The Miami Heat are in a holding pattern that doesn’t quite feel like standing still. On the surface, they look like a team patching around the edges: Norman Powell for scoring, Terry Rozier steadying the guard rotation, Simone Fontecchio adding shooting, Nikola Jovic developing, and Tyler Herro’s contract decisions looming. But those five players, their contracts, their minutes, even their futures in Miami, might be less about this season and more about setting the table for something far bigger.

This isn’t just about Miami surviving a transition year. It’s about whether those five names will eventually be the sacrifices needed to chase a dream pairing with Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic. That’s the timeline the Heat have quietly circled, and it runs through the summer of 2027.

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