Over the past few months there have been calls for Pat Riley and the Miami Heat to respectfully consider a new dawn.
The 80-year-old team president was blamed for Jimmy Butler being upset and seeking a trade, a move that disrupted their season.
Other like Charles Barkley believed Butler’s frustration was financial and an exit was ultimately unavoidable.
While the Miami Heat are undoubtedly weaker without Jimmy Butler, the team have now safely reached the NBA Playoffs via the Play-In Tournament.
And a key part of this was the contribution of a player Riley traded for after the Butler trade.
The Miami Heat’s big move at the trade deadline was to trade away Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.
Andrew Wiggins was the main piece the Heat received in exchange, but Kyle Anderson and Dennis Schroder also came across, with the deal also involving the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons.
PJ Tucker arrived from the Jazz, while the Heat sent Dennis Schroder, acquired from the Warriors to the Pistons.
Pat Riley used PJ Tucker and a second round pick to send to the Toronto Raptors to acquire Davion Mitchell, whose contract was expiring.
Tucker was later cut by the Raptors, and signed with the Knicks. But it worked out for all parties, with Miami landing a key player.
Davion Mitchell emerged as the key player for the Miami Heat in their final Play-In game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Mitchell scored nine points in overtime to clinch a 123-114 victory, more points than the Hawks managed in OT.
The Heat made history, becoming the first team to ever go from the 10th seed to the playoffs.
Miami are keen to sign Mitchell to a contract extension this off-season, and he is happy and wants to stay, having found a home with the Heat.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra has been impressed with Mitchell, comparing him to Kyle Lowry.
Teammate Haywood Highsmith lauded Mitchell’s ‘bulldog’ style, with team leader Bam Adebayo praising his quickness and his passing.
Mitchell and the Heat will relish their underdog role in the playoff series against the Cavaliers, and attempt to spoil the hopes of the East’s top seed.
Whatever happens in that series, Mitchell has proven himself in Miami, and he has proven Pat Riley has still got it too.
Managing to identify Mitchell as a key target, while giving up very little to acquire him, has helped to save Miami’s season.
