The Miami Heat are a middle of the pack team. So do they try to push forward, or take a longer route to success?
Just ask the Chicago Bulls. It is no fun being stuck in the middle. Year after year Chicago find themselves not good enough to make a playoff run, while not bad enough for strong draft lottery odds.
The Miami Heat risk falling into exactly the same trap. The Bulls’ Play-In Tournament opponents in the 9th/10th game are being urged to take decisive action.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty ImagesMiami Heat urged to ‘blow it up’
In 2012 and 2013 the Miami Heat won back to back championships. Only one team has managed to do so since, the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
The Heat have reached the Finals three time since: 2014, 2020 and 2023. The architect of the last two runs was Jimmy Butler, who was traded away at the February 2025 deadline.
NBA analyst Bill Simmons wants Miami to go a step further, and opt for a complete reset, even extending as far as a new coach.
He told his podcast: “If I was Miami I would big time blow it up.
“I would trade Bam, I wouldn’t do the Herro extension, send Spo to the Knicks, I would completely blow it up.”
Simmons’ comments comes amid the New York Knicks’ fruitless coaching search so far, which has seen them request permission to speak to five different NBA head coaches. They have been turned down for all five.
Podcast guest Zach Lowe said it would be a ‘preposterous’ conversation if the Knicks reached out to Pat Riley to try and get the Heat to part ways with Spoelstra.
Spoelstra is one of the NBA’s longest serving coaches ever, although his future has been a talking point this season amid a disappointing record.
Stephen A. Smith suggested Spoelstra could ‘move upstairs’ into an executive role in the same way Brad Stevens did with the Boston Celtics.
While this does not appear to be on the radar, it’s a lot more likely than Miami granting the Knicks permission to speak to him.
Tyler Herro is extension eligible later this year and is expected to be re-signed, while Bam Adebayo is already in Miami for the long haul.
Miami Heat trying to improve
Miami were in the Finals just two years ago, and in a wide open Eastern Conference, they still dream of getting there again.
Pat Riley said he would not tell anybody if the Heat were tanking, but it was not part of his plan moving forward.
Simmons accepts they don’t see eye-to-eye, adding: “It seems like they are going to go the other way, they are kicking the tires on Durant too.”
ESPN expert Bobby Marks has warned Miami lack the assets to make big trades for stars, but they do continue to be named amid Kevin Durant speculation.
The temptation to tank might be strong – but there are so many poor teams in the East, that there is no guarantee they would finish 14th or 15th.