ESPN could see the Miami Heat as a Play-In Team in 2022-23
Sep 29, 2022 - 11:05 PMIf you paid attention, you might’ve noticed that the Miami Heat were one of the more inactive organizations, at least amongst the top contenders, leaguewide this offseason — despite being heaved into nearly every trade rumor imaginable for Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell.
They lost P.J. Tucker to the Philadelphia 76ers, but re-signed Victor Oladipo, Caleb Martin and Dewayne Dedmon all to team-friendly contracts plus drafted Nikola Jovic with the No. 27 pick and re-vamped their two-way contractual situation.
While the Heat — coming off an Eastern Conference-best 53-29 season, finishing one game (and perhaps one shot) from their second NBA Title berth in three seasons — not everyone believes they’re title contenders, which is more than fair. And while he has them in the East’s top-6 this year, NBA general manager and current ESPN NBA Analyst Bobby Marks, who predicted the Heat make the NBA Finals last year, could see them as a play-in team in 2022-23.
“I have the Heat in the top-6 this year, but I think you could make the argument as them being in the play-in,” Marks said in a Youtube video earlier this week. “And it pains me to say it, living down here in South Florida. (The) big picture: Year two of Kyle Lowry — 36-years-old, 13th in total minutes among active players — we saw him in the playoffs, and certainly battled injuries, did not play well at all, defensive liability. Do we see a bit of a redemption of Kyle Lowry in Miami in year two?
“What about the loss of P.J Tucker, who plays power forward? Are we going to see a heavy dose of Caleb Martin and Jimmy Butler (at the 4)? That’s a concern ... Duncan Robinson, perhaps, maybe. The big question that I will hover over this roster during training camp is the Tyler Herro extension — we saw four (years) for $107 (million) for R.J. Barrett. Is that going to be the same number?” he added.
In all fairness, the Heat were the only top-8 seed from the Eastern Conference a year ago that didn’t add established NBA talent externally. That said, some — such as the Sixers, Atlanta Hawks or Boston Celtics — added more than, say, the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. But the closest thing Miami added was Jovic, Darius Days/Marcus Garrett, a fully healthy Victor Oladipo and Jimmy Butler’s dreads-that-are-really-just-extensions. That’s it.
Miami does have a considerable gap to close at the starting 4 spot, as a result of Tucker leaving. The expectation was that it was going to be filled heading into the season. Until it wasn’t — now it has a combination of Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith or Omer Yurtseven to choose from, among others. It could still acquire 2019-20 Heat legend Jae Crowder, whose divorce with the Phoenix Suns could lead him to being on a contending team as the season approaches.
“And the other thing is the resources to explore the trade market — (Miami is) $162,000 below the tax, can trade a 2023, 2027 and 2029 (first round pick), the expiring contracts of Herro, [Max Strus] and [Gabe Vincent], and then the $75 million owed to Duncan Robinson.”
I recently wrote a column questioning if Miami was being viewed as the so-called “Dangerous Loomers” that ESPN famously dubbed them in January, when they were towards the top of the East. They might be, by some.
But as I previously mentioned, perhaps the most dangerous thing in sports is labeling the Heat as underdogs. That’s when they thrive; that’s when they scratch and claw; they salivate for being counted out. Miami has a very talented roster with the proverbial “dawg in him” aurora. Anything can happen in an 82-game season, so I wouldn’t necessarily count them out, yet.
Be the first!
Related News
- Shaquille O’Neal To Be First To Have Jersey Retired by Magic Jan 4
- LeBron James Has Been At His Best for Many Birthdays Dec 29
- Jimmy Butler Is The NBA's Most Interesting Man Oct 11
- Portland Has High Demands for Miami in Damian Lillard Trade Sep 19
- 2023 NBA Summer League Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (7/5) Jul 5
- 2023 NBA Summer League Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (7/3) Jul 3
- Tyler Herro Distances Himself From Miami Heat, Removes Them From His Twitter Profile Jul 2
- D’Angelo Russell Agrees to 2-Year, $37M Contract With Los Angeles Lakers Jul 1
- NBA Trade Deadline Rumors: Heat Set Sights On Bradley Beal, Pelicans Interested in Scoot Henderson Jun 14
- NBA Finals First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions: Monday (Nuggets vs. Heat) Jun 12
- NBA Best Bets Odds, Picks, & Predictions: Monday, June 12th (2023) Jun 12
- Daily Juice Podcast: NBA Finals, College Baseball World Series & MLB Picks for Monday (6/12) Jun 12