(Mandatory credit: Imagn Images)
After a failed NBA trade deadline that had the Miami Heat as the only team in the entire Eastern Conference to make zero moves, it’s back to reality.
No Giannis, no Ja Morant— just this same core that sports a mediocre 27-25 record and in the play-in picture for the fourth straight season.
There are still more questions than answers when it comes to this current Heat roster. For starters, Tyler Herro (ribs) did not travel with the team for this two-game road trip starting in Boston. He is set to miss his 12th consecutive game and 42 out of Miami’s 53 games overall. However, Norman Powell will make his return to the court for the first time since being named an NBA All-Star last week. Powell was out the previous few games for personal reasons. He comes into this Friday night matchup versus the Boston Celtics averaging a team-high 23 points on 47.2% shooting and 39.2% from 3-point range.
The Celtics are undefeated against the Heat this season so far (2-0), and they are expected to have newly acquired big man Nikola Vucevic make his debut. Jaylen Brown remains in the midst of a career year, sporting averages of 29.5 points, 7 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 48.6% from the field. Boston is currently the third seed in the East with a 33-18 record and winners of seven of their last 10 games.
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Boston Celtics:
- Josh Minott (personal reasons) — OUTÂ
- Xavier Tillman (personal reasons) — OUT
- Jayson Tatum (Achilles) — OUT
- John Tonje (trade pending) — OUT
- Max Shulga (g-league) — OUT
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro (ribs) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Boston Celtics:
- Payton Pritchard, G
- Derrick White, G
- Jaylen Brown, F
- Sam Hauser, F
- Nikola Vucevic, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Norman Powell, G/F
- Pelle Larsson, G/F
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 PM EST
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!
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On the headline that Miami was the only team in the East to not make a trade – the act of making trades is not an indicator that a team is improving. Orlando’s trade for example was Tyus Jones and 2 SRPs for “cash considerations”/$100k from Charlotte
utah def improved minn improved wash improved char improved
Sure but none of those teams are contenders in the East. (Unless you buy CHA on a 9 game win streak as a contender – I don’t.)
In the top 8 in the East, ORL, TOR, PHI traded away rotation players, MIA did nothing, and NYK, DET, BOS, CLE improved. But only NYK (Alvarado) and CLE (Harden) made a move that wasn’t based on cutting salary.
Norman back. Congrats on the birth of ur baby! Now get to work and get a W. Everyone here is pissed lol
Hey, maybe Jovic could benefit from one of these, in combination with regular playing time in Sioux Falls. Whatever Miami is doing now is definitely not working.
I just found several In-person programs to toughen athletes focus on building mental resilience, focus, and composure through specialized coaching, These in-person programs combine hands-on drills, breathing techniques, and mental workouts to overcome fear, improve confidence, and build stress-management skills.
In-Person Mental Toughness Programs
Here’s a couple of Florida programs that might be effective:
Call me Debbie then….
Just don’t call you Shirley?
I just saw Bleacher Report’s article entitled: “Grading Every Team’s 2026 NBA Trade Deadline”
Southeast Division Ratings:
Atlanta A
Washington A-
Charlotte B
Miami D
Orlando F*
Ratings for other Eastern Conference Teams:
Chicago A-
New York A
Boston B+
Philadelphia B+
Indiana C+
Cleveland C
Toronto C-
Brooklyn D
Detroit D
Milwaukee D
* Apparently Miami’s grade is better than Orlando’s despite doing nothing at all.
D? I was told it was an F+
Either way, it isn’t getting you into Harvard. Maybe Florida Memorial University (named the “worst school in America” in 2025).
ATL – tear down, traded Trae and Porzingis, building for the future not this season
ORL – salary dump of Tyus Jones, no other acquisitions
NYK – added Jose Alvarado
BOS – added Vucevic, in a move that cut salary
PHI – traded Jared McCain, cut salary
CLE – added Harden for Garand – desperate to win now this season
TOR – traded Ochai Agbaji, cut salary
DET – traded Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter – couldn’t pay Ivey this offseason
Most of the trades were either marginal upgrades and/or were done to cut salary because of this CBA. The Harden trade stands out but a Harden/Donovan Mitchell backcourt isn’t that inspiring.
Marginal upgrades at least demonstrate GMs are making an effort to do something to improve their teams…better than sitting around with their thumbs where the sun don’t shine. Jus sayin.
This is true
Just can’t wait for that exciting Bulls battle for that 10th spot play-in game. Sorry … but don’t think I’ve ever been so negative with Heat since inception. Attempts at humor are my coping mechanism.
Your not excited for the playin championship? Mia about to make history 5 straight playin championships we should all be happy about that and not Debbie downers. 7th 8th seed is where it’s at who wants to be a top seed…….overrated if you think about w
This year would be 4th straight play-in not the 5th. See below:
2021-2022 Playoff Summary
Nice. We needed another Knicks-like 90’s run.
Hey 4th straight playin championships is still an accomplishment
Damn straight. Charlotte, Washington, Utah and a few other bottom dwelling have play-in envy. That may not be for long considering all their recent lottery draft picks and trades.
This is the philosophy that will carry Miami to a fourth straight play-in…and beyond.
Per Heat insider Barry Jackson, here are the full “10 Commandments” that the organization considers part of its core philosophy:
1. Never trade good players for future draft picks
2. Never give up on a season
3. Do not accept taking a step back with the hope that it could lead to better days ahead
4. Go all in for an all-time great player but be very selective about pursuing other good players
5. Do not make a trade simply for the sake of making a trade
6. Don’t give up on a roster prematurely
7. Don’t try to sell high on players
8. Bam Adebayo is essentially untouchable
9. Maintain roster/payroll flexibility if possible
10. Don’t worry about losing a free agent for nothing
I especially like #1, #7 and # 10. So its OK not to trade players for future draft picks or sell high on players, but it is OK losing players for nothing.
I think Barry has hit the nail right on the head. Instead of selling high for future draft picks, let them walk away and get nothing in return.
Until/unless we hear something to the contrary, that is exactly what could happen with Powell, Wiggins, Fontecchio and Johnson. Stay tuned.
GO HEAT!!!
11. Be playin champs and mediocre for as long as we can
Miami has turned consistent mediocrity into an art form.
Dream scenario during the offseason:
Bam to okc for Jalen Williams a star in the making and someone the heat can hopefully build around
Tyler to whoever for picks/players same for Wiggins and norm
Core now of Williams ware jjj pelle picks and players.
Do I think okc will do it probably not but hey it’s a dream
Time for a new direction they won’t tank they don’t get the ss here anymore stop wasting fans and your time Mia heat
Why not SGA?
Yk what bad idea. Let’s just keep running it back being a mediocre.500 team that barely makes the playoffs every year, best our playin championship team rival in the bulls every year. Yeah that sounds better, we have enough to win a championship. Detroit nor the Knicks wanna see heat culture in the playoffs.
Cleveland damn sure doesn’t want to see Miami in the playoffs again.
If Wiggins opts out, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can go wherever he wants. If Miami was going to trade him, they should have done it BEFORE the trade deadline. They could have likely received a young player, a draft pick and an expiring contract in return. Same goes with Powell, Fontecchio and Johnson. Any time to trade Herro would be a good time, except now they will need to wait until summer.
Ethan on 5 on the Floor podcast said the word was Wiggins was going to net you 2nd round picks. I rather keep him for this season, with a chance he opts in and can be tried to move again, then a 2nd round pick.
If the decision was made to keep Wiggins and make an effort to salvage the season, I fail to understand why Miami did not attempt to upgrade the roster before the deadline.
Jovic, in his current condition, is obviously not the answer at PF, Ware is looking like a part-time player who is in the dog house more often than not and Goldin has not been in the mix at all.
Am I missing something here or is this a possible case of gross mismanagement?
They did try and Bucks said no. Report is Giannis still favors Heat and Knicks if something happens over the summer. They looked in to Ja and they decided no. We have no idea of any other calls. At that point they were locked in with this group to try and make the playoffs, which we know they always try to do. Wiggins is part of this teams core. They weren’t going to get rid of him for a 2nd round pick.
So you’re saying there is still hope in Mudville that Giannis may be acquired via trade this summer? I hear there may be a few more interested suiters with better assets, including: OKC, Houston, Boston, Minnesota, New York, Brooklyn, Utah and others.
I wonder what Riley’s Plans B, C & D will be in the extremely remote possibility he is again unsuccessful in trading for Giannis?
I think they could have obtained a first for Wiggins
Hopefully a better effort than the one they gave against Atlanta.
Boston games were painful to watch in past years. Blown outs with 10 threes in 3th or 4th- qt. looks like some kind of universal law.
u do remeber dipo turning over jalen just about everytime jalen touched the ball .wasnt too long ago.if dipo stayed healthy what could have been
No. I remember him being out all the time.
“Woulda, coulda, shoulda.” If elephants had wings they could fly.
I have an idea that in the second half season, if things continue to go as it has thus far, that maybe we could see a little more of Goldin. He may have potential.
More playing time for Goldin and Gardner with the Heat and more playing time for Jovic with the Sky Force. Sound like a plan?
Double thumbs up! Jovic a softie lifer.
Muchas gracias jefe.