NBA | Miami Heat

Erik Spoelstra sees promise in Miami’s revamped roster

Klay Thompson and Giannis Antetokounmpo are among the new arrivals as the Heat look to build stronger team chemistry.

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MIAMI — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is energized by the possibilities of a substantially changed roster, according to an NBA report published October 12, 2026.

Klay Thompson joined the Heat ahead of training camp, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis are also among the team’s new additions.

A different group after a difficult season

The roster changes follow a stretch that included an NBA Finals appearance in 2023, first-round playoff exits in 2024 and 2025, and a failure to reach the playoffs last season, the NBA reported.

Norman Powell, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware were among Miami’s leading scorers last season and are no longer with the team. Antetokounmpo, Hardaway, Portis and Thompson are part of the new group.

Spoelstra’s experience and expectations

At the time of the report, Spoelstra was entering his 19th season as Miami’s head coach. The NBA noted that he had taken six Heat teams to the NBA Finals and that the team had finished below .500 only three times in his first 18 seasons.

The report described Spoelstra’s message to the group as a call for shared commitment and collective effort. Thompson said the coach’s willingness to challenge players and encourage continued work had made an impression on him.

Building around Antetokounmpo and Adebayo

With Antetokounmpo joining Bam Adebayo, former Antetokounmpo coach Doc Rivers saw potential in the pairing and Spoelstra’s ability to shape a roster around star players, according to the NBA report.

The report also noted that Spoelstra is scheduled to coach the United States at the 2027 Basketball World Cup and lead the American men at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Newsroom

Miami’s new roster brings a fresh opportunity, but the NBA report emphasizes that building cohesion will be central to turning its potential into results.

Byline

Lena Schmidt

Sports magazine

Editorial transparency · How this story was created

This article was prepared by the automated Ranko newsroom using tournament data recorded on Ranko Universe at the time of generation. Subsequent updates or corrections may not yet appear here.

This report summarises the results and standings available when it was prepared.

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