TBT: Miami Heat

Highlight:

Young bloods, stepping up! Jalen Duren, Markelle Fultz and Jarred Vanderbilt represent the hope and talent that the Miami Heat Front Office has been searching for. Each young player took great strides last season, proving that they not only belong in the pros, but could one day, thrive.

Lowlight:

If I am inferring the lowlight for the Heat, it isn�t any one moment, rather than an accumulation of many small moments of disappointment, missed opportunity or misfires - and the lack of good will from the basketball Gods. The Heat are longing for some continuity of health and chemistry on the roster, and the subsequent wins, pride and value that these factors generate.


Best Trade:

The Charlotte Hornets send Nikola Vucevic to the San Antonio Spurs. The Miami Heat send Malcolm Brogdon to the Charlotte Hornets. The San Antonio Spurs send Buddy Hield to the Miami Heat.

The Charlotte Hornets send a 1st-Rounder (Cha) to the San Antonio Spurs. The Miami Heat send a 2nd-Rounder (NY) and 2nd-Rounder (Cha) to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send a 1st-Rounder (SA) to the Charlotte Hornets. The San Antonio Spurs send a 1st-Rounder (GS) to the Miami Heat.

The GSW picks are gold, and all he gave up was the oft-injured Malcolm Brogdon and some 2nds. Also getting Buddy Hield back in the process - great trade!


Worst Trade:

The LA Clippers send Collin Sexton to the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat send Evan Fournier to the LA Clippers.

The Miami Heat send a 1st-Rounder (Mia) to the LA Clippers.

Miami banked on themselves turning it around last season, and it didn�t fully eventuate. Sexton is a nice addition, and Fournier has become a negative asset, but the pick was pricey (in hindsight).


Star: Jalen Duren, super big!

Jalen Duren, the young, athletic big man, was taken ninth by the Heat during last year�s draft. Duren, a high energy player, specialising in rebounds and inside finishing, absolutely thrived in his first season in the big leagues. For the Miami Heat, who needed to attach their bandwagon to someone, Duren was a breath of fresh air; durable, passionate, unforgiving and committed to trying to win every game he could for Miami. Across 70 regular season games, Duren would go to put up 14/15 and 2 blocks, fantastic figures for any big man. It�s no surprise he was in talks for the Rookie Of The Year for the entire season, and some surprise that he didn�t walk away with the trophy. A staple in the Miami lineup for years to come.


Flop: The core meltdown - Ben Simmons, Mo Bamba & Jonathan Isaac

Back in 2019, the Miami Heat spent most of their inaugural draft capital on the three aforementioned players. Ben Simmons, taken at pick 3, ahead of any player not named Giannis or Luka, has been a colossal disappointment. He looks to get his career back on track after missing the majority of last season, and the previous season, but the heights his potential was once touted as are no more.

Bamba, taken in the second round, finds his way onto his third team in the NBA, and might be on his last legs as a big man in the NBA unless he can really put together a solid season. In 2k, he will be effective with his height, athleticism and versatility.

Isaac, taken early in the third round, just can�t stay healthy, and has missed critical development time and years in his professional career. Healthy again, hopefully he can start to put together what was looking like a career as a fantastic defender and versatile player.

Miami need a lot from these three this season, they owe them.


Draft (via Vitticus, as I don�t know sh!t):

Vitticus:

Pick 9 � SF Bilal Coulibaly

Bilal is just so raw. I�m not willing to bet on players this raw, but you can tell his NBA team is ready to put in the commitment building him. I just can�t get on board with this level of development.

Grade: C

Bilal has landed in a spot in the NBA where he should get minutes right away, but it is also a cultural wasteland (Washington). He has great 2k tools, but is a project by all accounts. Another big �potential� swing for Miami.

Future:

It�s hard to know what the future holds for Miami, other than having a roster that is deep with contributors, a breadth of valuable pick assets and a GM and Front office that is intelligent, competitive and wanting to make the Heat great again. If the aforementioned core of Simmons, Isaac and Bamba can play all season, improve their value and add to the wins for the team, this team should be in the playoff hunt and on the way forward. However, that�s no guarantee, in what is a highly competitive NSL this upcoming season. 

Good luck, Pistol! Go, Heat!