What’s expected from Heat? Here’s a player-by-player breakdown entering the 2023-24 season

The Miami Heat’s roster for opening night is set.

Here’s what to expect from each of the 17 players (14 on standard contracts and three on two-way contracts) on the Heat’s roster, with the regular season beginning Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons at Kaseya Center:

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BAM ADEBAYO, center

What to know: A foundational piece who’s not only an important part of the organization’s long-term plan as one of the NBA’s top young stars and two-way big men, but is also an essential part of this season’s winning formula. As the starting center, he’ll be relied on to anchor the Heat’s defense and continue to grow the offensive end. Adebayo again enters the season with the goal of winning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award for the first time in his career while also winning his first NBA title.

THOMAS BRYANT, center

What to know: Expected to begin the season as the Heat’s backup center behind Adebayo after signing with Miami as a free agent this past summer. Bryant is skilled on the offensive end with efficient touch around the basket and he can also help space the floor with his three-point shot. Bryant is not known as a plus-defender, but the Heat hopes its defensive system will help put him in positions to be successful on that end of the court. The non-Adebayo minutes were a disaster for the Heat at times last season and Bryant’s job is to turn that around this season.

JIMMY BUTLER, wing

What to know: Has established himself as one of the NBA’s top two-way players, leading the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances in his first four seasons with the organization. He has proven he’s one of the few players in the league who can be the best player on a championship-level team. But Butler turned 34 in September. How many regular-season games will he play? The goal will be to keep him fresh and healthy for the playoffs. But he’ll also be needed in the regular season for the Heat to enter the postseason as one of the Eastern Conference’s top seeds.

JAMAL CAIN, forward (two-way contract)

What to know: Entering his second season on a two-way contract with the Heat after going undrafted out of Oakland University last year. Cain could spend part of the season in the G League, as two-way deals only allow for players to be on their NBA team’s active list for as many as 50 regular-season games. But the 24-year-old Cain also represents added depth at the forward spot for the Heat. Cain’s combination of athleticism and size at 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds paired with his improvement as a defender and three-point shooter makes him a candidate to get NBA playing time at some point this season.

R.J. HAMPTON, guard (two-way contract)

What to know: An intriguing talent on a two-way contract as a former first-round pick who is hoping time in the Heat’s development program turns him into a rotation-level player. Hampton, 22, has played for three different teams over his first three NBA seasons and was waived by the Detroit Pistons this past summer before joining the Heat on a two-way contract. The Heat is developing Hampton as a point guard.

TYLER HERRO, guard

What to know: A gifted scorer who is one of the Heat’s top offensive options as a 23-year-old despite constantly being at the center of trade rumors throughout his first four NBA seasons. Herro became the first Heat player to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2022 and he’s entering the first season of a four-year, $120 million contract. The next step for Herro is improving his efficiency on the offensive end and continuing to prove he can hold up on defense. As one of the Heat’s starting guards and arguably the purest scorer on the roster, Herro will be at the center of the team’s offensive plan.

HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH, forward

What to know: Highsmith didn’t get consistent playing time last season, but he’s expected to play a bigger and more consistent role in his third season with the Heat as an NBA-level three-and-D option. The 26-year-old Highsmith, who went undrafted out of Wheeling University in 2018, had some of the best moments of his NBA career when he was called upon to contribute during the Heat’s deep playoff run last season amid the team’s injury issues. Highsmith will not be available for the start of the regular season because of a sprained MCL, but isn’t expected to miss much more than a few weeks. The expectation is he’ll be used in a bench role when he returns.

JAIME JAQUEZ JR., wing

What to know: An older rookie as a 22-year-old who spent four years at UCLA before being drafted by the Heat with the 18th pick in this year’s draft. A groin injury limited Jaquez to just one preseason game, but he shined in that one appearance with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes off the bench. One of Jaquez’s favorite players to watch is Butler and it shows through his style of play, especially on the offensive end as a big wing who’s comfortable in the mid-post and can beat defenders with excellent footwork. Whether Jaquez can earn immediate playing time in his first NBA season will likely depend on whether he can hit threes and hold up on the defensive end.

NIKOLA JOVIC, forward

What to know: Entering his second NBA season after being drafted by the Heat with the 27th overall pick in last year’s draft. The 20-year-old from Serbia spent most of his rookie season sidelined by a back injury, but he’s healthier entering this season and is hoping to earn a role in the Heat’s rotation following a busy summer of development that included weeks of summer league action before taking part in weeks of competitive games in the FIBA Basketball World Cup with the Serbian national team. Jovic’s combination of size, skill and youth at 6-foot-11 makes him one of the most intriguing players on the Heat’s roster. But is he ready for consistent minutes on a win-now team?

KEVIN LOVE, forward

What to know: Quickly emerged as a team leader after joining the Heat in February last season following a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers and also took over as the Heat’s starting power forward. The veteran, who is about to begin his 16th NBA season, enters this season as the Heat’s projected starting power forward. Love’s ability to space the floor with his three-point shot, quality rebounding, elite outlet passing and knack for drawing charges at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds are all skills that help the Heat. While Love’s best basketball may be behind him at 35 years old, the five-time All-Star is an X-factor that can help raise the Heat’s ceiling.

KYLE LOWRY, guard

What to know: Knee issues slowed Lowry and eventually helped push him into a bench role last season for the first time in a decade, with his numbers down across the board. But Lowry is healthier entering this season and he’s hoping to have a bounce-back year. Lowry said multiple times during the preseason that he expects to return to a starting role this season as the only proven point guard on the team’s roster following the departure of Gabe Vincent in free agency this past summer. Like Love, Lowry’s health and play at 37 years old are factors that could help determine the Heat’s ceiling this season. But Lowry is also on an expensive expiring contract, so he’ll likely be involved in trade speculation during the season.

CALEB MARTIN, wing

What to know: After starting his Heat career on a two-way contract two years ago, Martin is now arguably the fourth-best player on the team behind only the leading trio of Adebayo, Butler and Herro. He’s established himself as an essential part of the Heat’s rotation as an athletic two-way player who has improved as a three-point shooter. One could make the case that Martin should start as one of the Heat’s best players, but there’s value in him playing off the bench as a player who fits in most lineups because of his versatility. The 28-year-old Martin could be due for a big pay day in free agency next summer with a player option in his contract for next season.

JOSH RICHARDSON, guard

What to know: Returned in free agency this past summer after spending the first four seasons of his NBA career with the Heat. Richardson, who is entering his ninth NBA season, will play more of a complementary role during his second stint in Miami with the team now built around Adebayo, Butler and Herro. Richardson’s three-and-D skill set makes him a fit for most lineups the Heat will use, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll play more as a starter or reserve this season. With the Heat thin at point guard, Richardson spent extended time working as the lead ball-handler during preseason practices. Richardson will miss the season opener because of a foot injury.

DUNCAN ROBINSON, forward

What to know: After going from a fixture in the Heat’s starting lineup to an inconsistent bench role in the last few seasons, Robinson’s elite three-point shooting is again expected to be an important part of the team’s formula this season following the free-agent departure of sharpshooter Max Strus. Robinson became the new franchise leader for the most career three-pointers made by a Heat player last season and his outside shooting will be critical to the team’s offensive production this season. Robinson is expected to play off the bench to begin the schedule.

ORLANDO ROBINSON, center

What to know: The expectation entering training camp was that Robinson and Bryant would compete for the backup center role, but Bryant came out of the preseason as the clear front-runner for that job. So for now, Robinson represents frontcourt depth for the Heat as a 6-foot-10 big man who continues to develop in the team’s system. Robinson, who went undrafted out of Fresno State last year, is on a partially guaranteed standard contract that guarantees $425,000 of his $1.8 million salary for this season on opening night.

DRU SMITH, guard

What to know: Began the preseason on a two-way contract and ended the preseason on a standard contract to fill the 14th spot on the Heat’s standard roster. Smith impressed the Heat’s decision-makers in practices with his improvement as a point guard, which is a position of need for the Heat. Like Robinson, Smith represents depth and is not expected to be part of the Heat’s rotation at the start of the regular season. Smith, 25, is also on a partially guaranteed standard contract that guarantees $425,000 of his $1.8 million salary for this season on opening night.

COLE SWIDER, forward (two-way contract)

What to know: Earned a two-way contract from the Heat in the preseason, taking the open two-way spot that Smith’s promotion to a standard deal created. Swider’s NBA skill is three-point shooting at 6-foot-8 and he’ll work to improve other areas of his game during this developmental year with the Heat between time in the G League and NBA. Undrafted out of Syracuse last year, the 24-year-old Swider hopes to follow in the footsteps of Duncan Robinson and Strus as three-point shooters who developed in the Heat’s program on two-way deals.