When the Miami Heat acquired Jimmy Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers, there was excitement about the Heat getting back into the playoff picture next spring.
However, at least one NBA insider thinks that reaching the postseason will still be a challenge to the Heat.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald asked an anonymous NBA scout about where the Heat currently stand in relation to other Eastern Conference teams.
“I think Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Boston, Brooklyn and Indiana are clearly better than Miami, and Toronto is modestly better,” the scout said.
A question from Jackson attempting to pinpoint the Heat’s status within the conference brought a similarly precarious response from the scout.
“Orlando still has no point guard and I don’t think they’re better than the Heat,” he said. “I don’t see Orlando and Detroit both emerging past Miami.
“I would bet on Miami being a playoff team, a lower seed. If they get to six, it would be a modest surprise. But they could just as well be ninth.”
Cracking that list of the six top teams will be difficult, especially if the Heat are unable to swing additional deals before or during the 2019-20 campaign. The Butler trade resulted in the Heat losing guard Josh Richardson, though the Heat are hoping that top draft pick Tyler Herro can somewhat fill that gap over the course of the season.
The Heat’s 2019-20 season gets underway on Oct. 23 when the Memphis Grizzlies come to American Airlines Arena.