In a swift move just 48 hours after his signing, the Miami Heat have waived forward Steve Settle III to make room for guard Bez Mbeng—a name synonymous with Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year honors. This decision reaffirms the franchise’s team-building philosophy that places an absolute premium on defensive capability, famously known as “Heat Culture.”
According to an announcement from the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, the Heat have officially waived Settle III to sign Mbeng. This move keeps the team at the preseason maximum of 21 players while adding an impressive defensive profile. Bez Mbeng is not an ordinary rookie prospect; he made NCAA history by earning the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year award three times during his four-year career at Yale University.
The choice of Mbeng signals a clear priority from the Miami Heat front office. Instead of retaining Steve Settle III—a 6-foot-10 forward coming off a breakout season at Temple University as an efficient scorer (12.6 points) with notable outside shooting (41.6%)—the Heat quickly pivoted to a defensive specialist archetype. This indicates they value system fit over raw offensive potential at this juncture.
Nonetheless, the door may not be completely closed on Settle III’s future with the organization. Given his diverse statistical output (6.2 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 block) at Temple, he could very well be a target for the Heat’s G-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in the coming days or weeks, where he can continue his development and prove his long-term value.
This roster shuffle comes as the Miami Heat navigate the extended absence of star guard Tyler Herro due to injury. The continuous fine-tuning of the backend roster underscores the front office’s diligence in seeking the most compatible pieces to bolster the team’s depth ahead of a challenging season.