The Miami Heat aren't done after finally getting their superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat still have work to do, especially considering LeBron James is officially off the table. Names like DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson, and Bradley Beal are linked as possible options, but nothing is definitive.
Miami is expected to fill its remaining roster spots with any of those three players or someone else. Still, no matter who they sign from here on out, not being "done" could stretch far into next offseason if the Heat want to become a playoff team or championship contender.
While Antetokounmpo is the superstar the Heat have needed and wanted for some time, he alone can't carry a team. That much was evident during the final few years with the Milwaukee Bucks. A supporting cast of Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell isn't enough, or are they? What should Miami's path forward look like if they're not?
Miami Heat winning time may not happen in year one with Giannis Antetokounmpo
Playoff and championship contention for next season could have looked completely different and more positive had James decided to return to the Heat. James's addition would have strengthened Miami's defense even more, but it would have given them a desperate scoring punch from the NBA's scoring leader.
With James out of the picture, Heat fans may have to come to terms with their team not being a contender next season, and that's okay. The loss of significant depth in the trade for Antetokounmpo was a deep cut, and the Heat have yet to make up for those losses.
In a conference with the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Philadelphia 76ers, all of whom have much deeper rosters, Miami will almost certainly have a tough time competing. Unfortunately, depth is the root problem, and it may take an entire season to solve it.
While the additions of Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. are helpful, it still doesn't complete a team ready to compete for a title. If the Heat are not contenders next season, what a full year does is allow Antetokounmpo and Adebayo to gel and give their games time to adapt to each other.
No one within the Heat's front office would ever say it, but this season might be better off as a trial season, allowing Riley and others time to figure out what kinds of pieces Antetokounmpo needs around him for the following season. If Heat fans can find some patience, the Antetokounmpo era may very well yield good results, but just in the future.
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