The Miami Heat’s front office let another deadline slip without making any moves. (Mandatory Credit: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat exit the All-Star break currently on-pace to make the play-in for the fourth consecutive season.
With just 26 games left on the schedule, Miami is 0.5 games back of the Orlando Magic, including two games back in the loss column. They are two back of the Philadelphia 76ers, 3.5 back of Toronto and 5.5 back of Cleveland.
Additionally, they stuck all their eggs in one basket — for Giannis Antetokounmpo — ahead of the trade deadline, and they weren’t willing to completely pivot in another direction, keeping the same core intact. Currently, there continues to be more questions than answers regarding the team’s direction, which was what led to a continued slide in Sam Quinn’s latest front office rankings.
“The Heat would have ranked at or near the top of any list like this published for nearly three decades,” Quinn wrote. “Pat Riley and his braintrust are still here. But at a certain point, we have to ask what their strategy is beyond hoping that a superstar becomes available at a price they can afford (and are willing to pay) in the somewhat near future. Their last few years have frankly been bad.
“There are still things the Heat do very well. … But we can be honest here: if there were any other name across the chest, if anyone but Pat Riley was their general manager, their last few years would have put them in the 20s on this list and the consensus would be that they should trade Bam Adebayo and rebuild. We’re not there yet because it’s the Heat and because they still have Riley. But they can’t keep waiting around.”
Heat front office has its strengths, but it also has its weaknesses:
No front office is perfect.
Miami has its strengths. It drafts and develops as well as any in the entire NBA. It has continuously drafted players above its slot, namely Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware, among others. Though the Heat also have their weaknesses, highlighted by their stubborness from their “10 commandments.”
They have done a poor job capitalizing on their best players’ peak value and managing their asset pool, among other things. If their 10 commandments hold any weight, they don’t plan on adapting anytime soon, which is a big concern.
Quinn isn’t wrong by questioning the team’s strategy and forward-thinking ability. Time will tell whether or not they remain mediocre — the worst place to build from — or somehow elevate themselves up a weakened East.
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