On the latest edition of the HoopsHype show "Around The Beat," hosts Cyro Asseo and Sam Yip bring you the pulse of the Miami Heat from the perspective of someone who lives in the trenches of it every night. They're joined by Clutch Points editor and Miami Heat beat writer Zach Weinberger to break down a season defined by injury, identity questions, and an offseason that could reshape the franchise entirely. They discuss the fourth straight play-in appearance, the chemistry struggles of the Norman Powell and Tyler Herro pairing, Kel'el Ware's relationship with Erik Spoelstra, and what Pat Riley needs to do to save this team's future.

You can watch the full podcast or check out snippets of the conversation in the transcribed version below the YouTube video.

A season of extreme disappointment

Timestamp: 00:01:29 – 00:02:58

Zach Weinberger: "The word and phrase that just comes to mind to me is extreme disappointment. Listen, this is the fourth straight year that they're locked into the play-in, okay? They don't want to do that. This culture, this organization is based on their winning ways. And yeah, they're scraping by and getting to the playoffs. But they don't want to do that. This roster you think would have actually at least possibly got that No. 6 seed, if not at least a high play-in, but at least enough to avoid the play-in tournament and see how they do in that first round. Now it's the same thing where they're the 10th seed, which is worse than the eighth that they've been. And you can't have that excuse now. The offense was great to start, then it's been kind of dropping off. The defense has been a very interesting drop off for me, and that's usually what they hang their hats on."

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 18: Bam Adebayo #13, Tyler Herro #14 and Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat react against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter of an NBA play-in tournament game on April 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A roster that hasn't had a chance to breathe

Timestamp: 00:03:58 – 00:05:44

ZW: "I think it's just that these pieces are not gelling together. And obviously that Tyler-Norm tandem has been kind of the forefront of people talking about the failures of this season. The thing is, they've been together on the court for roughly, I want to say, 15 games. Tyler's missed 48 total games this year and Norm has been plus-20. So again, it's just hard to come up with these lineups and rotations so that you can throw them out on the floor and they succeed. But they just look so rough together. And when you have three games left in the season and you're still experiencing that, it just, this roster looks dreadful against teams like Toronto and Boston and these other teams in the East because of their size and three-point shooting. They just look outmatched."

The defense that no longer looks like the Heat

Timestamp: 00:08:32 – 00:10:10

ZW: "Early in the season, halfway point of the season, this was a Top 10 defense. They were on the borderline Top 5. This was a team where the defense was going to be good if the offense fails. That's kind of been this team for the past couple of seasons. This final stretch, the final quarter of the season has been so out of character. I mean, again, it's just been seeing them give up 150 points, and I've been having to tweet that the Heat are close to breaking the franchise record for most points allowed. It's been happening quite a bit. This team is so outmatched compared to some of these other organizations in the conference. You look at Cleveland, Boston. I don't even think the Heat necessarily played bad in that game. It's just Boston's way better than them. There has to be some realization that has to be hit with this front office about how this team is constructed."

Mar 12, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on after the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Giannis pursuit and why the Heat believe

Timestamp: 00:14:56 – 00:16:51

ZW: "I think they actually do have a good chance. I'm definitely over that 50 percent mark personally. Because first of all, as the reports say, that was the biggest offer they were seriously considering before the trade deadline. Herro, some other players, first-round picks, first-round swaps. They have more tradable first-round picks in the summer. I think with the players involved, that could get it done. In terms of a complete package, if you want young prospects, first-round picks, and whatever, I think the Heat is the best team around. If you pair him with Bam Adebayo, with Norman Powell, one of either Norm or Tyler, I think Tyler will be in the deal if that happens, Norman, Davion Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins if you keep him, I think that's a pretty good starting lineup. You have to get Giannis and worry about the rest later. After now four straight seasons in the play-in, you've got to get a whale."

What the Heat would do if they miss on Giannis

Timestamp: 00:19:09 – 00:21:00

ZW: "They're going to make a move regardless. They've been doing good at taking teams' sort of discarded goods and making them into diamonds in the rough. They've done that in the past. But is that going to equate to competing, getting out of the first round of the playoffs? That's another conversation. But they're going to be making these moves. I think it's going to be a pretty active offseason for them regardless of whatever happens. How can you sell this team next year and say, 'Well, it was injuries holding us back'? You can't use that as an excuse again. Pat Riley said in his last end-of-season press conference, 'We're not going to run it back.' I would imagine he's not going to do the same thing as well. You've got to take some big swings here."

Mar 8, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talks to center Kel'el Ware (7) and forward Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Chicago Bulls during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Erik Spoelstra's relationship with Kel'el Ware

Timestamp: 00:24:38 – 00:26:45

ZW: "There's no doubt the whole coaching staff rides him hard. To me, I think it's because they see that he could be a really foundational piece for the Heat. But there's been times where Kel'el has been pretty disappointing this year, whether it's the motor, whether it's the effort. And then you have games where he can be the best player on the floor, record the best plus-minus on the floor, get six blocks at halftime. You can just see the effort. It's very noticeable. The one time that Kel'el's comments were very interesting is when Spo said the thing, and he walked it back, but Spo was like, 'Sometimes young players can kind of throw their performances to get more extended minutes.' And I think Kel'el was like, that was kind of crazy. But you know, whatever minutes I can get, I can get. Other than that, I think it's just challenging him. It's that old-school coach mentality. And I think down the line, he's going to reflect on that. You see Bam and his relationship with Spo now, and that's kind of the blueprint they're using."

Tyler Herro's quiet acceptance of his situation

Timestamp: 00:34:03 – 00:35:59

ZW: "There's almost like this acceptance in a way. He always talks about how he sees the rumors. He's very aware of the talk about him. I remember speaking to him on the side a couple of times about certain stuff floating around on social media. He knows what's going on, he knows the rumors. But there's also this acceptance where, listen, he's been on this team for his seventh season. And like Bam said, when those two speak up, it moves the room. We saw that with one halftime a couple games ago at home. That was the best halftime I think the Heat have had since I've been here. I think he knows it's just the thing every player has to realize: this is a business at the end of the day. Tyler is kind of the top player that they know they would be okay with trading for a top star. Bam Adebayo seems to be the untouchable. I think there's an acceptance from him in being in these rumors. It's just kind of part of being a good player in this league, really."

Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s third-year breakout and Sixth Man candidacy

Timestamp: 00:45:53 – 00:48:22

ZW: "That first season was very impressive. He helped, partly because of his time with Jimmy Butler, seeing how Jimmy uses his strength and physicality to get to the paint, draw fouls, get the advantage. Then in year two, he had a sophomore slump, trying to be this knockdown three-point shooter. It just wasn't working. But he talked about something I thought was pretty eye-opening. He got a mental coach. And besides addressing what he needs to do on the court physically, he really trained himself to know what he wants to do. He kind of got away from the three-point shot. He's still taking some, but not how much it was in that second season. For this high-tempo offense, it's about creating those extra possessions. When the other team misses, the ball goes to him and he charges to the rim, and if there's an open guy he'll pass out an assist, or he'll take advantage and get a bucket. The fact that he's in contention for Sixth Man is really indicative of the work he put in this offseason. He knows his strengths. That's the important thing."

The only thing that really matters this offseason

Timestamp: 00:39:21 – 00:42:00

ZW: "It's the offseason. The fans have dealt with two or three seasons of these missed opportunities with star players. Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant this past offseason. And with Giannis, there are only a couple of players Pat Riley would truly go all in for, and Giannis is one of those guys. That's what fans should look forward to. To me, that's one of the few things, because if they don't get Giannis, look forward to the deals we were talking about, maybe a flier on Zion or these other players they could add. But it's really the Giannis thing. This is a team-defining move that could really save the future of this franchise. At least you can take away the improvements from the young players. What we've seen from Kasparas Jakucionis, from Kel'el Ware in his second year. Those are the bright sides. But it's the young players and the pursuit of Giannis. And especially if they do land him, everyone's going to say all of this was worth it."

You can follow Cyro Asseo (@CyroAsseo), Sam Yip (@SamYip__), and Zach Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) on X.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Is this finally the year Pat Riley lands his whale?