The National Basketball Association is just over three weeks away, and it is once again time to preview every NBA franchise. I will be covering the teams in the Eastern Conference and my colleague, Joel Beatton, will feature teams in the Western Conference. Today we are featuring the Miami Heat.
Key Acquisition
The Heat are bringing back shooting guard Josh Richardson of Edmond, Oklahoma. Richardson initially played for Miami from 2015 to 2019 before being traded to Philadelphia in the NBA blockbuster deal involving Heat star Jimmy Butler. Richardson signed a two-year contract worth $5.9 million with the Miami Heat according to spotrac. Last season he averaged 10.1 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, and had a field goal percentage of .431, three-point percentage of .365, and a field goal percentage of .852 with the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans. Richardson has also previously played with the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
Fantasy Star
Jimmy Butler of Houston, Texas is eighth among power forwards and small forwards in fantasy basketball. In 2022-23, he averaged 22.9 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 5.3 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game. Butler had a field goal percentage of .539, free throw percentage of .850, and a three-point percentage of .350.
Predicted Finish
The Heat had a tale of two seasons in 2022-23. They were average in the regular season. Miami posted a regular season record of 44 wins and 38 losses, and squeaked into the playoffs through the play-in tournament. Then in the playoffs, Miami beat the Chicago Bulls in the eighth-seed single game knockout play-in game 102-91, before stunning the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, and then beating the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and then the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
In 2023-24, the Heat are expected to be more consistent. They have a veteran group that includes point guards Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro, shooting guard Duncan Robinson, power forward Kevin Love, center Bam Adebayo and head coach Erik Spoelstra. When healthy, there is no reason why this team should not win 50 games. Miami wins the Southeast Division with ease.
For FREE!
