Sunshine State Showdown: More than just a battle for Florida bragging rights

The Orlando Magic are generally considered the Miami Heat’s younger brother, a team that has its peaks and valleys but never quite reaches the promised land. Meanwhile, the Heat have had a multitude of championship successes and generally have much shorter rebuilding periods. Typically, you can be pretty confident heading into a season, saying the Heat are the clear frontrunners.

But that may have changed. Recently, the Magic shocked the world with a blockbuster trade to acquire Desmond Bane. With the Heat striking out yet again in its pursuit of acquiring another superstar in Kevin Durant, its short-term future is looking bleak. With no big three-esque deals on the horizon and no notable free agents that necessarily move the needle, the Magic may be getting the best of the Heat for the foreseeable future.

And if that continues, you could likely get a discount on Heat futures odds in matchups against the Magic. If you’re the betting type, try best California online casinos, where you’ll find numerous sportsbooks and related betting options—including props and futures.

If we take a look at last season’s matchups with the Magic, the Heat split the series. But with that being said, those matchups didn’t offer the full picture, with Magic starters Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both missing significant time due to injury. Still, when the battle of Florida is on, there are usually some memorable moments. This season’s highlight for Heat fans was Tyler Herro robbing Orlando with a cold-blooded game winner with 0.5 seconds on the clock.

Orlando currently boasts a young, frightening starting lineup with Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. It’s likely that it isn’t done making moves this postseason and could very well bolster the center and small forward positions. Meanwhile, Miami doesn’t have huge A threats aside from Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. The Heat have great B players in Wiggins, Mitchell (if he returns), Jovic and Ware—but that doesn’t bring you a ton of postseason success unless there’s a true superstar at the helm.

There are players around who can improve the team. DeMar DeRozan has been rumored, but with the Heat trying to stay below the tax threshold, it remains to be seen if they’ll take that gamble. The fact of the matter is, Miami is in purgatory, while its little brother is running the show. It might not stay that way, but the future remains unpredictable.