Walking into the Miami Heat practice facility these days, you can feel the energy—a mix of urgency and patience, of unfinished business and steady progress. I’ve covered this team for over a decade, and I’ll admit, I’m fascinated by how they navigate uncertainty. This season, more than ever, the Heat’s identity feels like a puzzle with a few pieces still missing. And one of those pieces, without a doubt, is Jamie Malonzo. When I spoke with him last week, his words stuck with me: “It’s still a work in progress. I’ve been participating, but not entirely yet.” That phrase captures so much of where the Heat stand right now—poised but incomplete, building something meaningful while resisting the rush.
Let’s talk numbers for a moment. The Heat finished the regular season with a 48–34 record, landing them fifth in the Eastern Conference. Not bad, but not elite—and frankly, not where this organization wants to be. Offensively, they ranked 18th in points per game at 112.4, while defensively they held strong at sixth, allowing just 108.9 points per contest. Those stats tell a story we’ve seen before: a team that grinds, that defends like hell, but struggles to consistently put the ball in the basket. I’ve always believed defense wins championships, but in today’s pace-and-space league, you’ve got to score efficiently too. Watching them drop games against teams like Orlando and Charlotte—squads they should handle—was frustrating. It’s clear the roster isn’t firing on all cylinders, and Malonzo’s gradual integration is a microcosm of that.
Malonzo’s situation is particularly intriguing. At 6'7" with a 7-foot wingspan, he’s exactly the kind of versatile wing the Heat covet. But he’s only appeared in 42 games this season, averaging 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in around 20 minutes per outing. Solid numbers for a role player, but the coaching staff clearly expects more. When he says he’s “participating, but not entirely yet,” it speaks to a larger challenge: how do you integrate a player with clear two-way potential without disrupting the team’s defensive chemistry? I’ve seen this before with Justise Winslow and Derrick Jones Jr.—athletic wings who took time to find their footing in Erik Spoelstra’s system. Malonzo has the tools, but he’s still figuring out when to attack closeouts, when to shoot the corner three (he’s hitting 34% from deep, by the way), and how to leverage his length in switching schemes.
From my perspective, the Heat’s future hinges on two things: internal development and smart roster moves. They don’t have the cap space to chase a max free agent this summer—not with roughly $148 million already committed to next year’s payroll—so growth has to come from within. Bam Adebayo has been a monster, no question. He put up 21.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game this season, and his defense remains otherworldly. But Jimmy Butler, as brilliant as he is in the playoffs, is 34 years old. The window with him as the primary option is narrowing, and the Heat need someone—maybe Tyler Herro, maybe Malonzo—to step into a larger role sooner rather than later. Herro’s scoring has been impressive (20.8 points per game), but his efficiency dipped in high-pressure moments. I’d love to see him develop a more reliable mid-range game and improve his defensive awareness.
Then there’s the draft and potential trades. The Heat hold the 22nd pick in this year’s draft—not exactly a lottery selection, but Spoelstra and Pat Riley have a knack for finding gems late. Remember, they drafted Herro at 13 and Bam at 14. Still, I’m skeptical they’ll find an immediate contributor there. More likely, they’ll package that pick with a player like Duncan Robinson (who’s owed $58 million over the next three seasons) to bring in a proven wing or a stretch big. Personally, I’d love to see them pursue someone like Jerami Grant—a two-way forward who can create his own shot and defend multiple positions. It’s a pipe dream, maybe, but the Heat have pulled off crazier moves.
What I find most compelling, though, is the culture. The Heat don’t panic. They trust their system, and they develop players with an almost religious fervor. Malonzo’s “work in progress” comment isn’t a cause for concern—it’s a reflection of that culture. They don’t throw players into the deep end before they’re ready. Look at Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, who went from undrafted to key playoff contributors. I have little doubt Malonzo will get there, but it’ll take time. And in a league that often values instant gratification, the Heat’s patience is both rare and admirable.
Looking ahead, I see the Heat as a playoff team—maybe even a second-round exit—but not yet a true contender. The East is stacked with Boston, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia, all of whom have more firepower. For Miami to leap into that tier, they’ll need Malonzo to become a consistent rotation piece, Herro to take another leap, and maybe one more savvy move from the front office. It won’t be easy, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned covering this team, it’s to never count them out. They thrive when expectations are low, when the narrative writes them off. So while it’s still a work in progress, as Malonzo said, I’m betting on that progress paying off sooner than we think.