Miami Heat season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Pat Riley has been hunting a superstar since LeBron James left in 2016. On the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, he got one, sending Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis to Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.

That was the easy part.

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Miami then let Norman Powell, its only All-Star last season, sign with Chicago then filled in its roster with veterans on short money.

Tim Hardaway Jr., a Sixth Man of the Year finalist in Denver last season, took one year and $6 million. Klay Thompson arrived in late August after a buyout in Dallas. Nick Richards signed a few days later. The Heat still have one roster spot open with camp weeks away.

All of it follows a season that ended in a 127-126 overtime loss to Charlotte in a play-in elimination game, Miami’s first missed postseason since 2019.

Here’s a breakdown of the Miami Heat’s offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

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MIAMI HEAT SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

1 / 10

Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after h is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.

(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after he is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.

(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

AJ Dybantsa is…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/miami-heat-season-preview-lineup-094425947.html

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Publish date : 2026-09-21 09:44:00

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