Miami Heat Roundtable: What’s in store for the 2018-19 roster?

I know it’s early, but give me a hot take…

Gewirtz: Going against all previous and rational thoughts, I’m going to say that Whiteside has a really spectacular season and everyone (including myself) regrets wanting him gone. As much as I don’t want to eat my words, it would obviously be great for the team considering the only backup they have is Bam Adebayo. Might not seem too hot, but if you’ve talked Miami Heat Basketball with me in the past three months, you know it took a lot for me to write that.

Johnson: The return of Chris Bosh. If Bosh were cleared to play again and Miami was open to his return, they could likely pick him up for dirt cheap. Having another big man to stretch the floor never hurts, and reuniting Bosh with Wade would be a great way to cap off another Miami Heat era.

Leniart: Winslow will be an All-Star this season. Along the same lines of my response to a previous question, I think Winslow will make a substantial leap in 2018-2019. He is already an elite defender. With some growth offensively, he could become a third or fourth scoring option for the team. I think that could give him the stats to make it to the All-Star Game.

Rahming: The Miami Heat will be the Eastern Conference representative in the NBA Finals. It’s a bit of a stretch, but I can totally see a scenario where the Heat doesn’t have to play the revamped Raptors with Kawhi Leonard, and the conference frontrunner Celtics in the same postseason. If this can happen, the Heat definitely has a chance to shock the world and do what the Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t do; win a championship without LeBron James. That’s just how wide open the East is. The only other teams I have on my radar are the Pacers and the Wizards. One team has the reigning Most Improved Player award winner, looking to prove he can have that type of production again and the other has had a turbulent past few seasons and is looking to bounce back. I’m sure John Wall and Bradley Beal are still feeling the sting of entering the postseason as the eighth seed by default, since the Detroit Pistons couldn’t quite get things together in time to make a run at them.

Nurse: By the time the Heat get to the trade deadline, Miami will make a big move…

Ebrahim: The Heat will be retiring Wade’s number in a game versus the Los Angeles Lakers this year.

Ramos: The Heat will have an All-Star next season and it won’t be Goran Dragic. Maybe Richardson takes another step forward offensively or Waiters stays healthy and has a bounce back season. Or dare I say, Whiteside stays healthy and focused and starts “Doin’ it with blocks” again.

Here’s to the upcoming season.