The Miami Heat are set to embark on the 2025-26 campaign in one of the more awkward positions in the NBA. The Heat don't have a roster elite enough to make a genuine run in the playoffs in 2026, but it isn't in a rebuilding mode and would need a Dallas Mavericks-like miracle to land a top pick in the 2026 draft.
So it's with that in mind, what would actually constitute a failure for Miami's season in 2025-26?
One scenario would be a nightmare for the Heat
Slowly but surely, the Heat are assembling some pieces that one can convince themselves can gel and be a squad that is a sum of its parts rather than being reliant on a true "star.