Eastern European giant towers rush to assist Miami! Gorkin joins the Heat with two-way contract

1. The dust settled: Russian behemoth landed on South Beach

On July 3, 2025, the Miami Heat officially announced the signing of Russian center Vladislav Gorkin with a two-way contract. The 24-year-old undraft became the team's first inside reinforcement this summer. Gorkin, who is 2.13 meters tall (naked feet), 2.27 meters in wingspan and 2.82 meters in standing and touching the management in the joint trial training with his historical static talent (with an arm span of 99% of the same class of rookies). His season data at the NCAA University of Michigan: he averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, shot 60.7% from the field and 33.3% from three-point shooting percentage, and showed all-round potential on both offense and defense.

Gorkin's signing continues the Heat's "lost draft pick and gold hunting" tradition - a total of 12 unlucky draft picks have been signed in the past five years, of which 3 of them have grown into stable rotation (such as Orlando Robinson). General Manager Pat Riley emphasized in the statement: "His size and basketball IQ are perfectly in line with Heat culture, and we have developed an exclusive training plan for him."

2. Technical map: Contradictory complex of modern inside line

1. Offensive end - the crushing advantage of the beast in the penalty area

Low-post killer: 60.7% hit rate comes from solid back-to-body technology, combined with 113 kilograms of weight, the hit rate of face frame hook and turn throwing reached 68.3% (the first 5% of the NCAA center).

Space Potential: 33.3% three-point shooting percentage is not top-notch, but it averages 1.1 shots per game to show its willingness to shoot. The training video has demonstrated its ability to catch and jump shots.

Support value: Average of 1.1 assists covers its high-level support talent, pick-and-roll assist rate 4.2 times (over 85% of the same class center), perfectly adapting to the Heat's dynamic offensive system.

2. Defensive end - iron gate for protecting the basket and potential for movement

Deterrence of protecting the basket: Behind the 1.4 block is a natural barrier that stands at 2.82 meters high. When defending the basket, the opponent's shooting rate is suppressed at 43.1%.

Movement weakness: The horizontal movement speed is only 0.86 seconds/3/4 sprint (15% of the physical test countdown), and it is easy to become a loophole when switching to the outside line, which is also the main reason for his failure in the draft.

3. Key counterattack experiment:

Joint trial Zeng single-defense Yang Hansen, forcing him to make only 4 of 15 shots in the summer league, facing the Spurs No. 1 pick Flag, becoming the ultimate touchstone

3, Strategic puzzle: The breaker of the Heat's inside dilemma

1. Adebayo's savior

Last season, the Heat's inside exposed fatal shortcomings: When Adebayo fell off the court, the team's rebound rate plummeted by 18.7%, and the points lost in the penalty area soared to 54.3 points (the key was crushed by the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs). Gorkin's tactical value lies in:

Carrying heavy center: 113 kilograms of weight can fight against giant towers such as Embiid and Jokic, liberating Adebayor to assist in the defense sweeping;

Continuing the defensive system: The efficiency simulation of the basket protection shows that its combination with Adebayor's double tower can suppress the opponent's basket shooting rate below 40%.

2. Spokes tactical revolution

coach Spokestra plans to develop three sets of tactical experiments:

Twin Towers strangle formation: Adebayo + Gorkin blocks the penalty area, targeting the Bucks, Cavaliers and other Eastern powerhouses;

Space five: Gorkin's three-point line is Butler breaking through and clearing the inside line;

Pick and Roll Storm: Hiro/Rozier launches an attack with Gorkin's generous cover, and his finishing efficiency reaches 1.32 points/round (Super League average).

4. Historical Miracle: Miami's code for a counterattack in the undraft

1. The Heat have successfully built a training pipeline for undrafts in the past decade:

Vincent Example: undrafted in 2020, averaged 17 points per game in the 2023 Finals, and won a four-year contract of 88 million this summer;

Orlando Robinson: undrafted in 2022, now it has become a stable rotation, with a rebounding rate of 12.3% last season.

2.Gorkin faces triple challenges and opportunities:

muscle building plan: The Heat training team requires him to gain weight to 120 kilograms within 3 months to improve low-level confrontation;

defensive transformation: Learn from Love's transformation in his later years and develop rapid coordinated defense stance skills;

psychological construction: Arrange Haslem as a mentor to overcome language and cultural obstacles.

5. Future Outlook: The quality trial of the Eastern European Tower

1. Short-term goal - Summer League clearance match

Gorkin needs to prove himself in the Las Vegas Summer United, which started on July 12:

vs. Spurs Flag, Rockets Saar and other top rookies;

handed over at least 12 points + 8 rebounds + 2 blocks basic data.

2. Long-term layout - The Heat's new inside line in the new era

If the training is smooth, Gorkin may copy the following path:

2025-26 season: Average 15 minutes of rotation, mainly carrying towers such as Embiid/Posses;

Summer of 2026: Two-way contracts are officially transferred (refer to Robinson's 3-year 4.2 million template);

2027: Received Love as the chief substitute center.

3. Key indicators of success or failure:

defensive pick-and-roll efficiency (need to be improved to 40% of the league center)

three-point shooting percentage (need to be stable above 36%)

Conclusion: Gorkin's joining is not only the Heat's forward-looking layout in the "anti-small ball era", but also a gamble for Spoel to forge a new generation of inside iron gates. When the shadow of the giant tower in Eastern Europe covers the American Airlines Center, Miami may end the "Jokic phobia" and rekindle the ambition to hit the championship.