The Miami Heat are trying something that feels familiar and brand new at the same time: putting Giannis Antetokounmpo in the kind of role that can bend an offense around him. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins saw it in the preseason and didn’t hold back, framing it as a return to the kind of basketball Miami once played with LeBron James.
What grabbed Perkins was the Heat lining up Antetokounmpo at point guard. That setup echoes the way Erik Spoelstra used James from 2010-14, when Miami reached four straight Finals and won two NBA titles. James was listed as a small forward, but the offense flowed through him like a lead guard.
Perkins is onto something. The more Antetokounmpo handles the ball, the more the Heat can quiet one of the biggest questions hanging over the roster: whether they truly have a point guard.
Davion Mitchell has helped, but the concern still lingers. Giving Antetokounmpo the keys changes that conversation fast.
It also helps solve some lineup traffic jams. With Antetokounmpo running more of the offense, he and Bam Adebayo would be less likely to crowd the same spaces inside.
The ripple effect could be even bigger on the perimeter, where shooters such as Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins would have more room to work. Wiggins may benefit the most from that setup.
Still, this is very much a work in progress. Antetokounmpo spent 13 years with the Bucks and was never officially a point guard there, even if the offense often ran through him. Miami is testing a new wrinkle, not unveiling a finished product.
If it sticks, though, the Heat suddenly have a different look to throw at opponents. And with the Eastern Conference picture including the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and the defending champion New York Knicks, the payoff could be meaningful - whether Miami ends up back in the Play-In Tournament or steps into true contender territory.
Stay tuned.
In Other News...
Heat Roster Cuts Just Clarified Who Fans Should Keep Watching
The Heat have trimmed their preseason roster down to the point where the next phase of the season is already coming into focus. Miami waived four developmental players, Ezra Ausar, Kylor Kelley, Gabe Madsen and Bez Mbeng, after the preseason wrapped up, clearing the way for the team to get closer to the leagues 15-player standard contract limit.
For now, the move mostly shifts attention to Sioux Falls, where all four players are expected to land with the Skyforce and continue their development in the Heat system. It is the kind of roster housekeeping that rarely makes noise on its own, but for Miami it also serves as a reminder of which young players remain on the radar as the organization starts sorting out its regular-season depth. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Could Still Find One Veteran Who Changes Their Rotation
With the roster cutdown deadline closing in, the Heat have already trimmed a few young prospects and are still looking at ways to tighten up the back end of the roster. That has naturally turned attention to a familiar pool of recently waived NBA veterans, the kind of players who can step into a rotation without needing much ramp-up time if the fit makes sense.
Among the names floating around are Pat Connaughton, Jeremy Sochan and Bruce Brown, all of whom bring some combination of experience, versatility and lineup flexibility. Miami has not made any official additions yet, but the fact that these veterans are even in the conversation suggests the front office is still weighing whether one more proven piece could help settle the rotation before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Conwell Is Forcing A Tough Heat Rotation Decision
Ryan Conwell has done enough in preseason to make the Heat think a little harder about how they want to handle the back end of the roster. The second-round pick, originally selected by the Thunder and then sent to Miami right away, has shown the kind of promise that can make a draft-night gamble look smarter in a hurry, even with the Heat loading up on veterans and reshaping the group around the edges.
The tricky part now is figuring out where he fits in the short term. Miami has enough established pieces that Conwell may not have a clean path to consistent NBA minutes right away, and the most realistic route could start with a run in the G-League before he works his way into a regular role. For a team that likes competition and development, it is the kind of decision that can shape how quickly a young player becomes part of the rotation picture. [Read more 🡒]