The Miami Heat are looking to make the 2020 NBA Playoffs after failing to land one of the final playoff spots last season.
However, former NBA head coach Sam Mitchell believes the Heat won’t be a top playoff contender as presently constructed.
“[Jimmy] Butler is one of the top two-way players in the league,” Mitchell said recently.
But for all of Butler’s talents, the ex-Toronto Raptors head coach believes Miami “has to add something” if it wants to avoid being at the bottom of the playoff seedings in the Eastern Conference.
A four-time All-Star, Butler averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. As good as he is, Butler will have to be surrounded with better quality players if the Heat hope to be competitive in the postseason.
One of the key players that Miami is looking to move before the trade deadline is point guard Goran Dragic, whose expiring contract could entice some teams to give up an All-Star caliber player.
Dragic played in only 36 games last season, but he could be healthy enough this year to play major minutes.
If the Heat find a taker for the 2013-14 Most Improved Player in exchange for a big-time star, the Heat could possibly be among the East’s elite this upcoming season.