Miami Heat News: Jimmy Butler back in South Beach as NBA prepares return
Jimmy Butler has returned to South Beach to rejoin the Miami Heat ahead of the NBA’s finalizing their plan to resume the 2019-2020 season.
Wednesday morning was busy with headlines regarding the Miami Heat and general NBA. First Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel confirmed that Jimmy Butler has made his way back to Miami.
The Heat All-Star had been working out and training in quarantine in Los Angeles prior. He’s the latest but not final player to rejoin the team in South Beach. Veteran forward Solomon Hill remains at his home in the Los Angeles area according to Winderman.
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Following the news of Butler’s return, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of the Athletic traded blows in news-breaker fashion. Both NBA insiders released details of the league’s planned return over the span of a few hours on Wednesday morning.
Charainia’s initial report revealed that NBA commissioner is planning to propose a 22-team format to finish out the 2019-2020 season, in a Board of Governors meeting on Thursday.
Sources: NBA commissioner Adam Silver is planning to propose a 22-team format to resume the 2019-20 season
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 3, 2020
Story on @TheAthleticNBA with full details of the play-in tournament for 8th seed: https://t.co/d7X3X6uCNI
Wojnarowski then tweeted that each of the 22 teams will play eight regular season games in Orlando. This will determine seeding for the playoffs in each conference. The Miami Heat as of today have home court advantage but will need to execute in this final stretch to maintain it.
Each of the 22 teams will play eight regular season games in Orlando for seeding purposes for the playoffs, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 3, 2020
Elsewhere, Charania reports that there will be a play-in tournament for the 8th seed on both sides.
Play-in tournament in NBA's 22-team format would only be for 8th seed, per sources:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 3, 2020
- If 9th seed is 4 or more games back, 8th seed earns spot
- If 9th seed is 4 or fewer games behind, play-in: Single-elimination for 9th seed, double-elimination for 8th.https://t.co/d7X3X6d1p8
Nothing has been finalized yet but it appears the NBA will be returning as early as July 31st. At 41-24, the Miami Heat have eight regular season games to go before partaking in the postseason.
If this goes as planned then the 22 teams remaining will play the season out in Orlando at the Walt Disney World Resort. It won’t be a far trip for the Heat and company.
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With Jimmy Butler back with the team in Florida, the Miami Heat will start gearing up for their return to the floor. As the Eastern Conference fourth seed their playoff berth is safe. They’ll just need to place a tighter grip on their home court advantage over this year’s final stretch.
Keep an eye out for the official word on the league’s return later this week. Adam Silver will pitch the proposal tomorrow and get the ball rolling on a return for basketball.