Miami Heat 2019-2020 Expectations

NBA Draft

• The Miami Heat got Kentucky freshman Tyler Herro with the 13th pick. The lethal shooter should pair nicely on their wing with Butler.
• Herro showed a ton of promise in Summer League and Preseason.
• Drafted KZ Okpala with the last pick of the second round.
• Pat Riley typically drafts solid pros (See Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow & Bam Adebayo)

Draft Grade: A-

Free Agency

• They traded for Jimmy Butler, Myers Leonard and cash.
• Jimmy Butler is a superstar talent on both ends of the floor.
• Myers Leonard showed potential in Portland last season.
• They traded away Josh Richardson, Hassan Whiteside and a 2023 1st rounder.
• Richardson will be missed, Whiteside less so, especially his contract.

Free Agency Grade: B+

Best Case Scenario

• Tyler Herro blows up and finishes top 5 in ROY voting. Butler already loves him so he has the backing of their best player.
• Justice Winslow runs the point well. This enables Dragic to run a solid second unit.
• The Heat role players have a big year. This is a deep team in the frontcourt with Olynyk, Adebayo and Leonard and Okpala.
• The Heat will be dangerous defensively once again. Their phenomenal defense will lead to better offense under Erik Spoelstra.

Worst Case Scenario

• Tyler Herro is not as good as we think. He ends up being an average rookie and pro moving forward.
• The injury woes from last year creep into this one.
• Jimmy Butler does not fit with the current cast of players. He could implode this locker room like he did in Minnesota.
• Erik Spoelstra isn’t actually a good coach like we think he is. Butler’s personality bulldoze’s Erik, much like Lebron did in his time there.

My Analysis

I wrote in a previous article that the Miami Heat would finish eighth in the East. However as I have been written this article I have convinced myself that this team is underrated. They have a Top 5 player in the conference in Jimmy Butler. Secondly, they can go 8 or 9 guys deep, which is huge for the 82 game schedule. Also, they have young guys that will grow as the season goes on. Jimmy Butler will flourish under Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. This team is the cream of the crop in the division (not saying much). The Heat will beat a lot of teams due to this reasoning. They will finish ahead of Orlando, Detroit and Indiana in the conference. They will also win a playoff series or two.

Final Prediction:

• 6th in the Eastern Conference
• Win the Southeast Division
• 49-33 record

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