings, where they still place Butler ahead of Adebayo. Butler is ranked No. 19, while Adebayo comes in closely behind at No. 20. Herro is the only other Heat player in the top 100, sitting at No. 79.
While the Heat still have talented players on their roster, Van Gundy’s concerns reflect a broader sentiment that they may lack the depth and firepower needed to seriously contend for a title. The loss of key role players combined with the uncertainty surrounding their new additions raises questions about whether Miami can replicate the success of their 2023 Finals run. As the season progresses, the performances of Butler, Adebayo, and Herro will be critical in determining whether the Heat can rise above these concerns and compete at the highest level.
