Miami's frontcourt is thin as Bam Adebayo leans into a four role to curb wear and tear. Kel'el Ware and Vlad Goldin show promise behind him, with Nikola Jovic and Keshad Johnson slotted as fours rather than fives. Precious Achiuwa and Thomas Bryant are being considered as veteran depth, while cap constraints loom and a Rozier buyout could surface as a path to sign one of them—but only if the Heat clear the luxury tax threshold by Jan. 10.

Serbia fell short of EuroBasket 2025 expectations, losing 92-86 to Finland in the Round of 16 as Jokic carried the load with 33 points on efficient 9-for-13 shooting and Jović added 20, but Bogdanović’s hamstring injury left the supporting cast well short of the mark. Finland answered with Markkanen pouring in 29 and a late sequence from Valtonen as the Finns sealed the upset. Finland advances toward a first Final Four, while Serbia’s long history of title-game heartbreak persists in major tournaments.

Finland’s performance underscored depth and resilience, while Serbia’s depth concerns and injury issues loom over the rest of the event. The result shifts talk toward Markkanen’s breakout impact and the ongoing questions about Serbia’s supporting cast without Bogdanović, with fantasy implications for NBA players who carried their national teams.

Miami heats up for training camp with Erik Spoelstra embracing competition as the path to growth after a tough season. Battle lines form across wings, guards and the frontcourt: Jaime Jaquez Jr. vs Pelle Larsson for the 8th/9th spot, Kel’el Ware vs Nikola Jovic at center, and Tyler Herro vs Davion Mitchell for the point-guard adjacencies. Simone Fontecchio and Duncan Robinson vie for time as outside threats, while Dru Smith and Haywood Highsmith chase secure roles.

Off the floor, Pat Riley and Micky Arison offered a rare window into the franchise’s mindset: development and depth matter, but the pursuit of competitive rotation remains front and center even as the fan base debates clutch-time fit and social-media noise.

Detroit’s rise last season put the Pistons on notice, with Cunningham emerging as All-NBA-caliber and the team flirting with a legitimate playoff window. This piece weighs a bold, temp-ready upgrade: pairing Cunningham with Tyler Herro and Nikola Jovic from Miami. The proposed trade would move Ron Holland and Tobias Harris plus two protected firsts and a first-round swap for Herro and Jovic, testing Detroit’s flexibility and long-term continuity in a softened Eastern Conference.

The debate hinges on roster fit, defensive impact, and whether internal growth can sustain momentum. Langdon champions flexibility and development, while the mock trades suggest the ceiling could spike quickly if Detroit bets on a high-powered backcourt duo that aligns with Cunningham’s prime years.