Previewing The 2024-25 Miami Heat
September 18th, 2024
by Alan Lu
After they reached the NBA Finals in 2023, the Miami Heat struggled a little bit out of the gates, as they didn’t win as many games, but still managed to reach the playoffs after winning 46 games in the regular season, and managing to get a win in the play-in tournament in two tries.
However, they ended up losing in five games to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. After Jimmy Butler jokingly (or it seemed like he was) tried to troll the Celtics in jest, team president Pat Riley wasn’t amused, and criticized Butler for having the gall to suggest the Heat could’ve beaten the Celtics in the playoffs when they lost to them. The Heat will mostly run it back and retool to find a way to get back to becoming title contenders once again.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra and superstar forward, Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat to the 2023 NBA Finals last year, and they will look to get back there again in 2024.
(Photo: Michael Reeves/Getty Images, via FanSided)
Star Players:
G-F Jimmy Butler and C Bam Adebayo
Jimmy Butler is an All-Star swingman that is one of the best two-way players in the game, and he has evolved into being one of the best players in the NBA. He has been tremendous in the playoffs, and the Heat have been able to count on him to come through in big games.
Bam Adebayo is an athletic, skilled point center whose playmaking and defensive skills makes him one of the best centers in the NBA. He’s teamed up with Butler to create a formidable tandem in this league.
Additions:
C Kel’el Ware, G-F Alec Burks, and G-F Pelle Larsson
Ware is an athletic, skilled big man that can score in a variety of ways, has shown a much improved jump shot, and can provide rim protection for his team on the defensive end. Alec Burks is a veteran guard that can play any of the perimeter positions, but was up and down with his jump shot last season. Larsson is a skilled guard that can play either backcourt position, and while he lacks elite athleticism, he is a savvy player that can make plays offensively.
Subtractions:
F Caleb Martin, G Delon Wright, C Orlando Robinson, and G Patty Mills
The Heat lost a slew of role players, but the losing Caleb Martin will hit them the hardest. Martin was a key player in the Heat’s 2023 NBA playoffs run, as he provided sharpshooting and scoring, and while he had a somewhat down 2024 season, he’s shown to be a plus-level defender in this league. They also lost a slew of capable role players, but the Heat have enough talent to make that back this season.
Rookies:
C Kel’el Ware, G-F Pelle Larsson, G-F Keshad Johnson, G Isaiah Stevens, G Zyon Pullin, and G Bryson Warren
The Heat brought in a talented group of rookies that could compete for significant playing time on this year’s roster. Both of them could step in right away to be solid contributors, and Ware has the ability to make one of the two All-Rookie teams in 2025. Meanwhile, Keshad Johnson is a tough, athletic wing that will fit in well to the Heat Culture, and he projects into a 3 and D role in this league. They also brought in a slew of guards that will compete for a roster spot this season.
Expected Rotation:
Bam Adebayo is one of the best centers in the East, and is one of the best interior defenders in the game right now.
(Photo: John Cetrino/EFE, via Marca.com)
The Heat have a solid starting unit that is led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. They lost Caleb Martin in free agency, but they found ways to replace supporting players through their development system, so they should be able to keep pace with the other contenders in the East.
Projected Starting Lineup:
Key Bench Players:
Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson will play vital roles on the 2025 Miami Heat team for the upcoming season. (Photo: Jim Rassol/USA Today Sports, via ABS-CBN News)
They have some interesting pieces on their bench that they can use to give them a boost off the bench. Erik Spoelstra has been known to get great performances out of unheralded players. Though they lost some key players, they’ll be able to make it back and make up for it.
F-C Kevin Love
G-F Josh Richardson
The Rest of the Roster:
F-C Kel’el Ware
G-F Alec Burks
G-F Pelle Larsson
G-F Keshad Johnson (Two-Way)
G Josh Christopher (Two-Way)
G Dru Smith (Two-Way)
Others in Camp:
G Isaiah Stevens (Exhibit 10)
G Zyon Pullin (Exhibit 10)
G Bryson Warren (Exhibit 10)
Team Options at the End of the 2025 Season:
Here I will project the likelihood of the Miami Heat to pick up and accept or decline the team options for various players at the end of the 2025 season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (100% Certainty)
Nikola Jovic – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (80-90% Certainty)
Head Coach:
Erik Spoelstra has helped his team get to two NBA Finals in the past five seasons, and he’s won two NBA titles over the course of his coaching career so far.
(Photo: Lynne Sladky/The Associated Press, via MassLive.com)
Erik Spoelstra
2023-24 (MIA): 46-36, 1-4 in the playoffs
Career: 750-527, 110-79 in the NBA Playoffs, has won 2 NBA titles with the 2012 and 2013 Miami Heat
Erik Spoelstra is one of the best coaches in the game, and he’s a proven winner that has shown that he can maximize the most out of his roster, especially out of unheralded players. He’s helped the Heat get to two NBA Finals in the past five seasons. His 2024 team lost in five games to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last season, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that he’s had a big impact on the game.
NBA Head Coach Rank: 2
Outlook:
Tyler Herro is a sharpshooter that can score the basketball, and he will play an important role on the 2024-25 Miami Heat. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images, via Rookie Wire – USA Today)
The Miami Heat have been a solid team in this decade, and they have reached the NBA Finals twice under both head coach Erik Spoelstra and superstar forward Jimmy Butler together. They got bounced out of the first round by Boston in 2024 though, and the Heat will need to find ways to generate more offensive firepower from their other players. They have the talent and the mentality to make a deep playoff run, but the Eastern Conference has gotten stronger in recent years, so it will be a battle for them to try to dos so in 2025.
Projected 2024-25 Finish:
Expected Win-Loss Record: 42-40
Projected Regular Season Finish: 7th in the Eastern Conference
Expected Playoff Finish: Projected to lose in the 2nd Round
Preseason NBA Power Ranking: 8
I went to Basketball-Reference and SalarySwish to look up some information for this write-up. It will be an exciting basketball season this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing the in-season tournament to see how that will unfold. Anyways, that is my write-up on my preview of the 2024-25 Miami Heat. Thanks for reading.