Getty Image / C Morgan Engel
The Miami Heat did something just about nobody was expecting them to during the 2022-23 NBA season.
They made a run to the NBA Finals.
That run came despite a pretty unimpressive regular season and a roster that was light on star power.
The thing that helped them overcome that lack of star power was key contributions from a number of role players who may not have been getting the attention they deserved before the playoff run.
Now it looks like they could be losing two of those key contributors.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Pat Riley met with Gabe Vincent to try get him to re-sign, but didn’t give the point guard an offer he liked, putting his return in doubt.
Jackson added that Max Strus is also expected to leave the Heat and they are now holding sign and trade talks involving Strus.
NEW: Pat Riley meets with Gabe Vincent in Southern California and encourages him to re-sign, but Heat offer clearly less than what Vincent would like, putting his return very much in doubt. And Strus likely gone; Heat holding sign and trade talks on him: https://t.co/ewtMdIM3Hg
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) June 30, 2023
Gabe Vincent stepped up big time for the Heat during the playoffs after the Heat moved him into the starting lineup in the middle of the season. He was an important contributor for the Heat after Tyler Herro was injured, but his departure might not be a huge loss.
They still have Kyle Lowry on their roster and have been pursuing a point guard this offseason, with Damian Lillard at the top of their list. Even if they don’t get Lillard, they’ll likely find somebody else that can join their starting lineup.
Max Strus would be a bigger loss for the Heat. He was the team’s 6th man during the regular season and his scoring was valuable off the bench for a Heat team that struggled to score.
Unfortunately, Strus’ career was somewhat capped in Miami as players like Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Caleb Martin were going to make it tough for him to carve out a larger role.
The Miami Heat pulled off an impressive run this past season, but they’ll need to make some big moves this offseason if they want to return to the Finals, especially with these two pieces of that run leaving.