The Miami Heat brought in Klay Thompson for one obvious reason: shooting. On that front, he’s done his job, hitting 41 percent from deep despite the early-season bumps. But the part of his game that’s putting his place in the starting lineup under the microscope is the same issue that eventually cost him that role in Dallas.
Defense.
That’s where the Heat have run into a problem. Thompson has been the worst defensive player on the roster so far this season by the numbers, posting a team-worst 130.4 defensive rating among the starters and a minus-17.8 net rating when he’s on the floor. The film hasn’t done him many favors, either.
None of that is exactly a shock on a team that has struggled badly on that end overall. Still, if Erik Spoelstra is searching for one move that could help stabilize the starting group defensively, Thompson is the obvious name that jumps out.
Of course, making that change would come with a tradeoff. If the Heat decide to pull Thompson from the starting five, the most logical replacement would be Pelle Larsson.
There really isn’t another clean option. Tim Hardaway Jr. has been even worse than Thompson this season, and Ryan Conwell isn’t ready for that kind of role.
Larsson would bring a different kind of energy, and there’s no question he’s the more versatile defender. He could also give the starting unit a jolt right away. But Miami would be giving up the spacing Thompson provides, and that matters when Andrew Wiggins has also struggled on offense this season.
So the Heat are staring at a real choice: do they try to patch up a defense that looks lost, or do they keep the shooting in place and hope the offense sorts itself out?
There’s at least a path where Spoelstra leans toward defense first and trusts that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo will eventually figure things out. That’s hardly a sure thing, but it’s a workable idea. And if Thompson does move to the bench, he could still have value there as the microwave scorer Miami hoped Hardaway Jr. might become.
That’s the harsh Klay Thompson lesson the Mavericks already learned. Now the Heat have to decide whether they can turn that reality into an advantage.
In Other News...
Hornets Face A Big Decision In Norman Powell Trade Buzz
The early-season mess in Chicago has already turned the Bulls into one of the leagues most obvious teams to watch as the trade market develops, and Norman Powell has quickly moved into the center of that conversation. With the Bulls off to a 1-6 start and the possibility of a rebuild hanging over the roster, Powells value as a veteran scorer is drawing attention, and Jake Fischer has reported that he is a serious candidate to be moved before the February deadline.
For Miami, the appeal is easy to understand. The Heat are always looking for experienced perimeter help, especially when the market starts to thin out, and Powell fits the kind of playoff-ready profile they tend to monitor. Charlotte is in the mix too, which only adds another layer to a situation that could get crowded fast if Chicago decides to act, leaving the Hornets and Heat to weigh how aggressive they want to be when the asking price becomes clear. [Read more 🡒]
Dwyane Wade Just Put Bam Adebayo At Center Of Miamis Problem
Dwyane Wade has seen enough of the early-season drift to put Bam Adebayo squarely in the middle of Miamis search for answers. The Heat have been working new pieces into the rotation, but the bigger issue has been how disconnected the group has looked at times, and Wades point was simple: Adebayo has to be more than just a reliable anchor, he has to help organize the second unit and steady the group when the game starts to wobble.
For a team that prides itself on structure and accountability, that is no small ask, especially with Adebayo still trying to find his rhythm after a slow start. Wades message was less about talent than command, the kind of responsibility that can help a roster with new faces start to look like a real team instead of a collection of parts. The challenge now is whether Adebayo can answer it quickly enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Suddenly Face A Bam Adebayo Question Nobody Wanted
The Heats uneven start has already put plenty of pressure on the early part of the 2026-27 season, and Bam Adebayo has found himself at the center of the conversation. With Miami sitting at 2-5, the focus has shifted from simply getting back on track to whether the teams most important pieces are fitting together the way they need to, especially with reported chemistry issues involving Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo adding another layer to the noise around the roster.
Adebayos inconsistent play has only intensified the scrutiny, with media and fans openly questioning his impact and wondering whether Miami could eventually have to consider a change. Talk around the league has already linked him to possible trade destinations such as the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, even though nothing official has been announced, leaving the Heat in the uncomfortable spot of having to answer big-picture questions before the season has even settled in. [Read more 🡒]