Miami Heat are long removed from the LeBron James era and have come up just short in their two recent finals appearances. Now they trying to go again.
Erik Spoelstra’s Miami Heat are looking to run it back one more time with their Jimmy Butler-led core, and it has been an inconsistent season so far.
Butler has missed time with injury, and Spoelstra has pledged to utilize him carefully, with a view to ensuring he is ready to go for the playoffs.
In a poorly performing Eastern Conference outside of the top four teams, a 6-7 record is enough for fifth place.
And perhaps worryingly, Miami look to have missed out on a major draft steal, Jared McCain.
One thing Miami need to do is build for the future, with Jimmy Butler now 35, he has even been tipped for a potential trade next year.
So all eyes were on their spot in the NBA Draft in 2024, where they had the 15th pick. They took Kel’el Ware out of Indiana.
Ware is averaging just six minutes per game and 2.3ppg, and while too early to write him off, it’s a tough look that the 76ers took Jared McCain with pick 16 and the Lakers selected Dalton Knecht with 17.
McCain has been the best rookie in the NBA so far this season, while Knecht has been making a big name as a rising star.
Speaking on his podcast, Bill Simmons said “It’s symbolic” of Miami beginning to fade as a contender that they missed the McCain pick.
He explains: “McCain was the most Miami pick. I can’t believe, I couldn’t believe it in the moment. Go back to my Twitter feed. I was going nuts about McCain. I thought I was like, this guy [is the pick].
“I know this guy’s good because he was an LA kid. I watched him play in high school a bunch of times. He was my favorite kind of post lottery guy in the draft, by far. I would have bet anything McCain was going to be good player. And they passed on him.
“And maybe it’s nothing. Everybody misses on picks. They had Herro, they took Bam… they’re clearly really good at drafting… they whiffed on this pick with two guys that really, really, really could have helped them.”
Miami’s miss was lucky for the 76ers, who have seen Jared McCain become the one positive amid a nightmare 2-12 season.
McCain is averaging more than 22 minutes per game in Philadelphia, and 15.6 ppg in a poorly performing team.
Boston Celtics fan Simmons adds: “Big picture, I’m just not afraid of the Heat anymore. I think finally it’s like the horror movie where you’re not looking under your bed. I’m just not looking under my bed anymore with the Heat. Great run 2020-23, and it’s over.”
This is Simmons’ latest shot at the Heat, earlier talking about a potential trade with Milwaukee – while admitting it would probably not help either team.
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