The Miami Heat have entered a completely different phase of their franchise, but one familiar problem could still follow them into the new season.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo now at the centre of Miami’s ambitions, expectations have risen dramatically. The Heat are no longer simply trying to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. They have assembled a roster with genuine championship aspirations, meaning weaknesses that might once have been manageable could become far more costly.

That is why Ben Simmons’ decision to join the Sacramento Kings has raised an intriguing question around Miami.

Could the Heat have missed an opportunity to address one of their biggest remaining concerns?

Simmons is no longer the All-Star-calibre player he once was, and bringing him to South Beach would undoubtedly have represented a gamble. However, his combination of size, passing ability and ball-handling would have offered something the Heat do not currently have in abundance.

Miami still has one roster position available, leaving the door open for another addition before the campaign gets underway. The question is whether the front office should have taken a chance on Simmons before Sacramento secured his services.

On paper, there was an argument for it.

Simmons could have provided Miami with another genuine facilitator alongside Giannis and Bam Adebayo. His ability to handle the ball at his size could also have created different offensive possibilities for a Heat team that needs to maximise every advantage surrounding its superstar.

But there was an obvious reason Miami may have decided against making the move.

The risk was enormous.

The biggest concern was never simply whether Simmons could rediscover his best basketball. His availability has become an equally serious issue, and perhaps the most important consideration for a Miami team entering a season with enormous expectations.

The Heat cannot afford to build their supporting cast around players who are unavailable for significant stretches.

They experienced the consequences of injuries last season, with key contributors including Tyler Herro and Norman Powell missing extended periods. That becomes an even bigger concern now that Giannis has arrived and the pressure to compete immediately has increased.

A player who spends too much time on the sidelines cannot provide the consistency required to support a championship push.

That makes Simmons a fascinating case.

If he somehow found his best form again, Miami could potentially have landed one of the more intriguing low-cost additions available. But if his physical problems continued, the Heat would have used an important roster spot on another player they could not reliably count on.

And that is a risk Miami may simply have been unwilling to take.

Miami’s playmaking question remains

The problem, however, is that Simmons is now off the market.

That leaves the Heat with a difficult decision as they prepare for the start of the Giannis era.

Miami still has one open roster spot and could use it on a familiar option such as Gabe Vincent. Alternatively, the organisation could preserve that flexibility and wait for another opportunity to emerge during the season.

Neither solution immediately solves the underlying concern.

The Heat need reliable playmaking around Giannis and Adebayo, particularly if they want to avoid placing too much responsibility on a small number of ball-handlers.

Davion Mitchell could therefore find himself carrying significant responsibility.

Mitchell is capable of contributing, but expecting him to solve every one of Miami’s creation problems would be a major ask.

That is ultimately what makes the Simmons situation so interesting.

Miami may have had an opportunity to roll the dice on a player whose upside was considerably higher than his current market reputation. Yet the same gamble could easily have created another problem if Simmons struggled to stay healthy.

The Heat now have to live with their decision.

The franchise clearly believes its current roster can support Giannis without making a desperate move. That belief will eventually have to be proven on the court.

And if Miami struggles to generate consistent offence or create quality opportunities for its stars, the Simmons question could become much louder.

For now, the former All-Star is headed to Sacramento, while Miami must find another solution.

The Heat may have avoided a potentially disastrous gamble.

But they may also have just watched their best remaining opportunity to address a glaring playmaking weakness disappear.