Toronto Raptors: Eastern Conference playoff predicitons

8. Miami Heat

Are the Miami Heat better this year?

They are indeed, and much of that is down to the trade for Jimmy Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat had to give up one of their most tantalizing assets in Josh Richardson to get Butler, but it’ll likely be a trade that pays off in the here and now.

The Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons will be causing Erik Spoelstra to look concerningly over his shoulder, but the Heat have too much in their locker to be caught up in the riff-raff. Butler will be the dominant presence on the team, while rookie Tyler Herro looks like a genuine candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Other pieces around the team look to come into fruition. Bam Adebayo can get a full-on look as the starting center now that Hassan Whiteside is out of sight and out of mind, while Justise Winslow looks primed to take the starting point guard position from Goran Dragic.

If that’s the case, Dragic can still be a valuable piece off the bench, along with – or maybe not with – Dion Waiters, who may have cost himself a spot on the team following “unprofessional conduct”.

The Miami Heat always want to remain competitive, and this season they’ll prove to be just that.