Heat enters media day, camp with questions to answer. A list of some of the biggest ones

The Miami Heat returns most of last season’s core, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding the roster entering training camp.

Who will be in the Heat’s starting lineup? Can the Heat be a healthier team this season? Will Bam Adebayo continue to take and make threes? Will Jimmy Butler return to the All-NBA version of himself? And so many other important Heat questions will be answered in the coming weeks and months.

It all begins Monday when the Heat holds media day at Kaseya Center in Miami before opening training camp on Tuesday at Baha Mar in the Bahamas.

With training camp days away, Heat’s preseason roster now full after signing of Caleb Daniels

The Heat’s roster is currently at the NBA’s 21-player preseason maximum, with 14 players signed to guaranteed standard contracts: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith, Kel’el Ware, Kevin Love, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Josh Richardson, Nikola Jovic, Thomas Bryant, Alec Burks and Pelle Larsson.

Here’s one of the biggest questions surrounding each of the 21 players on the Heat’s preseason roster ...

Bam Adebayo, center

Question: After Adebayo’s sudden three-point surge late last season, will he continue to take and make threes consistently this season?

What to know: After shooting just 1 of 14 (7.1 percent) on threes through his first 54 appearances last regular season, Adebayo shot 14 of 28 (50 percent) from three-point range during his final 17 regular-season games. He closed last regular season with career highs in three-point makes (15) and three-point attempts (42).

Thomas Bryant, center

Question: Will Bryant be the Heat’s backup center this season?

What to know: When the frontcourt rotation was healthy last season, Kevin Love was used as the Heat’s primary backup center behind Bam Adebayo. Along with Love’s return this season, the Heat also used its first-round pick to select 7-footer Kel’el Ware this summer. So, Bryant will face competition for the backup center role.

Alec Burks, guard

Question: Will Burks be a consistent part of the Heat’s rotation this season?

What to know: Playing for his eighth different team in 14 NBA seasons, Burks is a high-usage guard who can get buckets. He’s an above average three-point shooter and can create midrange looks for himself. The issue is the Heat’s backcourt depth chart is crowded, with players like Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Josh Richardson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Duncan Robinson expected to be slotted ahead of him. But Burks’ offensive skill set will be needed at some point this season, whether he’s a consistent member of the rotation or not.

Jimmy Butler, forward

Question: Can Butler return to the All-NBA version of himself and play in more games this season?

What to know: For the Heat to reach its ceiling, Butler needs to be the best version of himself. The Heat knows that and the 35-year-old Butler knows that. But after making the All-NBA Second Team for the 2022-23 season, Butler did not make an All-NBA Team last season. His numbers were down across the board last season and he also missed 20 or more regular-season games for the third time in the last four seasons because of injuries and other reasons. With Butler able to become a free agent next summer because of a player option in his deal, that looming uncertainty can’t become a distraction. Instead, Butler must find a way to put together another All-NBA type season while also being more available.

Josh Christopher, guard

Question: Can Christopher become the Heat’s next two-way contract success story?

What to know: The Heat’s list of two-way contract success stories is an impressive one. It includes Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin and Derrick Jones. Jr. Christopher has the talent and untapped potential to have a chance to play his way on to that list. Still just 22 years old, Christopher comes with upside as a player who was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft just three years ago. Christopher impressed with the Heat’s summer squad and was named the Las Vegas Summer League championship game MVP. But earning consistent NBA playing time with the Heat this season is far from guaranteed, as he continues to make the adjustment from life as a first-round draft pick to a more complementary role as a two-way contract player.

Caleb Daniels, guard

Question: Will this season for Daniels include more time with the Heat’s G League affiliate?

What to know: Daniels is one of three players on the Heat’s 21-man preseason roster who is signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, which is essentially an invite to training camp and protects him from being signed away by another team. Exhibit 10 deals also include a financial incentive for players to transition to that respective NBA team’s G League affiliate if they are waived ahead of the start of the NBA regular season. Daniels also spent last season with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, after going undrafted out of Villanova in 2023.

Tyler Herro, guard

Question: Can Herro play in 70 or more regular-season games for the first time in his NBA career?

What to know: Heat president Pat Riley called Herro “fragile” during his season-ending news conference in May. Herro missed 40 regular-season games last season because of injuries and he has yet to play 70 or more games in a regular season during his five-year NBA career. While some may be wondering whether Herro starts or plays as a sixth man this season, the Heat simply wants him available for more games.

Haywood Highsmith, forward

Question: Is Highsmith ready to again have his role grow?

What to know: Following the departure of Caleb Martin in free agency, the Heat will likely need Highsmith to step into a bigger role this season. Highsmith already saw a jump in his playing time last regular season, averaging a career-high 20.7 minutes per game in a career-high 66 appearances. Highsmith’s overall 3-and-D skill set is valuable, but it’s his quality perimeter one-on-one defense that will be the primary skill that earns him playing time this season as part of a roster that doesn’t include many proven perimeter defenders.

Jaime Jaquez Jr., forward

Question: Can Jaquez take his game to another level through improved three-point shooting, playmaking and defense?

What to know: Jaquez was busy this offseason, working to return as an improved player for his second NBA season fresh off last season’s appearance on the league’s All-Rookie First Team. Among the areas of the game that Jaquez focused on refining this summer were his three-point shooting, playmaking and outside shooting. With most of last season’s core returning, internal improvement will be needed for the Heat to be better this season. Jaquez, 23, is a big part of that internal improvement plan as one of the most intriguing young talents on the Heat’s roster.

Keshad Johnson, forward

Question: Is immediate NBA playing time in Johnson’s future this season?

What to know: Johnson went undrafted out of Arizona this year and the Heat immediately signed him to a two-way contract following the draft. The Heat covets his gritty 3-and-D style and there’s room for that skill set in the Heat’s rotation this season, especially if there are more team-wide injury issues. But if history is any indication, there’s more likely to be extended playing time in the G League this season than in the NBA with the Heat. Just look at Duncan Robinson, who spent nearly his entire first NBA season with the Heat’s G League affiliate after going undrafted in 2018 before becoming a full-time starter the following season.

Nikola Jovic, forward

Question: Will Jovic open the season as the Heat’s starting power forward?

What to know: After beginning last season out of the Heat’s rotation, Jovic started his final 31 appearances (26 regular-season games and five playoff games) last season. The results were mostly positive, as the Heat outscored opponents by 5.6 points per 100 possessions with Jovic on the court after the mid-February All-Star break last regular season. Between Jovic’s improved defense and intriguing skill level on the offensive end at 6-foot-10, he’s among the top candidates to again play as the Heat’s starting power forward this season. But it remains to be seen whether Jovic will even be a full participant in practice at the start of training camp, as he continues to recover from the lingering effects of the foot and ankle injuries that he sustained early this offseason.

Pelle Larsson, guard

Question: What will Larsson’s role be as an NBA rookie?

What to know: During the pre-draft process, Larsson’s NBA skill appeared to be outside shooting after making 42.7 percent of his threes at Arizona last season. But Larsson showed off his all-around game with the Heat’s summer league team this offseason, racking up 28 assists, contributing 12 steals and drawing multiple charges in his eight summer appearances. While extended playing time with the Heat would be surprising if the roster is healthy this season, his development as a two-way guard will be worth monitoring. Some time in the G League could be in store for the Heat’s second-round pick if there’s no playing time to be had at the NBA level.

Nassir Little, forward

Question: Will Little make the Heat’s opening night roster?

What to know: Little, a 2019 first-round pick, signed a fully non-guaranteed one-year standard contract for a chance to earn a spot on the Heat’s roster. He’ll work to impress during training camp and the preseason in hopes of earning a spot on the Heat’s opening night roster. Little has the tools to help the Heat, as he’s a long 6-foot-5 forward who brings some versatility. But Little has also shot just 33 percent on threes during his five-year NBA career. The Heat has until Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. to decide whether to cut Little or keep him on its roster for opening night. Part of that decision could come down to finances, as Little’s full salary for the season would push the Heat above the ultra-punitive second apron.

Kevin Love, center

Question: Will Love again play as the Heat’s primary backup center?

What to know: Love thrived as Bam Adebayo’s backup last season. The Heat outscored opponents by 6.1 points per 100 possessions with Love on the court and Adebayo on the bench last regular season, according to Cleaning the Glass. It would be easy just to plug Love back into that role again and that’s what might happen. But the first-round selection of 7-footer Kel’el Ware gives the Heat another option for that spot in the rotation. With the addition of Ware and the potential desire to give Adebayo more minutes at power forward, Love could even be part of more double-big lineups this season. Love is the oldest player on the Heat’s roster at 36 years old.

Zyon Pullin, guard

Question: What’s next in the Heat’s developmental plan for Pullin?

What to know: Pullin is signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, which means this upcoming season will likely include a lot of time with the Heat’s G League affiliate unless he impresses enough during the preseason to earn one of the Heat’s two-way contracts. Even as a two-way contract player, Pullin would still probably spend some time in the G League. Pullin posted an impressive 3.77-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (the best by any Southeastern Conference player since at least 2000) at Florida last season before going undrafted this year. Pullin also was on the Heat’s summer league roster this offseason.

Josh Richardson, guard

Question: Will Richardson be ready for the start of the season?

What to know: Richardson is still recovering from a right shoulder injury he suffered in February, undergoing season-ending labrum surgery on March 6. He said in July that training camp is “the optimistic goal” for his return to full five-on-five contact basketball work in hopes of being available for most of the preseason and the start of the regular season, but added there’s “no official timetable.” With the Heat in need of two-way role players like Richardson, his status will be a popular topic of conversation this preseason.

Duncan Robinson, forward

Question: Is Robinson’s back issue behind him?

What to know: The good news for the Heat is Robinson said a few weeks ago that he feels “great” and he has “not been limited” for weeks by the back injury that bothered him late last season. But back issues are tricky and the hope is the discomfort doesn’t return with the wear and tear of the regular season. Robinson is one of the NBA’s top three-point shooters and he showed off other areas of his game last regular season, averaging a career high in assists and making a career high 72 shots from within the restricted area. The Heat’s offense needs Robinson healthy and available to be at its best.

Terry Rozier, guard

Question: How will Rozier’s skill set fit alongside the Heat’s leading trio of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro?

What to know: This seems like a strange question to ask, considering Rozier was with the Heat for the final few months of last season. But the Heat’s injury issues limited the quartet of Adebayo, Butler, Herro and Rozier to just 10 games together last season, with Miami posting a 5-5 record in those games. It remains to be seen how those four players fit together over an extended stretch. Health is another thing to monitor with Rozier, who was just recently cleared to begin playing five-on-five basketball after a troublesome neck injury forced him to miss the Heat’s final 11 games last season.

Dru Smith, guard

Question: How soon will Smith be ready to play?

What to know: Smith returns to the Heat on a two-way contract. But it remains to be seen whether Smith will be ready to be a full participant at the start of training camp after undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery in his right knee in late December. Smith said in July that his “personal goal is to be back by camp.” While on a two-way deal, Smith comes with some NBA experience at 26 years old and is seen as a player who can help the NBA roster after logging solid minutes as a fill-in point guard for the Heat last season prior to his season-ending injury.

Isaiah Stevens, guard

Question: What will Stevens look like at the G League level?

What to know: Stevens was among the Heat’s summer league revelations after going undrafted this summer out of Colorado State. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game while shooting 59.4 percent from the field and 7 of 11 (63.6 percent) from three-point range in six Las Vegas Summer League games. Stevens totaled 46 assists to 16 turnovers in his final six summer league appearances, bringing the skill set of a true point guard albeit an undersized one at 6 feet and 185 pounds. Stevens is on an Exhibit 10 contract for now. But whether he’s promoted to a two-way deal or not, some time in the G League is likely in store for Stevens this season as part of the next step in his development.

Kel’el Ware, center

Question: Is Ware ready for immediate playing time as a rookie and can he play alongside Bam Adebayo?

What to know: As a 20-year-old 7-footer who has the potential to make threes and be a standout shot blocker, there may be room for Ware in the Heat’s rotation. Whether Ware is ready for consistent playing time as a rookie remains to be seen, though. Ware needs to continue to add weight to his frame to adjust to the physicality of the NBA and he’ll have competition for frontcourt playing time with Kevin Love and Thomas Bryant also vying for backup center minutes. But one of the most intriguing storylines surrounding the Heat involves the possibility of Adebayo and Ware playing together for stretches this season as part of double-big lineups.