The Miami Heat is in the middle of the pack team. So are they trying to move forward or take a longer route to success?
Ask the Chicago Bulls. Stuck in the middle is not fun. Every year, we realised that Chicago wasn’t enough to run the playoffs, but not enough for the odds of the draft lottery.
Miami fever risk falls into the exact same trap. The Bulls’ play-in tournament opponents in the 9/10th game are being urged to take decisive action.
In 2012 and 2013, the Miami Heat returned to win the championship. In 2017 and 2018, the Golden State Warriors were able to do so only one team.
Since 2014, 2020 and 2023, the fever has reached the final three times. The architect for the last two runs was Jimmy Butler, who was traded at the February 2025 deadline.
NBA analyst Bill Simmons wants to take Miami a step further and choose to completely reset even extending it to a new coach.
He told the podcast:
“I’m going to replace the BAM. I don’t do hero extensions, I’ll send the SPO to the Knicks. I’ll blow it up completely.”
Simmons’ comments have come from previous fruitless coaching searches for the New York Knicks. They were turned down for all five.
Podcast guest Zach Lowe said that if the Knicks reach for Pat Riley and try to gain heat over the way they part with Spoelstra, it would be a “silly” conversation.
Spoelstra is one of the longest serving coaches in the NBA, but his future has been the talk of the season on a disappointing record.
Stephen A. Smith suggested that Spuestra could “move upstairs” just as Brad Stevens did the Boston Celtics.
This doesn’t look like it’s on the radar, but it’s far more likely than Miami gives permission to speak to the Knicks.
Tyler Hero is expected to be subject to expansion later this year and re-signed, but Bum Adebayo has already been in Miami for a long time.
Miami competed in the final just two years ago, and in a wide open Eastern Conference, they still dream of getting there again.
Pat Riley said he wouldn’t tell anyone whether the heat was tanking, but that wasn’t part of his plan.
Simmons admitted not to look at his eyes and said, “They’re going the other way around and they’re kicking Durant’s tires too.”
ESPN expert Bobby Marks warns that Miami lacks assets to make big deals for the Star, but it continues to be named in Kevin Durant’s speculation.
The temptation to tanks may be strong, but there are no guarantees of 14th or 15th place, as there are so many poor teams in the east.