If Dwyane Wade returns to the Miami Heat, he’ll still see playing time—just likely less than the 22.2 minutes per game he averaged during his last stint with the team. Interestingly, the Heat’s pace didn’t slow when Wade rejoined the roster. In fact, it picked up. Before his return last season, the team’s pace rating stood at 96.9; after his arrival, it jumped to 99.6.

Three-point attempts remained fairly steady, dipping slightly from 30.9 to 29.9 per game. But the more notable shift came in scoring. The Heat averaged 100.5 points per game before Wade’s return, which leaped to 109.4 afterward. “I think every time he steps on the court, all eyes are on him,” said Josh Richardson. “He takes pressure off everyone else because opponents never let their guard down around him.”

While Wade’s leadership and composure in clutch moments clearly benefit the Heat, his overall impact on the team dynamic is harder to quantify. His minutes don’t directly replace one specific player; instead, they’re spread across several rotation guys.

After Wade returned, James Johnson’s average playing time dropped by 2.3 minutes, even though Dion Waiters was sidelined with an ankle injury at the time. Miami is unlikely to reduce Wayne Ellington’s minutes—his three-point shooting provides essential floor spacing. In fact, the Heat outscored opponents by 3.9 points per 100 possessions with Ellington on the floor. Benching either Johnson or Waiters, both on eight-figure contracts, would be a waste of assets. Rodney McGruder might be the odd man out—he only played 16 total minutes during the playoffs last season—though the coaching staff values his perimeter defense.

Minutes are tight. The Heat have just 144 total minutes per game to allocate among their three perimeter positions, and that doesn’t even include the times Justise Winslow is slotted in at small forward. Last season, the combined average minutes of Richardson, Johnson, Ellington, Waiters, Wade, and Goran Dragić totaled 177.7. Granted, that figure was affected by midseason injuries and Wade’s late arrival, but it illustrates the rotation crunch.

Since the 2015–16 season, the Heat’s tempo and offensive identity have changed dramatically. Their pace rose from 95.8 to 97.6 the following year, with scoring climbing from 100.0 to 103.2 points per game. Three-point shooting surged as well—attempts jumped from 18 to 27 per game, while makes climbed from 6.1 to 9.9. Goran Dragić and Hassan Whiteside emerged as offensive focal points, combining to boost their average scoring by 8.8 points. Meanwhile, Johnson and Richardson carved out expanded roles.

Wade had been gone long enough for these changes to take root. So when he returned, it wasn’t about the Heat adjusting to him—it was Wade learning to adapt to the new system. And with so many players vying for minutes, cracking 30 per game is a tall order, no matter the resume.