Simulation 1
The simulation produces a pretty typical starting lineup of Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, Jimmy Butler, Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo. Justise Winslow is the first man off the bench, and rookie Tyler Herro is on the fringe of the rotation as the 10th man.
In the second game of the season, things get off to a rough start for the Miami Heat as Olynyk dislocates his left patella and is ruled out for 4-6 months. James Johnson replaces him at starting power forward.
Two weeks into the season, the Boston Celtics offer Robert Williams and Semi Ojeleye for Tyler Herro. As per the rules, we decline.
In late November, the Orlando Magic offer Evan Fournier and Al Jefferson for Goran Dragic and a pick swap. You know the rule, we decline.
Injury luck goes from bad to worse in late November when Jimmy Butler breaks his left ankle in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers and he will be sidelined for 1-2 months. To top things off, Dragic sprains an ankle. At this point Kendrick Nunn is the starting point guard, Waiters at shooting guard, Winslow at small forward, Johnson at power forward and Adebayo at center.
The Heat are 4-11 when Butler and Dragic go down.
The Celtics really want to make a deal. In January they offer Enes Kanter and Ojeleye for Adebayo and Nunn. We decline.
The Portland Trail Blazers think they are comedians, offering Hassan Whiteside and their 2020 first round pick for Adebayo and Dragic in late January. We decline.
Jimmy Butler returns from his injury at the end of January. The Heat went 14-19 in his absence and are 18-30.
The Celtics offer Gordon Hayward and Williams for Butler. We decline.
The Los Angeles Lakers offer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Quinn Cook for Winslow and KZ Okpala at trade deadline. We decline.
With Olynyk still out of the lineup, James Johnson misses a week with shin splints. The Heat are forced to start Udonis Haslem. Fortunately, this takes place over the All-Star break and only one game occurs in this span.
Meyers Leonard is out with shoulder tendinitis for 6-8 weeks.
Olynyk returns from his dislocated left patella and immediately injures his hip and is ruled out for 1-2 weeks.
Dragic suffers a right humerus fracture and is out for 2-4 months. Winslow replaces him in the starting lineup.
In the middle of March, Butler misses 1-2 weeks with a sprained ankle. Once again Nunn slots in at point guard, Winslow at small forward.
Adebayo suffers a serious ankle sprain, ruling him out for 4-6 weeks in the last week of March. Olynyk starts for him at center, Johnson moved into the starting lineup at power forward.
All in all, the Heat got only one game together all season out of their expected starting lineup.
Record: 25-57
Heat finish with the third-worst record behind the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies. They record the worst net rating in the NBA at -9.2 and second-worst defense at 115.8 points per 100 possessions.
Awards:
LeBron James wins Most Valuable Player, Zion Williamson wins Rookie Of The Year, Kawhi Leonard wins Defensive Player Of The Year, Tyler Herro represents the Heat on the Second Team All-Rookie squad.
The Lakers beat the Sixers in seven games to win the NBA championship and LeBron James wins Finals MVP.
Notable Heat performances:
Tyler Herro: 82 games played, 21.9 minutes per game, 12.2 points per game on .451/.370/.940 splits.
Goran Dragic: 56 games played, 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on shooting splits of .445/.325/.747.
Jimmy Butler: 45 games played, 17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals per game. Shooting splits of .472/.284/.822.
Dion Waiters: 77 games played, averaging 16.9 points and 3.2 assists per game, shooting splits of .438/.380/.477.
Justise Winslow: 82 games played, started 56, averaging 12.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game on .485/.381/.620 splits.