"While Heat coach Erik Spoelstra long ago proved his worth as one of the NBA's best, he's still facing the kind of puzzles even he might struggle to solve. Like, say, deciding which of their young building blocks-Nikola Jovic or Kel'el Ware-would fit best into their fifth and final starting spot. It's a call he still hasn't made, even with the opening of the 2025-26 campaign now upon us."
"Assuming Spo doesn't go super-sized and starts both, he'll have to choose between Jovic, the face-up forward, and Ware, the shot-blocking, floor-spacing center. While this decision can (and almost certainly will) change over the course of the season, I don't envy anyone forced to make it at any point. There are clear, compelling cases for both. Miami might need Nikola Jovic's playmaking and perimeter shooting to make the new offense work."
"His perimeter touch (career 37 percent from distance) could be absolutely vital to a team that parted with sharpshooter Duncan Robinson this offseason and then saw its top three-point threat, Tyler Herro, undergo surgery on his left foot and ankle in September. You could argue Jovic's development will be the single biggest swing factor of this season and keep a straight face while doing it."
Erik Spoelstra faces a choice for the Heat's fifth starter between Nikola Jovic and Kel'el Ware. Jovic offers face-up playmaking, grab-and-go rebounding, ball-handling, passing and 37 percent three-point shooting, which could accelerate a pace-oriented offense and replace lost perimeter shooting. Ware provides rim protection, rebounding and interior defense that could anchor a defense-centered identity alongside Bam Adebayo. The decision hinges on whether Miami prioritizes pushing the pace and outside shooting or sustaining elite defense and paint protection. Injuries and offseason departures increase the importance of the chosen player's development for the season's outcome.
Read at All U Can Heat
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