The Miami Heat may have pulled off the biggest move of the summer, acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, but that still hasn't bought them much favor from one NBA reporter.
In his updated NBA front office rankings, CBS Sports reporter Sam Quinn only moved the Heat up a few spots after their big summer. They were 13th last year and 11th in Quinn's most recent rankings.
In what has been described as one of the best offseasons in recent franchise history, the Heat continue to get no credit (this time from Quinn) after their bold moves over the last couple of months.
"Sam had the Heat 13th a year ago and 14th at the trade deadline; the move to 11th is partly other teams sliding and partly lottery reform making their no-tank stance more palatable, though owning few of their own picks blunts that benefit."
The Heat's big move for Giannis keeps being questioned
Essentially, Quinn's reasoning is that the Heat didn't necessarily move up in the rankings because of what they managed to pull off this summer. Instead, the only reason why he pushed them up a few spots is because of what a few of the other front offices failed to do.
But that keeps the negative narrative alive and well surrounding the Heat's move for Giannis, which continues to be the oddest storyline of the summer.
Even in today's shifting basketball culture, it's not common for a team to be criticized for landing a superstar player (who is also a top-5 or, at worst, 10 player in the league) in his prime. Much less considering said team was stuck in mediocrity. Sure, Giannis may have had an injury-riddled final season in Milwaukee, but that hasn't been the norm over the course of his career.
To say that Giannis is injury-prone at this stage would be creating a bit of a straw man argument.
The consistent doubt regarding the Heat's move for Giannis is just odd. It's strange. It's hard to remember the last team that a team as well-run, well-coached, and well-built as the Heat got this much criticism for adding a top player.
What is fueling the Heat doubt?
Could some of that be fatigue from the "will he or won't he" trade saga with Giannis? Is it because Giannis went to the Heat and not the Boston Celtics? Is it just the injury concerns?
It's difficult to pinpoint one reason or another, but the overall reaction to the Heat's moves this offseason has been peculiar.
Either way, you can bet that the Heat is going to make lemonade out of this. All throughout training camp, the message inside that locker room is going to be "disrespect, doubt, and the idea that no one believes in them."
How far will that drive the team? That will be interesting to follow. At least for now, there's no question that the Heat has everything to gain and nothing to lose. Because right now, it does seem as if no one believes in this Heat team.
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