
The Miami Heat are a relatively young roster. Their two All-Star caliber players are Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, who are 25 and 28 respectively. Throw in some veteran scorers such as Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins into the equation and you have an extremely well-rounded and stable group with both veterans and young players that have potential.
Bleacher Report released an article, naming candidates from every NBA team who could steal a spot in their team's starting lineup. The Heat are the only team to have two players named. Their representatives are Nikola Jovic and Kel'el Ware.
"Flip a coin to determine the frontcourt starter next to Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins, and don't feel bad about it," the article wrote. "The Miami Heat aren't totally sure, either. Jovic got a four-year extension prior to the season, which suggests Miami believes he has a place in the rotation at the very least. Most preseason indications suggested he had the inside track on a starting job, and he was on the floor for the opening tip in Miami's first game of the season. But he could be a tricky fit if he continues to shoot inconsistently and needs to be on the ball to maximize his value at the 4."
Jovic's extension shows the Heat's faith in the young forward. The Serbian missed some time last year but has shown enough flashes for the team to commit to him long-term. He has gotten off to a solid start through the first few games of the season.
"Ware is a true center whose lob-catching, defensive length and shooting potential give him a real argument to start," the article added. "If he cleans up defensive mistakes and shows some improved processing speed, he could end the competition with Jović in a hurry. Bet on Jović earning the bulk of the starts in the early going, as he could help address the playmaking shortage until Tyler Herro returns. But don't rule out Ware stealing the odd start and forcing the Heat into some situational lineup tinkering all year."
Pat Riley's reluctance to trade Ware this summer, even in Kevin Durant trade discussions, proves his value to the franchise. An impressive rookie season now behind him, Ware could play on the court opposite Adebayo. If that's the case, they could make for one of the strongest frontcourt duos in the Eastern Conference. Both Jovic and Ware could be vital in helping Miami fight for a playoff spot.