While there is no shame losing to a highly competent offensive team like Charlotte in the play-in tournament, you can forgive every single Heat fan on Earth if they feel slighted today.
LaMelo Ball grabbing the ankle of Bam Adebayo, while the latter was airborne, causing the All-Star big man to fall to the floor on his backside and miss the rest of the game, is a tough pill to swallow.
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It’s even tougher that Ball wasn’t ejected in what should have been a clear Flagrant 2.
However, there’s nothing Miami can do about it, and now their season — which was overwhelmingly pedestrian — is over.
The organization had some solid finds, like the trade for Norman Powell, and some exciting moments, but overall the experience of Heat basketball was a resounding sigh.
This team feels stuck. Perhaps it is.
Outside of a 53-win season in 2021-2022, the Heat have won between 37 and 48 games since 2014-2015 and have now been in the play-in tournament so often, the league should name it after them.
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Is this the summer they change their own fortunes? Here’s hoping.
2025-2026 finish
Record: 43-39, 10th in Eastern Conference. Lost to the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in tournament.
Highlight of the season
C’mon, how could it be anything but Adebayo’s 83-point performance on March 10? Yeah, he was gunning for it shamelessly and was spurred on by everyone in the organization, but this was a random late-season game against the Wizards, which he turned into must-see TV. It was a cool moment, full stop.
Players signed for next season
Bam Adebayo
Tyler Herro
Davion Mitchell
Nikola Jović
Kel’el Ware
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Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Kasparas Jakučionis
Key free agents
Andrew Wiggins (player option)
Norman Powell (UFA)
Pelle Larsson (team option)
Projected salary
$125,535,741
Projected draft picks
Nos. 13 & 41
Draft focus: We’ll see if the Heat make selections that fit their style, or if they make selections on behalf of others, as they continuously try to trade for a superstar. If they stick with these selections, they need to prioritize youth and high upside. Don’t go for an older rookie who doesn’t have the necessary potential to reach a higher level. Take a swing, regardless of position, and see if it hits.
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This is a franchise that’s very expensive. The cap number does not include Wiggins, who can opt into $30.1 million, nor does it include whatever Powell re-signs for, assuming he’s retained.
If those contracts are added to the books, the Heat could find themselves in a situation where they will only have the tax MLE to play with, which likely won’t move the needle much.
Needs and goals
Well, we know what their goal is. It’s superstar or bust, and that has seemingly been their mantra for years.
They will absolutely be in the running for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as we know they were before the trade deadline, and he’s most likely their No. 1 priority this summer, as he both fulfills their goal and solves a huge need. It’s time for the Heat to do something.
