Simulation 4
During the second game of the season, Jimmy Butler fractures his left hand. He’ll miss 2-4 weeks as a result and Justise Winslow will start in his place.
In mid-November, the Denver Nuggets offer Will Barton and P.J. Dozier in exchange for Olynyk and a 2022 pick swap.
Butler returns, the Heat are 2-10 and have gone 1-10 in his absence.
In early December, the Brooklyn Nets offer Joe Harris and Theo Pinson for Olynyk and Nunn.
The Rockets offer a straight one-for-one deal, Eric Gordon for Winslow.
In the second week of January, Butler is ruled out with a sprained elbow. He’ll miss 1-2 weeks. The Heat are currently 13-24, and they’ve gone 12-14 with him in the lineup.
Butler returns after 10 days and the Heat went 1-3 in his absence.
In late January, the Celtics offer Hayward and Kanter for Butler and a 2022 pick swap.
In the first week of February, Winslow goes down with elbow tendinitis. He’ll miss 1-2 months.
A week before the trade deadline, the Indiana Pacers offer T.J. Warren and Doug McDermott for Adebayo and Johnson, perhaps aware of the wing depth issue the Miami Heat now have with Winslow out.
At the All-Star break, Meyers Leonard goes down with knee tendinitis. He’ll miss 4-6 weeks with this injury.
In the first week of April, Jimmy Butler goes down with a lower left leg stress fracture. He will miss the rest of the season.
Record: 34-48
The Miami Heat finish with a -4.3 net rating, which ends up being the eighth-worst net rating in the NBA.
Awards:
Giannis Antetokounmpo wins MVP, once again Williamson wins ROTY, Leonard wins DPOY, and the Heat are shut out of all awards.
In a tale as old as time, the Lakers beat the Sixers in seven games for the NBA championship and LeBron James wins Finals MVP.
Notable Heat performances:
Jimmy Butler: 62 games, 18.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game on shooting splits of .466/.335/.871.
Goran Dragic: 82 games, 17.5 points, 5.0 assists per game on shooting splits of .422/.301/.823.
Dion Waiters: 82 games, 16.3 points, 2.8 assists per game on shooting splits of .459/.388/.482.
Tyler Herro: 59 games, 11.4 points per game on shooting splits of .453/.436/.929.
Justise Winslow: 51 games, 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game on shooting splits of .455/.384/.694.