Training camp is still less than two weeks away, but the Miami Heat already look set at the top of the rotation. Davion Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo form the core, giving Miami a mix of pressure, shooting and penetration that feels pretty straightforward on paper.
The real fight starts after Thompson.
That spot is the one to watch, and it should narrow down to Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pelle Larsson. There’s also a chance one of them ends up as more of a situational option, because smart teams often settle into eight-man groups and trust seven as the season wears on.
Hardaway brings a strong résumé into the competition. He finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2025-26, and his fit alongside Antetokounmpo makes sense on its face. Giannis is not Nikola Jokić as a passer, but he still creates plenty of open looks from deep, and that kind of shot diet should help Hardaway.
That matters because Hardaway could be in line for his second season ever shooting at least 40 percent from 3, especially with Miami’s heavy motion game. The fact that he’s been around plenty of big games also works in his favor.
Larsson has his own case. He improved across the board, looks more athletic and stronger, and he was efficient when cutting despite not doing it often in 2025-26.
His cutting frequency sat at 7.3 percent, but those plays produced 1.28 points per possession. If he becomes more aggressive off the ball and keeps that up, the payoff could be real, especially next to Antetokounmpo, who draws more attention than most players.
Defensively, Larsson may have the edge. The article describes him as the better defender, even more than Thompson, and that kind of value could matter most late in games, when protecting the 3-point line becomes the priority and big leads can disappear fast. He also looks better suited to stay attached to ball handlers, which could help him earn one of the final five spots on the floor.
The financial angle adds another layer. Whoever wins the job could make more money if they prove themselves as a top-end role player, and that gives both players something real to chase in camp. Hardaway is on a one-year deal, while Larsson has one year left before restricted free agency.
So while the Heat’s main group may already feel settled, this one spot is anything but. Training camp could get competitive in a hurry.
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For Heat fans, though, the bigger conversation has been whether the scene actually unfolded that way. The video has sparked plenty of skepticism about its authenticity, with viewers wondering whether the encounter was genuine or staged, and the uncertainty has only added to the chatter around a clip that was meant to capture a simple off-court moment. [Read more 🡒]
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Victor Oladipo gives the decision a familiar face, while Ochai Agbaji and Blake Wesley point more toward younger options with different developmental timelines and possible roles. Miami does not appear rushed here, which is part of the point, since the last spot can be used as insurance, as a bet on upside, or simply left open until the team has a clearer read on what it needs most. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Just Validated What Heat Fans Believe About This Roster
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Mitchell also made clear he is still a believer in Thompsons shot, even with the numbers down from last season, and pushed back on any idea that V.J. Edgecombe should be viewed as the better shooter. For Miami, the bigger takeaway is validation from one of the Easts top guards, with the regular-season matchups against the Cavaliers now carrying a little more edge and context for both sides. [Read more 🡒]