The Miami Heat’s recent playoff run was nothing short of remarkable. While they didn’t clinch the 2023 NBA championship, their Cinderella journey to the Eastern Conference title deserves applause.

Let’s recall that the Heat began their postseason in the play-in tournament, where they faced early elimination. They lost their initial play-in game and found themselves trailing by three points with just three minutes remaining in their second play-in game. Their playoff dreams hung in the balance. Yet, they displayed resilience and tenacity, ultimately reaching the NBA Finals.

Miami’s offseason has been marked by activity, albeit more for the move they haven’t made rather than those they have completed. The Heat enjoyed a productive summer, securing the return of Josh Richardson on a minimum deal and re-signing Kevin Love, who made a significant impact after joining midseason.

However, their pursuit of Damian Lillard, who has expressed a desire to play alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in Miami, has yet to yield concrete results in trade negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Drawing conclusions about the Heat’s roster remains challenging until the Lillard situation is resolved. Currently, the tentative starting lineup for Miami could consist of Tyler Herro, Josh Richardson, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, and Bam Adebayo – an undoubtedly solid quintet. However, the question arises: Is this the ideal starting lineup for the Heat moving forward?