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The Miami Heat must close the gap with the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Upon their unlikely run to the NBA Finals in 2023, the Heat’s insufficient depth has started to show. Teams surrounding them have kept getting better.
Pat Riley has done nothing but watch his team age and become more stereotypical. Its ability to maneuver the free agency and trade markets is limited by Jimmy Butler’s three-year, $146.4 million contract.
It appears that Caleb Martin is the most recent player to depart from the team. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN on Saturday, Martin is completing the details of a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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The Heat have lost Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Kyle Lowry, and now Martin since their run to the NBA Finals. Alec Burks has been added thus far this summer to help with the second unit’s on-ball creation problems. The floor spacing on Strus still needs to be replaced. They are also losing a versatile wing from their rotation at this time.
A big-market team is Miami. The team’s supporters anticipate that it will compete each season. But Riley, who has a small but tough roster at his disposal, constantly depends on Erik Spoelstra’s superb coaching. Over the previous two years, the Eastern Conference has grown stronger. For Miami to have a serious playoff run, its hustle mentality is insufficient.
Arguably, the best NBA team is the Boston Celtics. Both the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks have made significant adjustments recently to put themselves in a position to contend for the top spot in the conference. The Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers are also gradually moving up the ladder.
Bam Adebayo, who is about to enter his prime, and an aging Butler are insufficient to match the skill level of the teams surrounding them. Martin’s loss is yet another indication of Miami’s malaise-induced decline. If the Heat want to be competitive, they have to start playing.
If not, South Beach’s season will be long and challenging.
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