Since the Big 3 project broke up in Miami, the Heat haven’t had a lot of success in the league. In fact, they’ve only contested the playoffs two times in five years, and the semi-finals are the farthest they’ve gone in that period.

The franchise never hit rock bottom after LeBron and Bosh left, but the ingredients for another taste of the NBA trophy were largely missing.

Last season, the team finished 10th in the East and had to say goodbye to their long-time servant and talisman Dwyane Wade. It was the perfect time for taking a new direction, and Pat Riley didn’t take too long to deliver some big changes.

The biggest of them all, of course, was landing Jimmy Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers. Given Butler’s track record in the league, it was no surprise that the deal was met with a healthy dose of skepticism by many. The guard had a torrid time with both the Timberwolves and Sixers, and he was on the move once again.

Despite that, Riley was adamant that Butler was going to be a great fit for Miami. The trade saw Josh Richardson head the other way, and the team also dealt Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers.

So, without three key pieces in Wade, Richardson, and Whiteside, the Heat embarked on a new journey for the 2019/20, spearheaded by one of the league’s most notorious bad boys.

Before I get into how the Miami Heat could finish out the 2019/20 season, let’s explore how they’ve done up to this point.

The Heat’s Season So Far

I still maintain that there were a lot of valid reasons to think that the Heat’s new-look roster would not work. Taking out two seasoned NBA professionals like Richardson and Whiteside left the group very short on experience.

And while adding Jimmy Butler was exciting, there were no guarantees of how his addition would impact the team. Luckily for the Heat, Butler has been exceptional so far, not only because he’s playing at an All-Star level again but because he has finally managed to become a leader on the court.

If this Miami roster was going to work, someone had to mentor all the young players and show them the way. Butler has been doing exactly that, and his energy levels and non-stop hustle have rubbed off on the entire squad.

Players like Bam Adebayo, Derrick Jones Jr., Kendrick Nunn, and Duncan Robinson have all improved tremendously since Butler’s arrival. Rookie Tyler Herro is also someone who has benefitted from the star guard’s presence.

And just like that, what looked like an inexperienced group led by an overrated troublemaker was suddenly viewed as an entertaining, organized, and ruthless team that could challenge the elite.

We have to, of course, give massive props to coach Eric Spoelstra and the dedication of his young players to do well, but it’s clear that Jimmy Butler has been the X-Factor for this team.

Once again, Pat Riley was right. He told everyone that Butler would be a different player in Miami, and few believed him. It’s still early for grand conclusions, but the early signs clearly suggest that the guard has finally found his NBA home.

The organization has done everything for Butler to feel comfortable, and his energy and grit are things both coach Spoelstra and Pat Riley love to have on their roster. Also, having talented young kids that want to learn seems to be the perfect environment for Jimmy.

There have been a lot of cases in the past where he would criticize teammates for not putting the effort in. As you would expect, not a lot of NBA players want to hear that. Now he has a supporting cast around him that doesn’t get offended when they get called out.

This has immediately created a positive vibe around the team. Their chemistry is great, they look like they’re having fun on the court, and most importantly, they’re winning while they’re improving.

The right formula seems to be in place, and the league is no longer treating Miami like a second-hand team. Their unbelievable home record of 22-3, their energetic young core, and Jimmy Butler playing close to his full potential have made sure of that.

How the Heat Handled the Trade Window

Although they weren’t the first name on the rumor mill during the trade window, the Heat secured a gigantic deal at the deadline. They managed to snap up former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala from the Memphis Grizzlies, along with veterans Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill.

Iguodala’s situation was one of the biggest talking points of the season, and there were constantly talks about whether he would be traded or bought out by the Grizzlies. Before the Heat swooped in, it was believed that Iguodala would be moving to one of the LA teams, but Pat Riley has emerged victorious once again.

There is a lot to dissect about this trade and what the Heat can achieve after it, so let’s move on to the main part of the piece.

My Assessment of the Miami Heat

As you can already tell, I am quite impressed by how the Heat have been playing this season. At the All-Star break, they are sitting 4th in the Eastern Conference with an overall record of 35 wins in 54 games.

They have managed to quickly maximize Jimmy Butler in their formation and have overseen the rise of another All-Star in forward Bam Adebayo.

All this has led to Pat Riley changing the plan a bit. I believe his initial intentions with this group were to get a star player who could mentor them and assess which of the guys would be capable of holding down a regular spot in the future.

However, becoming a winning team so quickly has prompted Riley to bank on this roster right now. Getting Iguodala in means only one thing — the team is gunning for the Finals.

The approach is understandable, but it begs the question below.

Can the Heat Really Challenge the Eastern Elite?

Right now, things are looking good in South Beach. The team is healthy, two of their players won trophies during the All-Star weekend, and they have added some vital experience to the group.

I mentioned these three things because I believe they will be the most important ingredients if this team is to challenge for the top. They have been incredibly durable so far and will be hoping to have all their pieces available come the playoffs.

They will also need a lot of confidence. Things on that front have been good so far. They are winning, and the players are getting the recognition they deserve. But it will be imperative for them to keep that going as a lot of these guys will enter new territory in the postseason.

But even a healthy roster full of confidence will stand no chance without proper playoff experience. That is why bringing in Iguodala is key. And that’s why Pat Riley didn’t hesitate to offload the promising Justise Winslow to get him.

Iguodala is a champion — a guy who has seen it all in the postseason and has been mentored by some of the top players in the game. His addition will provide much-needed perimeter defending on the court, but what he will bring in the locker room will be much more important to this group.

Sure, his addition alone doesn’t guarantee anything. There are several teams in the East that are stacked with superstars, and Iguodala is someone who hasn’t played at all this season and is already 36. He is not a guy who can win a title by himself, but bringing him to Miami was a big statement from Pat Riley, in my view.

A lot of top teams wanted Iggy, but it was the Heat that got the man in the end. Now, I understand people will say that despite the tremendous progress, this Miami roster is still very inexperienced to post a threat in the playoffs. And they’ll be right to think that.

We were all thinking it at the start of the season, and I still view it as a valid point. However, we’ve also seen these players prove us wrong in crunch games. They all have a great mentality and attitude, and in Butler and Iguodala (and Dragic and Crowder to an extent), they have the perfect mentors.

Pat Riley is a person obsessed with winning, and he must have seen something in this team in order to go all-in on it.

It will still be a huge challenge to overcome juggernauts like the Bucks and the Raptors, but I’m reluctant to count out the Heat just yet.

They will probably not make the Finals, but if they enter the playoffs without key injuries, they will be a very tough opponent for any franchise.

Wrapping It Up

The Heat is obviously on the rise, but how far do you think they can go? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. I would be interested to read your take on the team’s chances this season.

Usually, when Pat Riley decides to go all-in on something, there are exciting times ahead. Let’s see how it pans out this time.

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