These 3 Heat players should not be on the team next season

After another disappointing season, the Miami Heat have plenty of questions to answer this summer. There are plenty of changes that must happen to breach this ceiling.

Most importantly, they must pick a direction. If you know me, you know which direction I still lean. Even though we’re over two months away from the start of free agency, it’s never too early to start thinking about the future.

Which players should the Heat part ways with, for better or worse? Here are three prime veteran candidates.

Tyler Herro:

Heat Bulls — (Mandatory Credit: Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Skinny: Herro may be one of the more obvious picks. But he also could be one of the difficult players to move.

Subject to a myriad of trade rumors in the past, Herro enters the final year of a four-year, $120 million rookie scale extension he signed ahead of the 2022-23 season. Herro’s had his fair share of ups and downs in Miami, and 2025-26 was a big let down. Coming off his first career All-Star appearance, where he played in a career-high 77 games, multiple injuries limited Herro to just 33.

He’s improved over his seven-year career. But it’s become abundantly clear that the two sides aren’t meant for one another. Herro’s an efficient offensive player, but he doesn’t impact the game — positively — when he’s not scoring (outside of shooting gravity). He’s an improved, but shaky playmaker; he’s an objectively bad defender in space; he gambles too much off ball; he’s a solid rebounder (for a guard).

There are too many flaws for the currently-constructed Heat to overcome to extend this marriage any longer.

Andrew Wiggins:

Skinny: Wiggins is coming off a rock solid first full season in Miami. At times, he struggled to find a rhythm off-ball offensively. But he was a reliable spot-up 3-point shooter and built a nice niche as one of the Heat’s top offensive rebounders. Defensively, he was switchable and oftentimes disruptive against other teams’ skilled wings; he knew how to guard his yard.

However, as much as I think Wiggins is underrated, he is also entering the final year of his contract ($30.2 million; player option), and could be an attractive trade chip if he exercises the deal. Plus, once again, I think the Heat need to lean young — and Wiggins doesn’t exactly fit that timeline.

He was a good bridge post-Jimmy trade, but I don’t think he meshes very well with this current core long-term. And the Heat should do their best to capitalize on a sell-lukewarm opportunity if he doesn’t opt out.

Norman Powell:

Skinny: Powell provided an essential injection over the first two or so months of the season, parlaying his play into his first career All-Star game. In his first 31 games with the Heat, he averaged 24.4 points on 48.8/42.1/86.6 shooting splits.

Unfortunately, injuries derailed the second half of Powell’s season. And his blemishes festered. Similarly to Herro, his defense was objectively bad; it’s fallen off a cliff relative to where it was in prior stops. He gets lost off-ball; he didn’t have the foot speed to keep up in space; Powell’s not a good playmaker, rebounder or processor.

The Heat’s 6-foot-2 guard did a good job generating paint touches, but his effectiveness was limited over the second half because of his lack of explosiveness (groin injury).

Powell will be entering unrestricted free agent. And Powell should only be kept if it’s a precursor for another move for, say, Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the Heat don’t land a premier offensive engine via trade, it would be in their best interest to stray away from Powell, who is pushing his mid-30s.

Which players do you think the Miami Heat should not bring back next season?! Let us know in the comments!

***

To check out our other content, click here.

Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!

Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!

Check out Hot Hot Hoops on Facebook here!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!