With the release of the Miami Heat schedule Earlier this week, fans wait to see if the team improves from where it was before or falters. Predicting the Heat’s record could be a controversial topic Given that the team has been relatively quiet in terms of the offseason, but with the season coming up before we know it, here are our bold predictions for the Heat after the 2024-25 schedule is revealed.
The Heat finished last season in eighth place for the second straight season and with the team “coming back strong” with some differences and the rest of the Eastern Conference getting stronger, some might think the same outcome could happen. However, if these bold and positive predictions come true, Miami could surprise the world like they always do.
Jimmy Butler start a “demonstration” season for the Heat?
It’s been a question-filled offseason for Jimmy Butler, the Heat star who has exceeded expectations with his team that has made two NBA Finals appearances. However, he’s coming off a season in which he missed the entire playoffs due to a medial collateral ligament tear suffered in the play-in tournament and as he looks to extend his contract next offseason, Butler could be motivated to have one of his best seasons yet according to Shams Charania.
“Jimmy Butler will play next season under his current contract with the Heat,” Charania said. “I’m told he will not sign an extension with the Heat or any other team until he opts out in 2025. That clears up any notion of a trade request from Jimmy Butler. He intends to play next season.”
Heat not committing to Butler contract extension
Last season, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 49.9 percent from the field, despite missing a significant number of games as he played 60. It was a concern even raised by Pat Riley at his end of season press conference where he did not give details In giving it an extension in the present moment.
“We don’t have to do it for a year and we haven’t discussed it internally yet, but we have to think about it and make that kind of commitment,” Riley said. “We don’t have to do it for 25 years, but we’ll see. We haven’t made a decision on that yet. And we haven’t really discussed it seriously. So we’ll see what happens.”
“Well, I mean, if you ask, we can either accept it or say we’ll consider it,” Riley continued. “We haven’t made a decision on that and I think you can draw too many conclusions from that. He’s got two years left on his contract. Theoretically, he has a player option, but it’s something we really have to think about based on a lot of factors. I don’t want to go through the litany of factors right now because they all come into different assumptions, but yeah, it’s a big decision on our part to commit that kind of resource unless you’re someone who’s really going to be there and available every night, that’s the truth.”
Heat remains mostly healthy in 2024-25
Here’s a bold prediction: The Heat will be largely healthy this season. This could be considered almost too bold to claim, as injuries have been a big problem for them over the last two seasons. However, it’s almost impossible to think that Miami will ever again be a top-tier NBA team in terms of games missed and even with over 30 different starting lineups.
This question was also addressed more than ever by Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Riley said they will look at how they can improve player availability. With plenty of resources potentially devoted to this, a largely healthy Heat could be in the mix for the 2024-25 season, which would lead to more consistency.
“Until you change the way you do the things that are necessary to win, whatever they are, the things that you do to try to win, if they’re not working, you have to change,” Riley said at his end-of-season press conference in May. “And that’s not to say that ‘change’ is a sinister word here. There’s a lot of elements to consider in a culture, the erosion of a culture, being together for 30 years, generational change, the issues in the NBA that, throughout our league, health-wise, translates into players being out and players being available.”
“If you look at all the young guys coming in, they haven’t had a taste of this yet: OKC, Minnesota, Indiana, Boston with a new group, Orlando, etc., etc.,” Riley continued. “You know, for whatever reason, these guys are playing 70, 80 games. It’s more of a sentiment thing than anything. But it’s definitely a deep dive for us this summer and player availability, but we have to change some things. But we’re certainly not going to tear it down here.”
Besides Jimmy Butler, it’s a “prove” year for Tyler Herro
Another offseason goes by, another offseason where Tyler Herro survives a plethora of trade rumors. Butler’s big three, Bam Adebayoand Herro will once again be leading the Heat. While fans know what they can get with the excellence of Butler and Adebayo, Herro is looking to find some consistency with the Heat and this upcoming season, at age 24, could be the one where he finds it all.
Related NewsThe article continues below
Pat Riley calls Tyler Herro ‘fragile’ after injury-plagued season
Herro has also been hit by injuries early on, with a Grade 2 right ankle sprain causing him to miss most of November and 42 games in total. If he can stay healthy, he could put the pieces together and prove the doubters wrong, but even Riley was honest in saying he “was fragile.”
“He’s been a little shaky,” Riley said in his end of season press conference. “He broke his hand last year in the playoffs. He’s had a couple of injuries earlier in his career. And nobody works harder than him. He works hard. He puts in the weight room. So how does he maintain his caloric intake? He might have to go to a different level nutritionally. He’s gotten stronger. But as the season goes on, you lose a little bit of that strength. So he’s got to make some adjustments, for sure.”
“His serious injuries are real,” Riley continued. “So we’re hoping he plays 72 to 82 games this season. Maybe one day he’ll be a surprise and play every game.”
Overall, there are a lot of aspects that need to happen for the Heat to improve, because even in addition to Butler, Adebayo, and Herro, fans could also see the emergence of Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, and even rookie Kel’el Ware. They will open the season against the Orlando Magic on October 23.
