"Depending on how you view the Heat, they're either not much better, or not much worse this year than they were heading into last season. The same can't be said about the Eastern Conference, which is noticeably worse after Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard all ruptured their achilles last spring. The Celtics subsequently traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis while letting Luke Kornet and Al Horford walk."
"In the Heat's first full season without Jimmy Butler, they can prioritize their young players' development. That doesn't mean they'll tank. That also doesn't mean they'll ditch their veterans entirely. Though there will be more runway for, say, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Kel'el Ware and Pelle Larsson to endure the bumps and bruises that young players inevitably experience as they continue to mold as players."
The Miami Heat enter the 2025-26 season with a consensus projection of 37.5 wins after a 37-45 record last year, the franchise's worst in a decade. The Eastern Conference appears weaker following achilles ruptures to Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, plus Celtics moves that included trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and losing Luke Kornet and Al Horford. Indiana also lost Myles Turner to the Bucks. The conference bottom includes young, rebuilding teams like the Nets, Wizards and Hornets, creating numerous winnable games. Without Jimmy Butler, the Heat can prioritize young-player development, giving Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Kel'el Ware and Pelle Larsson more runway to grow.
Read at Hot Hot Hoops - Miami HEAT NBA Blog
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