The "gap year" appears to be a full go for the Miami Heat this season. At least one NBA insider isn't afraid to say the quiet part out loud about the Heat heading into this year, and it's the fact that this team is simply not going to factor much in the Eastern Conference.
In theory, it should push the Heat to focus more on the future than the present throughout the year, especially in the months leading up to the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline. In the words of Jake Fischer, the Heat should be big sellers this season.