The Miami Heat made one of the biggest moves of the summer. If it weren’t for the Philadelphia 76ers trading for Jaylen Brown and landing LeBron James in free agency, it would have been the biggest move. Now, they should be a real threat to make some noise in the East. But the NBA’s GM survey doesn’t necessarily think so.
According to that poll, nobody believes the Heat will be a top-two team in the Eastern Conference. Not one person. In fact, based on the percentage of the vote, the Heat clocked in at eighth. Eighth. That’s a disrespectful ranking, especially considering how much Erik Spoelstra has managed to do with far less talented Heat teams in the past.
Spoelstra is one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball, and the Heat just gifted him one of the best players in the league. That is a perfect pairing.
NBA GMs should know what Erik Spoelstra Heat teams can do
Think of the last 10 years. Think of some of the Heat teams that have not only made the playoffs but also made deep runs in the playoffs. Including two runs to the NBA Finals in the post-LeBron James era.
Spoelstra has been the coach of the Heat through it all. Few coaches in the league have been able to do more with less than Spoelstra has throughout the course of his coaching career.
Now, take a look at what the Heat have to work with this season. Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the league. There’s a real argument to be made that he’s the best player Spoelstra has had to work with since James and Dwyane Wade. Peak Jimmy Butler has a case, though.
Then, look at the guys the Heat have behind him and Bam Adebayo. Miami has a crop of players that Spoelstra has a chance to get the most out of. Players who haven’t necessarily had the chance to thrive, but can find that chance under Spoelstra.
Davion Mitchell is a great example. What if Spoelstra can help turn him into a great 3-and-D true point guard? Or Dru Smith? What if Spoelstra can finally help unlock his talents? Pelle Larsson? Rookie Ryan Conwell?
All of those guys are decent players already – some more than others – but with Spoelstra at the helm in a new system with Antetokounmpo leading the way, they could be more than that.
The whole is often the sum of its parts. And that’s almost always the case with Spoelstra teams. People should know that by now. And other GMs should know it well enough to rank the Heat higher than eighth.
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