Andrew Wiggins is walking into a familiar kind of job with the Miami Heat, and it’s the same sort of assignment that once fit him perfectly in Golden State. He’s being asked to settle in as a reliable third option next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and the Heat are betting that version of Wiggins can help them chase the kind of result the Warriors got when he was a key piece of their title run.
That role matters because Wiggins has already shown he can make it work at a high level. In 2022, he was one of the most steady players in the Warriors’ championship push, especially in the playoffs.
Behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, he gave Golden State a dependable two-way presence and finished that Finals run averaging 17 points and eight rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field. The Warriors don’t win the championship without Wiggins.
The version Miami is getting isn’t the same player from his early prime, but he still brings real value on both ends. Last season, Wiggins put up 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game while shooting 47 percent overall and 41 percent from 3-point range. That kind of efficiency is exactly why there’s a case that he could be one of the most underrated third or fourth options in the league.
Defensively, he may not be the stopper he once was, but he still has the ability to make a difference. With Giannis now in the mix, some of the pressure on that end should ease up, and Wiggins can focus more on what he does best on the perimeter and the wing. Miami’s offense comes with plenty of questions, but the defense should be strong, and Wiggins is a major part of that equation.
The bigger question is whether he can bring that same consistency on offense that he showed in Golden State. If he can match the efficiency he had last season, the Heat should be in good shape. And because he no longer has to carry a go-to load on either end, this setup could give him the freedom to thrive in a way that fits him better.
After an odd year and a half with the Heat, Wiggins is back in a role that looks a lot like the one that helped him win a championship. Miami is hoping that familiarity turns into something bigger this season.
In Other News...
Heat May Have A Late Point Guard Opportunity Worth Watching
Ryan Nembhards name has surfaced at an interesting time for Miami, with the guard now expected to be waived after being part of a three-player deal involving Atlanta and Charlotte. For the Heat, it creates a possible late backcourt opening to monitor as they continue weighing ways to add depth before camp, whether that means bringing in another body on a training camp look or moving straight toward a standard deal.
Nembhards appeal is easy to understand for a team that values organization and decision-making in the backcourt. He spent four seasons in college and then got his first NBA taste with Dallas, where he earned a standard contract and flashed some playmaking ability. If he does hit the open market, Miami will have to decide whether his upside is enough to make him part of the mix, and whether the fit is right before other teams get involved. [Read more 🡒]
Heat May Have Given Up More In The Giannis Deal Than Expected
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade gave Miami the immediate jolt it was looking for, but the move also sent Kasparas Jakucionis to Milwaukee, and that part of the deal is already drawing attention. The 20-year-old guard spent his rookie season in Miami showing a blend of efficient shot-making and defensive activity that made him look like more than a throw-in, even if his role was still limited.
Now in Milwaukee, Jakucionis appears headed for a bigger opportunity, which is exactly what can make the long view of a blockbuster trade tricky. His college and NBA tape point to a guard who can handle the ball, make plays for others and stay engaged defensively, so the Heat may eventually be judged not just on landing Giannis, but on how much young upside they were willing to include to get him. [Read more 🡒]
Pelle Larsson Just Entered A Heat Category No One Else Has
Pelle Larssons rise in Miami took another notable step with a four-year, $60 million contract extension that signals real belief in his place within the Heats plans. The deal gives the team cost certainty and gives Larsson a clearer runway to keep carving out a larger role, which has been part of the quiet intrigue around his development since he arrived.
It also leaves him in a spot no other Heat player currently occupies in trade talk, thanks to a six-month restriction that keeps Miami from moving him before next summer. For a team that always has an eye on flexibility, that kind of protection says plenty about how the organization views Larsson right now, even if the bigger question is still whether his growth matches the confidence being placed in him. [Read more 🡒]