Every good roster has to have that wing who can do a little bit of everything without hijacking the offense. For the Miami Heat, Andrew Wiggins is that guy - and maybe more if everything breaks right.
Wiggins comes into the season as one of Miami’s most important players outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. With those two drawing so much attention, Wiggins has a real chance to work in cleaner space and do damage as the kind of 3-and-D forward championship teams always seem to need.
Pat Riley said, “Andrew Wiggins has proven to us that he is the quintessential small forward who fits perfectly with this roster. We feel he will be a critical part of what we’re trying to achieve with this team going forward and we feel fortunate that we were able to extend him.”
The upside here goes beyond simply matching last season. Wiggins already hit 40% of his threes and averaged 15 points per game, but Miami’s setup could unlock more. Giannis’ downhill pressure forces defenses to collapse, and that should open the door for Wiggins to get freer looks, attack closeouts and punish mismatches.
If he stays locked in as a top-tier defender while turning up the aggression on offense, Miami could get something better than the 15-point version of Wiggins. His scoring bursts have shown up before, and if those chances come more often, a season in the 17-to-20-point range is there for the taking. At that point, he’s not just a useful third option - he’s in the conversation as a potential NBA All-Star.
The downside is easy to see, too. A drop-off from deep would tighten the floor for a team that needs spacing around Giannis and Bam.
If his defense slips, Miami loses the tough perimeter stopper it needs on the wing. And availability matters just as much; Wiggins can’t afford to miss meaningful time when the Heat are counting on him to connect the stars to the rest of the roster.
Miami doesn’t need Wiggins to become a franchise centerpiece. It needs him to be the best version of himself in a lineup built to put him in position to thrive. If he takes advantage of that setup, he could end up as one of the biggest winners on the team.
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 🡒]
Andrew Wiggins Could Be Exactly What The Heat Need Again
Andrew Wiggins is stepping into Miami with a familiar kind of pressure, the sort that comes with being asked to fit cleanly beside established stars and still make a real mark on both ends. In this case, the Heat are counting on him to slide into a significant third-option role next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, a setup that could give Miami another long, versatile wing presence if everything clicks the way it did at times in Golden State.
Wiggins has already shown he can matter on a contender, especially during the Warriors 2022 championship run, when his two-way value helped shape a title teams identity. The question for Miami is whether that version of him shows up often enough to matter over the course of the season, because the Heat do not need a flash of impact so much as dependable scoring, steady defense, and the kind of efficiency that makes the rest of the roster easier to organize. [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 🡒]