The Miami Heat had too much to endure, too many injuries and misfortunes. Thanks to a Detroit Pistons win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Heat are done.
As of this writing, the Miami Heat have a big lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in Dwyane Wade‘s last home game. However, the Heat’s playoff destiny was out of their hands entering the evening. If the Detroit Pistons beat the Memphis Grizzlies, the Heat would be eliminated from playoff contention.
The Pistons did just that, staging a late comeback against a stripped-down but game Grizzlies squad.
And with that, the Heat have a long summer to look ahead to. With what will either be 39 or 40 wins, depending on the outcome of their season finale against the Brooklyn Nets, the Heat will be the most expensive team to ever miss the NBA playoffs.
The Heat have a bevy of long-term money on the books, a number of players who struggled to produce to the level of their contracts, and very little in the way of flexibility going forward for the next couple of years.
With Dwyane Wade retiring after this season, the locker room will be without its greatest leader, and one of the greatest leaders in not only the history of the Miami Heat franchise, but the history of the NBA itself.
In spite of Wade’s brief sojourn to the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, adjusting to the true finality of life without him will be a strange time for the Heat. Udonis Haslem may stick around for another season and continue his leadership role, but it won’t be the same. Wade not only played, but played well and for the final stretch of the season was the best player on the roster.
The Miami Heat are entering uncharted waters a bit earlier than they had hoped with this disappointing end to the season. We’ll be digging deep on what the Heat are doing (and what they should do) this offseason here on All U Can Heat, so check in often to keep up on things.