Heat projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Miami Heat starting center: Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo made a real push for the label of ‘Best Heat Player’ last season. Jimmy ultimately won out down the stretch, but Heat fans shouldn’t really care — both are on the roster. Adebayo continues to progresses on the margins offensively while cementing his status as arguably the best defender in the NBA.

The Heat were the No. 8 seed last season, which pretty much excluded Adebayo from the DPOY race. That looks silly in hindsight with the run Miami made in the playoffs. Adebayo is the perfect modern defender, capable of switching one through five while still providing rim protection and a physical presence in the paint.

A lot of players get labeled as “five-position” defenders, typically far more than are actually capable of it. Adebayo is matchup-proof. He can mirror twitchy guards on the perimeter, battle physical wings off the dribble, or wage war with the likes of Joel Embiid in the post. He’s equally dominant away from the ball, constantly blowing up plays with well-timed help and wreaking havoc in passing lanes (1.2 steals per game).

On the offensive end, Adebayo is quickly becoming a central figure for Miami. He is slowly but surely expanding the range of his jumper, to the point where mid-range pull-ups are now a regular part of his shot diet. Adebayo can score with spin moves and deft post maneuvers in the paint, or he can face up from the elbow and weaponize his physicality attacking downhill. Adebayo is also a plus passer for his position.

There simply aren’t many players who check so many boxes across the board. Adebayo is much closer to a bonafide top-20 NBA player than folks realize.

Primary backup center: Thomas Bryant

Thomas Bryant is a legitimately impactful offensive center. He shot 44.1 percent from 3-point range last season and finished 65.8 percent of his 2-point attempts, most of which came in the paint. He’s comfortably setting screens and operating as a vertical threat at the rim, but he can also stretch the floor and make opposing centers guard in space.

The hangup with Bryant is his defense. His offensive fluidity and athleticism doesn’t really translate: he gets burned in space and struggles to keep up with the constantly shifting nature of NBA schemes. The Heat will lean on Bryant as an offensive weapon in the regular season but it wouldn’t be shocking to see his minutes wane once the playoffs arrive.

Other players who could receive minutes at center: Orlando Robinson, Nikola Jovic

Orlando Robinson was the standout of Miami Heat Summer League. He’s a physical athlete with a strong 7-foot frame and enough experience in the Heat system to potentially carve out a role next season, especially if Spo falls out of love with the aforementioned Bryant’s defense.

Nikola Jovic is another candidate to see minutes at the four or five depending on lineup needs for Miami. The second-year Serbian was mostly a G-League staple last season but he’s a mobile, fluid 6-foot-10 athlete with shooting touch. He’s a very modern big on paper and the Heat have every reason to invest in his development.