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The Miami Heat made notable changes to their roster throughout the recent NBA offseason, headlined by the signing of Kyle Lowry to a three-year $85-million deal. Along with Lowry, Pat Riley added PJ Tucker and Victor Oladipo while re-signing sharpshooter Duncan Robinson.
Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa were lost to Toronto in the Lowry sign-and-trade, Andre Igoudala returned to Golden State and Kendrick Nunn is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Their roster, as currently constructed, is thin at point guard but should be able to assign additional ball-handling duties to more non-conventional roles with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Victor Oladipo.
With a tricky roster layout, the lineup that head coach Erik Spoelstra rolls out will be intriguing to keep tabs on in 2021-22. Here are three lineups that I am intrigued to see in South Beach this season.
Possible line-ups for the Miami Heat this season
#3 Switch Everything
Bam Adebayo will soon find himself in Defensive Player of the Year conversations in the NBA. His rim protection is exceptional, but it's his switchability at 6'9" that truly makes him great in that aspect.
In order to excentuate that ability, the other players around him must possess the ability to switch (at least in a pinch) as well. A lineup consisting of Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, KZ Okpala, PJ Tucker and Adebayo would be able to do just that.
Kyle Lowry is known for his strength and beefiness, allowing him to guard up a few positions in a pinch. Jimmy Butler's defensive versatility is well documented, as is his relentlessness.
PJ Tucker is coming off an NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, and his energy can be contagious for the Miami Heat. Tucker's defensive awareness and IQ is evident throughout every possession and a backline with him and Adebayo would be frightening for opposing penetrators.
KZ Okpala would be the young guy in this lineup, but he has shown defensive capabilities during his time in the league and being surrounded by great minds should help.
Spacing may be a concern with this Miami Heat lineup since Bam is not currently shooting from distance, PJ Tucker and Jimmy Butler could be streaky, and KZ Okpala shot 24 percent from downtown last season. To counter this issue, running in transition should be a focus after getting stops.
#2 Improving on last year's best
Of all lineups with a minimum of 50 total minutes for the Miami Heat last season, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Kelly Olynyk, and Bam Adebayo recorded the best net rating at 17.8.
Olynyk has departed for Detroit, but PJ Tucker should be able to to fill his role of a spacing four while also supplying superior defense. That leaves a lineup of Butler, Robinson, Herro, Tucker and Adebayo.
Butler, Herro and Adebayo are capable of initiating the offense and maintaining ball movement, while Duncan Robinson remains a permanent threat running around screens.
While Tucker does not have the same offensive versatility off the bounce as Olynyk, he is a knockdown three-point shooter and potent defender. No need to change a good thing, and Tucker feels like the most likely candidate to fill the Olynyk hole in this Miami Heat lineup.
#1 Focussing on offensive versatility
The final intriguing Miami Heat lineup is Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo, Jimmy Butler and PJ Tucker. Offensive versatility is the focus here with enough spacing to allow ideal driving lanes for the driving threats of Lowry, Oladipo, and Butler.
Penetrating is the name of the game as everyone aside from PJ Tucker is a threat with the ball in their hands. If Oladipo can make progress towards returning to his pre-injury form then there is an encouraging downhill threat in this lineup.
Bam Adebayo may be more versatile than Tucker on offense, but a lineup with all three of Bam, Oladipo and Butler could have some spacing concerns. Especially without the inclusion of Duncan Robinson.
While the aforementioned trio aren't great shooters, they remain capable and rim pressure creates open perimeter shots. All three should be happy to take open threes while on the floor, even if the numbers aren't notably impressive.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra should have some fun experimenting with lineup possibilities for the 2021-22 season.
