After the superb offseason that the Miami Heat have had, which all began with the acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, even some of their biggest rivals can't deny how dangerous they're going to be as a team this upcoming season.
Sure, the Heat have their questions (as nearly every team does). However, the fact that Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell is already thinking about the Heat as a threat in the Eastern Conference tells us everything we need to know about Miami's chances this upcoming season.
On a recent podcast, Mitchell was quick to push back against the idea that the Heat aren't going to play a factor in the East this season.
"All he (Klay) gotta do is stand right there because Giannis has so much gravity. If you help on Giannis, who you gonna help off of? That’s what makes them dangerous...They also got Davion, Wiggins, Bam, Larsson. And they got Spo. He’s a great coach."
The Heat will play a factor in the Eastern Conference
Mitchell is 100 percent right. Even though it's been a popular narrative to talk down to what the Heat have done this offseason, that's not a very responsible tactic. Especially not when Giannis is going to be suiting up for the Heat.
When healthy, Giannis is still one of the best players in the league. And even though he struggled with injuries last year, there's not much evidence to suggest that Giannis is the type of injury-prone player where that's going to carry over into this season.
With a motivated Giannis and a better supporting cast than most are willing to admit, the Heat should be considered a dangerous team in the East. At the very least.
They may not be getting the hype that the likes of the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, or even a team like the Detroit Pistons are getting, but the Heat shouldn't be discounted heading into the start of the season.
It goes well beyond just Giannis. Most aren't willing to admit it, but the Heat objectively has a good supporting cast. Between Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Tim Hardaway Jr., Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Klay Thompson, and Bobby Portis, the Heat has a more-than-capable supporting cast around Giannis.
The way the media has been pushing the Heat narrative all summer long, you'd think that this is a roster with Giannis and not much else. But that's just not the reality.
And Mitchell perfectly highlights that as we inch closer and closer to the start of the new season.
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