The Miami Heat are expected to continue looking for another playmaker as they complete their roster for the 2026-27 season, according to Brian Windhorst. Miami may leave its 15th roster spot open while monitoring the market rather than immediately committing to a player.
“The Heat may end up leaving the 15th spot open for a while to see what happens,” Windhorst said on The Hoops Collective podcast. “They have been attached to Nick Richards who’s a 3rd string center and wouldn’t surprise me if he goes there on the minimum. — I do think Miami will be on the lookout for ball handling. It may not happen in October.”
The Heat finished 43-39 last season and entered the Play-In Tournament as the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their roster has since changed substantially following the acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the addition of Klay Thompson and the departures of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Norman Powell.
Miami already has Davion Mitchell as its primary point guard. Mitchell averaged 9.3 points and 6.5 assists in 70 games for the Heat last season while shooting 49.0% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range.
The Heat also received playmaking from several other players in 2025-26. Jaquez averaged 15.4 points and 4.7 assists, while Herro averaged 20.5 points and 4.1 assists in 33 games before leaving Miami in the Giannis trade.
With those players no longer on the roster, Miami has fewer established creators beyond Mitchell. Antetokounmpo can initiate offense as a forward, while Bam Adebayo averaged 3.2 assists last season, but the Heat are still evaluating whether they need another guard capable of handling the ball.
Windhorst’s comments also indicate that Miami remains interested in adding frontcourt depth. Nick Richards is reportedly a candidate to join the Heat on a minimum contract, which would give the team another center option behind Adebayo and provide additional size alongside a roster built around Antetokounmpo.
Miami is also considering a return for Keshad Johnson, who averaged 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.8 minutes across 32 games last season. Johnson shot 49.0% from the field and could return on either a standard contract or a two-way deal.
