The Miami Heat haven’t made any major changes this summer while teams around them like the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers look like superteams on paper. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra isn’t worried about what others have done, telling a reporter that he sounded scared while asking about other teams at Heat media day.
“You sound scared. You have to be about it. And our guys are about it. They’ve done everything that I’ve asked them to do this offseason, from our season-ending meeting, where it was raw how we were ousted by Boston, that left a feeling, and every single one of us in the locker room.”
“Anybody that’s new, which we’re excited about, the new players and talent, particularly young talent, that we’ve added to the locker room, they’ve inherited all of those feelings. So we had very specific intentions of what our off-season would look like. Ultimately, you have to be about that competition.”
“Everything can look however you want to look on paper. Boston can say whatever they want to say, they’ve earned it. They beat all of us and they were crowned so they can feel however they want to feel going into this season with that said, still have to earn it.”
“It’s a new season, New Year. There will be a bunch of teams that are gunning for that title. Our guys like that world where you have to earn it, you have to take what you want out of this league, and you can’t be afraid of the competition.”
This is the right approach. Every team, no matter how they’re constructed on paper, should believe that they’re going to be among the best in the league. There shouldn’t be a defeatist attitude going into the season because others have built superteams.
The Heat are relying on continuity and good injury luck to keep them competitive this season. They added veteran guard Alec Burks while hoping that players like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyler Herro take another step up to be major contributors on a title team, as well as praying for the good health of Jimmy Butler.
Jimmy Butler Taking 2024-25 Seriously As A Potential Free Agent
One of the biggest storylines to track with the Heat this season is what happens with Jimmy Butler. Butler can enter free agency next season if he declines his $52.4 million player option, opening the path for other teams like the Brooklyn Nets to make a run at Butler in free agency, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors reported as potential trade destinations.
Butler was publicly criticized by Pat Riley this summer over trash-talk to teams like the Knicks and Celtics in the Playoffs when he was injured. After Shams Charania reported that Butler and the Heat won’t be agreeing to a contract extension this season, Heat GM Andy Elisburg revealed that an extension could be offered if he fulfills various criteria laid down by Riley.
Butler reacted to these updates at Heat media day, saying that he takes Riley’s challenges seriously and will be more available this season.
“Not too many things bother me nowadays. I’m happy. I’m healthy, I’ve got a beautiful family, and I get to hoop. Not too much in the media is ever going to get to me. “I always want to hoop, always want to compete with my guys. I hear him (Pat Riley). I see what he’s talking about. I’m going to play as many games as I can.”
Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season. His performances were inconsistent and his health was not reliable at all.
If the Heat are committing a max contract to a 35-year-old Butler this summer, they need assurances for his level of play as well as his health. Hopefully, they get that this season, and Butler’s journey as a Heat continues.
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