The Miami Heat are looking to get last year’s sour taste out of their mouths. They tied their 2014-15 win total with 37, got humiliated in the first round of the postseason and are looking to find a new identity post-Jimmy Butler. We are less than a week away from training camp, and ESPN released two stages (100-11) of their annual top-100 heading into the 2025-26 season. Four total players made their list — here are their rankings below!
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89. Andrew Wiggins:
Wiggins, 30, improved one spot in last year’s rankings, despite experiencing one of the worst seasons of his career health-wise. He averaged 18.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 60 combined games with the Golden State Warriors and Heat. Here is what ESPN’s Baxter Holmes wrote about Wiggins:
“After being traded to Miami in a high-profile swap for Jimmy Butler, Wiggins averaged 19 points in 17 games — all starts — for the Heat, who were swept in the first round by Cleveland. The 2014 No. 1 overall pick is 30, with 11 years in the league, and expectations for him to develop into a superstar have faded. Wiggins appears to be more of a key piece than a centerpiece, but trade rumors continue to swirl about whether Wiggins could be moved during the season.”
— Baxter Holmes
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82. Norman Powell
Not far ahead of Wiggins is new Heat guard Norman Powell, who they acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in early July in a three-team deal. Powell wasn’t ranked last year, but his role enlarged after Paul George departed cross-country to the Philadelphia 76ers. Here is what ESPN’s Brian Windhorst wrote about Powell, who’s entering a contract season:
“Powell had his best season in his 10th year, when he turned 32. You don’t see that often. He thrived in the hole created by Paul George’s departure from the Clippers; he is known for being one of the league’s hardest workers; and he has turned himself into a multi-faceted offensive weapon. The Heat picked him up on the relative cheap in trade because the Clippers didn’t want to pay him, but that might create huge motivation for a big season.”
— Brian Windhorst
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68. Tyler Herro
Herro, 25, won’t begin the season healthy, recently undergoing left foot surgery that will sideline him until at least mid-November. He had the best — and healthiest — season of his six-year career in 2024-25, making his first career All-Star team while shouldering the burden as a lead creator. Here is what Windhorst wrote about Herro:
“Last season, Herro bounced back from injury to have his most efficient and best playmaking season, and he was a bright light on a Heat team that endured Jimmy Butler’s daily turbulence and Bam Adebayo’s overall down season. He’ll have to overcome similar hurdles in 2025-26 after undergoing surgery this offseason that will keep him sidelined at the start. There are times when his offense-first and shot-heavy play can feel like empty calories, especially when the Heat had their worst season in a decade.”
— Brian Windhorst
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21. Bam Adebayo:
Adebayo, 28, was the only notable player who dropped down ESPN’s list. Last year, he was the No. 18-ranked player. Now, he dipped outside the top-20 in his worst full season as a full-time starter.
“Bounced out of the first round for two straight seasons (including an embarrassing sweep by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the spring), Miami is ready for a reset,” ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk wrote. “Having turned the page from Jimmy Butler III, Miami looks to Adebayo to lead a retooled team and get the Heat’s culture back on track. With Norman Powell, Kasparas Jakucionis and Simone Fontecchio on board to help Tyler Herro on offense, Adebayo will seek to return to being the player he was the previous two seasons when he helped Miami reach the NBA Finals in 2023 and was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, All-Star and defensive first-teamer in 2024.”
Are these rankings justified?! Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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If Edey is top 100 (#88). Ware should be too.
This Ohm guy is a comedian with the line “With Norman Powell, Kasparas Jakucionis and Simone Fontecchio on board to help Tyler Herro on offense”
Ha! Kaspar is a rookie and Fontecchio is not a player the Heat are going to depend on for scoring. Sure, both guys could be decent and somewhat helpful, but adding them after naming Powell, and right before mentioning Tyler, was pretty damn funny.
I think Fontecchio may serve a useful purpose off the bench when the team is having trouble scoring. Like Robinson and Burkes, Miami should play him when he’s hot and sit him when he isn’t.
precious is only 26 wow hes still in his prime,being behind guys like randle mitch kat annonobe hard to get to much pt i think hes gonna really help us he has to we got nobody else at pf/c
He should give Miami his best. He’s playing for a contract.
with dav dru norm mitch kelel precious bam pelle come on opposing teams try to score btch i dare u its gonna be different now,we got all defenders no ez blow bys anymore.
I think Jaquez and Jovic will be in there competing for rotation spots. Who knows, maybe Rozier comes back (with his mojo) and is also able to compete for a rotation spot. This year’s preseason should be much more interesting (and competitive) than any we’ve seen in years.
jjj jovic are looking up at a bunch of 2 wayers.im not high on either the swedish sensation has an nba game
The jury is still out on both Jaquez and Jovic. If Jaquez can’t improve on last year, I don’t expect him to be around in 2026-2027. Jovic is probably going to receive a 3 year extension at $12-$15M per year. Any/all of those players (Larsson, Jovic or Jaquez) can be part of bigger trades if opportunities present themselves.
Note: ESPN’s NBA Rank panel, made up of more than 150 reporters, editors, producers and analysts, was asked to rank players based on their predicted contributions — quality and quantity — for the 2025-26 regular season only.
Well, how about that! 150 people who earn a living reporting on basketball. I guess I’m not the only one who ‘overvalues’ Herro.
Signature stat: He is the fourth Heat player to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists in a season — joining Butler, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
shoots to much plays no d injured often.not a team player.get him out of here get any 2 wayer
It is clear that that those 150 people (151 if you include me) see it differently.
ty had a great first half his d was acceptable for his standards.but what happened second half and playoffs.he gets worn out or injured no where to be found in playoffs.need play him 15-18 mins a game thats way i see it .body just cant take wear and tear of nba season
As I have pointed out before, it is utterly ridiculous to suggest he play so few minutes. Many many many lesser players play more minutes than that. I wish we were able to place bets on this site. I would take the over and even spot you 2 minutes and put it at 20 minutes. That would be easy money in my pocket. And you never gave me a clear yes or no about if Davion will continue to play hard with the new contract. ‘I hope so’ or ‘I’m not sure’ is very noncommittal. Cmon bro, take a stand. I again say he will definitely play hard.
i say dav plays hard.if u play ty 2 much at playoff time hes injured or not good though thats a fact.so wouldnt u want him healthy and fresh playoff time
Fair enough
his impact on winning is not as great as u think rc does he make players around him better magic could have averaged 30 a game but his greatest impact was making players around him better.ty is more of a one on one player (volume shooter).dont win with those types players unless their jordanish.
I never mentioned his impact on winning. He can be a valuable asset on a team that has a really solid core, a #3 or #4 on a good team. There is no denying his offensive ability, or his defensive shortcomings.