"The challenges facing Heat coach Erik Spoelstra ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season seemed straightforward. Steep, sure, but most of the typical stuff: navigating around a void at point guard, forming this group's identity, helping rookie Kasparas Jakucionis find his way after a shaky summer, bringing the best back out of Bam Adebayo. That was true until the injury bug hurled an unexpected curveball their way and sent Tyler Herro under the knife for surgery on his foot and ankle."
"That will definitely be the case in Miami, which had a playmaking void even before Herro went down. In a best-case scenario, Davion Mitchell is every bit as good as he looked following his deadline trade to Miami, and Jakucionis is worlds more comfortable than he appeared at summer league, but Spoelstra can't treat either of those as guarantees (or maybe even likelihoods)."
The Heat lost Tyler Herro to foot and ankle surgery, removing their top offensive option, 2024-25 All-Star, and primary scorer/shooter/playmaker. The team also faces a point-guard void, a rookie Kasparas Jakucionis needing development after a shaky summer, and the task of getting elite play from Bam Adebayo. Replacing Herro requires collective effort rather than a simple next-man-up. Davion Mitchell and Jakucionis could help, but neither can be relied on as guarantees. The scoring burden increases on Adebayo, Norman Powell, and Andrew Wiggins, and Nikola Jovic must potentially become a self-sufficient scorer.
Read at All U Can Heat
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