• The Portland Trail Blazers have actively strengthened the biggest rivals of the Miami Heat this summer
• The Blazers had an antagonistic trade negotiation over Damian Lillard with the Heat, one that ended poorly
• The Blazers have since sent Lillard to the Bucks and Jrue Holiday to the Celtics, strengthening the Heat’s biggest Conference rivals
The Miami Heat have taken a big step back this summer, watching their own team get weaker from the year before while their biggest rivals improved. The improvement around them is the result of the Portland Trail Blazers sending difference-making players to the Bucks and the Celtics.
Fans believe this is all an intentional plot from the Blazers to further strengthen the Heat’s biggest rivals and hurt them as a result.
So not only did Joe Cronin not trade with the Heat…..He traded with Miami’s two biggest conference rivals, made them better teams, took back a better package and gave those rivals the one thing that the Heat needed to make a leap.
I got that right?
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) October 1, 2023
After refusing to negotiate with the Heat over Damian Lillard and feeling antagonized by low offers, Blazers GM Joe Cronin sent Lillard to strengthen the Milwaukee Bucks. They received Jrue Holiday in that trade and have flipped him on to the Boston Celtics, making the two teams even stronger in comparison to the Heat.
Fans Think The Blazers Decimated The Heat’s Offseason
One fan put together everything that helped the Blazers, Celtics, and Bucks this summer, with the Heat’s biggest move being the acquisition of Josh Richardson.
Bucks got Dame Lillard
Celtics got Porzingis and Holiday
Blazers got Ayton, Rob, 5 firsts
Heat got Josh Richardson pic.twitter.com/2lSiQeXU8L
— Moose HardOn (@MoooseSZN) October 1, 2023
Another fan echoed similar sentiments.
Cronin really a Heat owner, he sent Dame to Milwaukee instead of Miami and now sent Jrue to Boston
pic.twitter.com/s8YNHpmQhR https://t.co/KC3HF6mDpl
— 🦇 (@EasyCantMiss) October 1, 2023
Fans think Miami brought this upon themselves by not negotiating in good faith.
https://twitter.com/jazzareb/status/1708532700955459603
Fans believe this has been a destructive offseason for Miami’s hopes of repeating their NBA Finals success.
The heat got destroyed this off-season.
— NBA Reactz (@NBAReactz) October 1, 2023
Former Director of Quantitative Research and Development for the Dallas Mavericks, Haralabos Voulgaris made a comment defending Cronin’s actions.
The nerve of Cronin trying to do whats best for his team and not acquiescing to the whims of the Miami Heat. Despicable, Deplorable, indefensible. https://t.co/G6ZDK11nQ2
— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) September 29, 2023
Bucks fans were even making long social media posts thanking Joe Cronin for actively ensuring the Miami Heat are in trouble in the East this season.
Bucks fans, we need to thank this man
Blazers GM Joe Cronin
Not only did he gift us with Damian Lillard, but he also gave the biggest middle finger to the Miami Heat in the process. When it’s all said and done, I won’t forget you Mr. Cronin 👏 pic.twitter.com/bSWle4qxLY
— Alex Burns (@AlexBurnsHoops) September 28, 2023
The Heat find themselves in a really tough situation now. Even though the Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo duo will keep them among the best in the East, they have lost players like Max Strus and Gabe Vincent without bringing adequate replacements. In addition, they’ve upset Tyler Herro, the player who’s expected to be the Heat’s primary guard after they failed to land Lillard and Holiday this offseason.
Realistic Expectations For The Miami Heat This Season
The Miami Heat were flat-out not a good regular season team last season. They barely made the playoffs and made history as only the second team to reach the NBA Finals as an eighth seed. Their regular season record of 44-38 with the 24th-best offense in the league left spectators unamazed. Their playoff rise is what won everyone over, so now nobody will underestimate Miami heading into the playoffs.
They will have a tough time outmaneuvering the top six of the East from last season, with at least four of them heading into next season as improved rosters. The Bucks and Celtics should retain their position as the two best teams in the East. The Cavaliers were the fourth seed last season and improved this summer by adding Miami’s Max Strus to their lineup. The Knicks added Donte DiVincenzo to an already gritty roster filled with good chemistry. These four teams are in a position to outperform the Heat in the regular season.
The 76ers have their own James Harden trade drama to figure out and could be worse as a result of that. Unless the Hawks, Nets, or Raptors take a big step forward, the Heat will hope to at least solidify a top-six berth and avoid a possible play-in upset. But without moves, it may be hard for them to compete through the season in a top-heavy East.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
