The long-time face of the franchise is gone, as the Miami Heat begins Year One of its rebuild.
2015-16 Record:48-34 (T-1st in Southeast Division; T-3rd in Eastern Conference)
The first time the Miami Heat take the floor in the 2016-17 season will be an odd one. For the first time since the 2003-04 season, Dwyane Wade will not be leading the Heat into battle. The squad that takes the floor that night will be a far cry from the one that eliminated the Charlotte Hornets from the playoffs last season.
| 2016 Game 7 Hornets @ Heat | Position | 2016-17 Projected Opening Night Lineup |
| Goran Dragic | PG | Goran Dragic |
| Dwyane Wade | SG | Tyler Johnson |
| Joe Johnson | SF | Justise Winslow |
| Luol Deng | PF | Chris Bosh |
| Hassan Whiteside | C | Hassan Whiteside |
60 percent of Miami's starting lineup will have changed, as Wade, Luol Deng and Joe Johnson have all moved on, and one of the projected starter's career status (Chris Bosh) remains.