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After a disappointing outing last season, the Miami Heat desperately needed a roster upgrade this summer. While the acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo certainly gave fans a reason to be excited, the latest addition of Klay Thompson has led many to buy into the hype surrounding the Heat. With the addition of a veteran sharpshooter, the Miami Heat have addressed one of their largest roster issues heading into the 2026-27 campaign. But are they title contenders yet? According to The Ringer’s Zach Lowe, they may fall short of this status. While Lowe admitted that the team improved with Thompson’s addition, he revealed why the Heat can’t be considered true contenders by stating: “I think they’re going to be a good competitive team. I kind of poo-pooed before I went on vacation. I had Goldsbury on, and we did our most pressurized player rankings. And I didn’t even have Giannis on it. And I said, because I don’t think the Heat are going to be good enough for him to face that kind of real pressure.” “A month later or whatever, I think they’re going to be a little better than I thought. Not just because of Klay, but, like, as their roster has sunk in, I think they could go toe-to-toe with almost anyone in the East. But I still think they don’t have enough really good players to win three playoff series in the East. Like, I still don’t think they’re a contender to go to the Finals.” Lowe’s assessment of the current Heat roster seems quite conservative. Although he admits the team is looking competitive, especially after signing players like Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr., Lowe believes it may not be enough to overcome some of the top teams in the East. The competition in the Eastern Conference has become stiffer this summer. While the New York Knicks remain the favorites, franchises such as the Philadelphia 76ers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers, and even the Boston Celtics remain in the running. Thus, even though Miami looks formidable, there doesn’t seem to be enough to assert the team’s status as a true contender. Still, given the Heat’s reputation for overcoming adversity, it may not be wise to write them off. Zach Lowe Reveals Klay Thompson’s True Value On Heat For the most part, the chatter about the Heat’s status as title contenders followed Klay Thompson’s arrival. With the veteran guard effectively answering the team’s dire need for perimeter shooting depth, the Heat appear to be a more cohesive unit. On paper, Thompson certainly ticks all the right boxes. Having averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 39.3% from the field and 38.3% from behind the three-point line, the 36-year-old remains a reliable option. But according to Zach Lowe, there is more to this addition than meets the eye. While revealing what makes Thompson a better addition than people realize, Lowe stated: “The old Klay is never coming back. The peak Klay is never coming back. But I’ve seen some analysis like, ‘This is exactly what they need. They needed shooting. Klay’s just going to stand out of the way and pass on open looks.'” “I think the value of Klay is he’s not going to stay out of the way and just stand around in the corner. Klay is going to be one of the most important screeners on their team, both off the ball and on the ball.” Lowe noted that Klay Thompson’s experience of playing in the Warriors‘ system, especially in a system driven by Stephen Curry‘s off-ball movement, has transformed Thompson into one of the smartest screen-setting guards in the NBA. By triggering more inverted pick-and-roll actions with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat’s offense would gain another edge. While Thompson’s value as a shooter cannot be overlooked, Miami stands to gain substantially more from his experience, intelligence, and championship pedigree. Thus, even if he is not the best version of himself, as Draymond Green so clearly pointed out, Klay Thompson could still be a high-value addition to the Heat as they prepare for a title push.