NBA Offseason Guide 2022 - How the Miami Heat should approach the offseason

A year ago, Heat president Pat Riley ended his postseason news conference with a reminder.

«We'll be back.»

The statement came after the Heat were swept in the first round by the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks, and indicated that roster changes were coming.

Miami eventually acquired former All-Star Kyle Lowry, extended the contract of Jimmy Butler and signed P.J. Tucker, Victor Oladipo, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.

The additions helped the Heat win their most games since the 2013-14 season and earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The successful regular season eventually came to a crashing halt with Miami losing in seven games to Boston in the conference finals.

Roster status: Championship but concerns with health, age and cost

State of the team

The Heat front office has taught us to never underestimate it.

In recent years Miami pulled off two complicated sign-and-trades, first acquiring All-Star Jimmy Butler from Philadelphia, and then last August, Kyle Lowry from the Raptors, despite being pressed against the luxury tax heading into the 2019 and 2021 offseasons.

Those acquisitions came after the Heat missed the playoffs in 2019 and got swept in the first round in 2021.

The opportunity to build out the Heat's roster this offseason likely will not occur with a blockbuster trade but with their own free agents (notably Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin) and minor tweaks.

The Heat have $135.7 million in guaranteed contracts with $96 million earmarked toward Butler, Lowry and Bam Adebayo.

Butler and Adebayo are close to untouchable in any trade.

Lowry has $58 million remaining on his contract and struggled healthwise to stay on the court this season and has regressed overall. Before posting 18 points and 10 assists in