Heat projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
Miami Heat starting small forward: Jimmy Butler
Man, myth, legend. Jimmy Butler is the NBA’s biggest cornball and one of its best players. When he’s not scamming fans with overpriced coffee, he’s breaking up plays with his frenetic defensive energy and stabilizing the Miami offense with his trademark in-between game.
Butler operates with absolute patience. He doesn’t rush into shots — sometimes to his detriment. He won’t force 3s, he won’t get sped up by pressurized defense. He lets the game come to him, slicing apart defenders with meticulous footwork and subtly deceptive handles. His low 3-point volume is a mild detraction, but Butler can eviscerate teams with his mid-range pull-up and he’s a tremendous finisher at the rim.
Even as he ages past his prime, Butler has plenty of burst attacking downhill and using his strength to absorb contact at the rim. He is blessed with moves and countermoves galore to tackle whatever the defense throws at him. Butler draws more fouls than 99 percent of the league and when he doesn’t score, he can leverage his gravity to create for teammates.
Butler averaged 22.9 points and 5.3 assists on 64.7 TS% last season. He’s the small forward for labeling purposes, but Butler will operate as Miami’s primary ball-handler and he will probably lead the team in assists — especially if Lowry’s minutes continue to decline. He doesn’t always go full speed in the regular season, but Butler is truly elite on both ends when he decides to crank the ignition.
Primary backup small forward: Haywood Highsmith
Haywood Highsmith’s development from afterthought in Philadelphia to a Finals rotation piece in Miami has been one of the best under-the-radar NBA storylines. Highsmith now enters the final year of a cheap second contact with the opportunity to earn a big payday next summer. He should play a critical role in Spoelstra’s second unit as a lanky wing defender with enough 3-point shooting to keep defenses honest.
Other players who could receive minutes at small forward: Caleb Martin, Josh Richardson, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Heat used the No. 18 pick on UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., a controversial pick in some draft circles and a widely celebrated pick in others. Jaquez spent four productive years with the Bruins and will enter the NBA as a 22-year-old. The Heat presumably selected Jaquez with hopes that he can contribute from day one.
At 6-foot-7, Jaquez brings size and serious shot-making talent to the wing. He drew some Jimmy Butler comparisons pre-draft and even embraced them in interviews; he doesn’t love to shoot 3s but he’s a mid-range savant who carves out space with delicate footwork and a pristine high release.
The doubts with Jaquez are tied to his limited athleticism and advanced age. He doesn’t have the same growth potential as younger prospects and he’s a stiff lateral mover, which could lead to difficultly finding his NBA position on defense. The Heat are probably the best possible landing spot for a player with his skill set, though.