NBA Southeast

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro said he will return from an ankle injury "soon" and added he will "hopefully" be able to take the floor for Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

The ankle concerns represented another setback for Herro after he dealt with various ailments last season on his way to 66 games, which was still a career-high mark since the Heat selected him with a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

The 22-year-old Kentucky product enjoyed a career-best season when healthy and averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from deep for a Miami squad that finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

He won the Sixth Man of the Year and was once again expected to be a primary contributor entering the 2022-23 campaign. He has responded by averaging 19.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 10 games this season.

Unfortunately for the Heat, injuries have been a theme in the early portion of the season.

Jimmy Butler, Victor Oladipo, Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent were among those who missed Monday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, so a return for Herro would be a welcome development.

The Charlotte Hornets announced that point guard LaMelo Ball suffered a left ankle sprain during the team's 125-113 home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

The injury occurred after Ball accidentally stepped on the foot of a fan seated courtside while attempting a steal.

LaMelo Ball just rolled his left ankle stepping on the foot of a fan sitting courtside. pic.twitter.com/QdeXDrZNdw

— Hornets On FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Hornets) November 17, 2022

The Pacers had the ball up 117-108 with 1:35 remaining in the game. Ball reached to to steal a pass and got a hand on the ball, which ricocheted out of bounds and away from the Hornets star's reach.

Ball skidded to the sideline on the attempt, and his left foot landed on the patron's left sneaker. He removed himself from the game and limped to the bench. Theo Maledon replaced him in the lineup.

The third-year pro previously suffered a Grade 2 left ankle sprain during an Oct. 10 preseason game against the Washington Wizards. He was sidelined until last Saturday when he made his season debut against the Miami Heat.

Ball had 15 points, six assists and six rebounds in 28 minutes and followed that up with 17 points, nine assists and four boards in 34 minutes against the Orlando Magic on Monday.

Prior to his injury, Ball dropped a season-high 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting alongside six assists in 37 minutes versus the Pacers.

The regular season has been nothing short of disastrous for the Hornets, who now sport a 4-12 record.

Terry Rozier (right ankle sprain) and Gordon Hayward (left shoulder contusion) have both missed extended time, with the latter player still out. Dennis Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) is still out after starting for Ball for much of the year.

Without Ball, the offense has been stagnant and had ranked 28th in offensive efficiency entering Wednesday, per Basketball-Reference.

If Ball has to miss time and Smith remains out, then the starting backcourt could feature Rozier and Maledon for the time being, with James Bouknight a prime candidate to see more playing time.

The Hornets have the host Cleveland Cavaliers up next on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

With Saturday's win over the Charlotte Hornets, the Miami Heat improved to 6-7. Miami has won two in a row and may be trending in the right direction. At 6-7, however, the Heat aren't where they expected to be after claiming the top seed in the East a year ago.

Miami, and its fans, may hope for a little help via the trade market, and Phoenix Suns forward Jae Cowder appears to be on the team's radar. The interest could be mutual.

"Heat officials have even expressed confidence Miami is Crowder's preferred destination," Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer wrote last month. "By all accounts, Crowder didn't want to leave Miami after he contributed to the Heat's 2020 Eastern Conference championship."

Crowder is familiar with the Heat after spending the 2020 season in Miami. According to Ian Begley of SNY, Miami and Phoenix have been in contact regarding a Crowder trade—and the Suns have a specific trade target in mind.

"Miami is among the teams Phoenix has touched base with on a Crowder deal. Per SNY sources, some with Phoenix see Miami’s Max Strus as an integral part of any return for Crowder," Begley wrote.

While the prospect of a Crowder reunion is intriguing, Miami should be reluctant to give up Strus in the deal. The 26-year-old is slated to be a free agent in 2023, but he's a key role player who could be a long-term building block if the Heat can retain him.

This season, Strus has started six of 13 games and averaged 15.5 points in 32.6 minutes. He's shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 38.7 from beyond the arc. He dropped 31 points with four rebounds and two assists against Charlotte.

Crowder is also on an expiring contract and, at 32 years old, has less long-term upside. Plus, it's not as if Miami could make a one-for-one trade involving Strus to acquire him. Because the Suns are over the luxury-tax threshold, any team trading for Crowder must salary match—up to 125 percent under NBA trade guidelines.

If Phoenix takes on the 125 percent, a team must trade $8.2 million in salary to match Crowder's $10.2 million salary. Strus' salary is just $1.8 million. The DePaul product would only be a piece of a trade package, and Miami should hold out for a different deal.

That deal could involve other players, possibly Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon, who will become trade-eligible on January 15. If Phoenix insists on getting Strus, that may mean getting more than just Crowder in return.

The Heat can afford to be patient here. The Suns haven't found a taker for Crowder yet, and it appears that he won't be suiting up for Phoenix again this season.

"Even with Cam Johnson sidelined through the new year by a meniscus surgery, it appears Phoenix and Crowder share no designs on a reunion any time soon," Fischer wrote on Friday.

Fischer, while discussing the trade prospects of Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanović, also noted that Phoenix may eventually have to include draft capital in a Crowder package:

"A continued stalemate in Crowder’s market could feasibly push the Suns to alter their approach in holding pat for that key impact player, before this championship window with Chris Paul closes, and attach draft capital to Crowder’s salary if the right addition like Bogdanovic is on the table."

If Miami is going to part with a young and improving player like Strus, it must demand a quality draft pick in return. Theoretically, Crowder could help this season, but he's not someone the Heat can develop for the future.

Ideally, Miami won't trade Strus at all. As he showed against the Hornets, Strus has the potential to be a real difference-maker and to be a multiyear contributor. The Heat shouldn't be quick to offer up Strus for Crowder now.

The trade deadline isn't until February 9, and better trade options will likely emerge by then. Barring a more concerted effort by Phoenix to move Crowder, he'll probably remain an option for the foreseeable future too.

The Phoenix Suns are still looking to deal forward Jae Crowder, who has been inactive this season after he requested a trade in September.

And they reached out to the Miami Heat about a potential deal, Ian Begley of SNY reported Saturday:

"One trade that may happen sooner than Dec. 15? Jae Crowder getting moved in Phoenix. Crowder has been away from the team while the Suns canvas the league for potential deals.

"Miami is among the teams Phoenix has touched base with on a Crowder deal. Per SNY sources, some with Phoenix see Miami's Max Strus as an integral part of any return for Crowder. I'd assume that Miami would be reluctant to move Strus in a deal for Crowder."

The 26-year-old Strus is in his fourth NBA season. He's averaging career highs of 32.2 minutes, 14.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.8 steals per game with 44.7 percent shooting.

The 32-year-old Crowder, who has played 10 seasons, averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game for the Suns last year. He started all 67 games he played.

There were murmurs that Crowder wanted a trade after being told he wouldn't start, but B/R's Chris Haynes relayed that Crowder said that was not true.

My @NBAonTNT in-game report on my conversation with Suns forward Jae Crowder, who is away from the team and waiting on a trade: ‘It’s definitely not true of the narrative being pushed about me starting or not.’ pic.twitter.com/QL41N3Njub

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 26, 2022

Crowder will be a free agent after this season. He would be a solid two-way asset for any team that acquires him, whether it be to start or come off the bench.

Strus emerged as a valuable piece for the Heat during the playoffs last year. He notably averaged 14.0 points per game in the team's first-round series win over the Atlanta Hawks. Strus also averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in the team's final two games of a second-round victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

He's remained an integral player this year as the fourth-highest scorer on the team. Like Crowder, Strus also will be a free agent after this season, but he's certainly a candidate to re-sign.

These are difficult times in the NBA. Kyrie Irving has finally apologized, upon team suspension, for seemingly endorsing (then unendorsing) antisemitism. The San Antonio Spurs and now-former second-year player Josh Primo are facing an ugly lawsuit, with Primo being accused of exposing himself to a team psychologist multiple times.

All that just weeks after Draymond Green punched a teammate, Phoenix Suns primary governor Robert Sarver was suspended for a year and fined $10 million for workplace misconduct that included findings of racially insensitive comments and "sex-related statements and conduct," and the Boston Celtics suspended coach Ime Udoka for a violation of team policies involving a woman on staff.

And now, former Charlotte Hornets starter Miles Bridges has pleaded "no contest to a felony domestic violence charge," per Baxter Holmes of ESPN.

Bridges was sentenced to three years of probation but will not receive jail time for the assault of the mother of his children.

NEWS: Hornets restricted free agent Miles Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court and will face three years of probation and no jail time as part of a deal with prosecutors. ESPN story: https://t.co/WYvFuSbX3M

— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) November 3, 2022

A no-contest plea does not mean Bridges admits to any of the allegations. But in accepting the charge and the punishment (a felony on his record, probation, 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling and parenting classes, 100 hours of community service and a list of other fines and restrictions), Bridges got two charges of child abuse dismissed.

Now that the legal matter is settled, the Charlotte Hornets need to decide on Bridges' future. The franchise acquired him on draft night in 2018 after he became the No. 12 pick. He developed into one of the team's best players through four seasons and is a restricted free agent.

One executive familiar with the Hornets' thinking believes the 24-year-old forward is still viewed as a core piece. Because Bridges is also subject to NBA punishment, Charlotte may want to sign him earlier than later, so he can begin a presumptive suspension and get back on the court sooner.

But what message does that send, given the vicious allegations to which Bridges pleaded no contest?

---

Felony Domestic Violence

Bridges' conviction was for the assault of his former girlfriend and co-parent. The charges asserted he committed the violence in front of the couple's two children "and included 'an allegation of the causing of great bodily injury on the domestic violence victim,'" per Holmes.

Per TMZ, Mychelle Johnson shared her medical forms on Instagram in a since-deleted post, which read that she suffered "assault by strangulation, brain concussion, closed fracture of [the] nasal bone, contusion of rib, multiple bruises [and] strain of neck muscle."

Additionally, Johnson shared her message on Instagram, saying:

"I hate that it has come to this, but I can't be silent anymore. I've allowed someone to destroy my home, abuse me in every way possible and traumatize our kids for life ... I don't need sympathy, I just don't want this happening to anyone else, I just want this person to get help. My kids deserve better."

This is a serious topic, and for anyone needing assistance with a similar matter, the National Domestic Violence Hotline may be a valuable resource.

---

The Hornets' Upcoming Decision

The Hornets are facing an important decision. Bridges was a terrific player last season, averaging 20.2 points per game as a powerful 6'7" combo forward.

With guard LaMelo Ball, Bridges and a relatively young squad, the Hornets advanced to the play-in tournament, falling short against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hornets were a fun must-see for League Pass aficionados.

The team is 3-5 this season, which is impressive with Ball sidelined (ankle) and Bridges in self-inflicted exile.

Because Bridges is a restricted free agent, the Hornets have preferential rights to re-sign him. No other team can give him a contract without signing him to an offer sheet. Charlotte holds the right of first refusal and would have 48 hours to match or let him leave to the offering franchise.

Initially, the Hornets gave Bridges a $7.9 million single-season qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent, but that expired on October 1. A player can unilaterally accept that qualifying offer, but that option is no longer available to Bridges. He and the Hornets would need to agree on a deal from scratch.

Before Bridges' arrest, several sources around the league expected him to earn a starting salary well over $20 million, closer to the $25 million-$31 million-per-year range.

The allegations are horrific. Some teams may want nothing to do with Bridges given the felony on his record. But the history of the NBA suggests someone will look past this. Bridges' price may dip from what he expected before the assault, but he's probably going to get a lucrative contract.

"There is always a dissonance with being a female NBA fan. That feeling has become more acute now after all of the news in recent weeks regarding Sarver, Udoka and Primo," Sabreena Merchant of SB Nation told B/R. "Even a team with a female owner like the [Los Angeles] Lakers still displays a lack of empathy toward victims of domestic violence. They've employed Avery Bradley, Kendrick Nunn and DeMarcus Cousins, among others, in the last few seasons, to say nothing of the way the organization lionized Kobe Bryant."

Those Merchant named may not have a no-contest felony conviction like Bridges, but each faced serious allegations of domestic or sexual violence. Some reached private settlements that remain sealed to this day.

"I believe that perpetrators of domestic violence deserve a second chance, but there has to be some way for these players to express contrition for what they've done, especially when the legal system seems ill-equipped to do so," Merchant continued. "Too often, it feels like those misdeeds are wiped away the minute they sign a new contract. Bridges making his way back into the NBA doesn't feel materially different to me than Nunn or Kristaps Porzingis still having NBA careers, and it wouldn't surprise me at all."

The only other teams able to pay Bridges a substantial salary are the Indiana Pacers and Spurs—both considerably below the cap.

Multiple sources believe Bridges is unlikely to be censured by the league until he signs a contract. At that point, he will face suspension under the joint NBA/National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

To be levied by commissioner Adam Silver, the punishment could include fines, suspension and/or outright banishment from the league. For comparison, Jeff Taylor (who coincidentally at the time was playing for the Hornets) was suspended for 24 games in 2014 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence. But that was before the current policy, and Bridges' conviction is for a felony.

There is another relevant precedent. Jason Kidd, currently the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-wife in 2001 after he "acknowledged that he struck his wife ... resulting in a cut on the inside of her mouth and slight swelling to her lip," per ABC News.

Kidd continued to play through the 2012-13 season, immediately transitioning into coaching in 2013-14 with the Nets. He's been gainfully employed either as a head coach (Milwaukee Bucks and Mavericks) or as an assistant (two years with the Lakers) since retiring as a player.

Bridges' return should not be surprising and should feel inevitable. His conviction doesn't include incarceration, and it is his prerogative to find the highest-paying job in what is typically a short career relative to other career pursuits.

The Hornets invested in and developed Bridges and may feel they should be the team to benefit from his return to the NBA.

If there's any worry about the fans welcoming Bridges back to the court, Kidd's career arc suggests they overlook such actions (which should be as uncomfortable to read as it was to write).

---

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

The NBA's Last Two Minute Report for Wednesday's Sacramento Kings at Miami Heat game revealed that Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro should have been called for traveling prior to his game-winning three-pointer to cap a 110-107 victory.

BOY WONDER FTW 🪄 pic.twitter.com/25KdV9o7nG

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 3, 2022

"Herro (MIA) ends his dribble by gathering in the air and landing on both feet (although his left lands slightly before his right)," the report reads.

"When he moves his right foot, he establishes his left foot as his pivot foot, which he then lifts and replaces to the floor before taking his jump shot."

Herro, who nailed the shot with 1.8 seconds remaining, scored 13 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter.

If Herro were called for the travel, the Kings would have gotten the ball with about four seconds remaining and the game tied at 107. They didn't have any timeouts left to reset, but overtime looked as if it would be their worst-case scenario.

Instead, the Kings found themselves down three needing to go full court for a tie. Matthew Dellavedova found Domantas Sabonis down court, but the big man committed an offensive foul that all but ended the matchup.

Afterward, Kings head coach Mike Brown voiced his displeasure over the missed call while also noting the lack of a whistle wasn't the difference in the game, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

"Tyler Herro’s a great player. But at the end, he traveled. He traveled on the last play, and I would not be doing my job if I didn’t come up here and protect my guys. My guys fought their behind off for close to 48 minutes, and to pump fake on a sidestep, a sidestep or hop, and then one-two and a shot and not make that call, to me, it’s just unbelievable.

"It’s not why we lost the game, although I don’t think we got a fair whistle. And I hope when the officials go back and look at the game, they could see it."

With the loss, the Kings fell to 2-5 on the year. The Heat improved to 4-5 after their second straight win.

Charlotte Hornets restricted free agent Miles Bridges is reportedly facing three years of probation but no jail time after pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge Thursday, per ESPN's Baxter Holmes.

Holmes explained the no-contest plea and deal with prosecutors means the 24-year-old accepted the punishment he was given without formally admitting guilt.

He previously pleaded not guilty to the three felony charges that were filed against him by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon's office in July.

Bridges was arrested in June and released on $130,000 bail. He was accused of assaulting a woman who was his girlfriend at the time in front of their two children.

He faced a felony count of injuring a child's parent and two felony counts of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

"We are aware of the charges that were filed today against Miles Bridges," the Hornets said in a July statement. "These are very serious charges that we will continue to monitor. As this is a legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time."

According to Holmes, the woman approved Thursday's agreement that saw Bridges plead no contest to one count of domestic violence toward a spouse or cohabitant with the other two charges dismissed.

The agreement and three-year probation also require the following:

• 100 hours of community service
• Weekly narcotics tests
• No ownership of guns, dangerous weapons or ammunition
• 52 weeks of domestic violence counseling
• 52 weeks of parenting classes
• A 10-year protective order requiring him to remain 100 yards away from the woman
• A restitution fine of $300
• A domestic violence fine of $500

Since he and the woman still share custody of their two children, visitation and exchange must be completed through a neutral third party so there is no violation of the protective order in place.

Bridges has been in the NBA since the 2018-19 season and has only played for the Hornets.

Holmes noted the team extended a qualifying offer to the forward prior to his arrest and would have the opportunity to match an offer sheet he signs with another club. Yet the NBA also has the right to impose discipline should he sign with another team in an effort to return to the court.

As the Miami Heat looks for an offensive spark amid a slow start, it doesn't sound like Victor Oladipo is very close to making his season debut.

On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast (h/t Jonathan Sherman of HeatNation.com), ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Oladipo is not "anywhere close" to playing in games.

The Heat announced Oladipo was held out of practice on Oct. 18 due to left knee tendonosis.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters later that same day he didn't "want to put any expectations out there about Vic," though he was "extremely encouraged" about the work Oladipo put in during training camp and the preseason.

There was hope Oladipo could play a key role off the bench for Miami during the 2022-23 campaign. He appeared in each of the team's final 15 playoff games last season, including a 23-point effort in a 97-94 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Injuries have derailed Oladipo's career since he made back-to-back All-Star appearances. He has only played 96 regular-season games since the start of the 2018-19 season.

A ruptured quad tendon suffered on Jan. 23, 2019, when Oladipo was playing for the Indiana Pacers, has been the main source of his health issues. The 30-year-old missed 12 months rehabbing from the original injury.

Oladipo initially announced he wouldn't return to play when the 2019-20 season resumed in the Orlando bubble to do rehab work on his quad tendon, but he changed his mind shortly before the Pacers' first game.

The Pacers traded Oladipo to the Houston Rockets in January 2021. He made 20 starts with the Rockets before being dealt to the Heat two months later.

Oladipo had a second surgical procedure on his quad tendon in May 2021 that prematurely ended his season. The Heat signed Oladipo to a two-year contract extension in July.

Miami has won back-to-back games following a 2-5 start, but its offense ranks 19th in rating (111.7) and 26th in points per game (109.1).

The Miami Heat started the season 2-5, capped by a loss to the previously winless Sacramento Kings.

After that game, Heat star Jimmy Butler made a bold statement.

Jimmy Butler with a big proclamation. 😳 pic.twitter.com/naUdihmwaq

— theScore (@theScore) November 1, 2022

The playoffs are months away, but the Heat may have turned their season around immediately after that comment with a 116-109 comeback win over the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.

Golden State led by as many as 10 points, but Miami outscored the Dubs 30-15 in the final 12 minutes for the win. Butler broke a 109-all tie late with a three-point play before adding a 17-footer with 9.5 seconds left for a 114-109 edge.

🗣 AND OOOOONE

After the free throw, we lead 112-109 with 1:48 left. pic.twitter.com/b6yEXpVHjc

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 2, 2022

HIMMY pic.twitter.com/JYz1CSOWXn

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 2, 2022

On a night when the Heat lost Tyler Herro early due to a left eye contusion, the rest of the team stepped up to hold off the Warriors and Stephen Curry, who posted a 23-point, 13-rebound, 13-assist triple-double.

Butler led the charge with 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Max Strus came off the bench for a game-high 24 points in relief of Herro. Bam Adebayo overcame a slow start to finish strong with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Twitter praised Butler and the Heat for their strong finish to the game.

On a day where Jimmy Butler says, at 2-5, Miami "is still winning the championship," beating Golden State is a hell of way to back it up.

— Bryan Fonseca 🇵🇷 (@BryanFonsecaNY) November 2, 2022

They got a lot tonight

Max Strus and Duncan Robinson shifted the offense

Bam Adebayo kept things in front late on both ends

Jimmy Butler coasted, yet came up big when they really needed him

Big win

— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) November 2, 2022

Jimmy Butler is a guy I'd want taking the last shot in a game. The guy is clutch

— NorthernRising (@Northern_Rising) November 2, 2022

Jimmy Butler might be the best shooter playing in this game.

— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) November 2, 2022

It's early but as far as important Ws go, that was monumental. Lowry was superb in the 4th. Bam was tremendous all throughout. Strus/Robinson were integral w/out Herro. With the game on the line, the defense and Jimmy Butler closed it out. Turn the season around? This might be it

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) November 2, 2022

𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘽𝙖𝙢 ✋
𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘺 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨 ‼️

Bally Sports+ is a new option to watch Heat basketball. Learn more here ➡️ https://t.co/hwGGqyQJsh#HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/0EoXDGwqPM

— HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) November 2, 2022

The Heat will now look for revenge against the Kings when they host them Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler remains supremely confident about the team's NBA title aspirations despite a slow start to the 2022-23 season.

"We're still going to win the championship, and I don't care what nobody says," Butler told Sam Amick of The Athletic in an interview released Tuesday. "Count us out. We're going to win the f--king championship. I'm telling you. I don't give a damn that we started 2-5."

Miami's early struggles have centered around a sluggish offense, which ranks 26th in points per game (108), 25th in field-goal percentage (44.9) and 24th in offensive efficiency (107.9 points per 100 possessions).

The Heat are coming off back-to-back losses to the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings to wrap up a three-game road trip, and their first game back home Tuesday night is a rematch with the reigning champion Dubs.

A tough slate has certainly been a factor in the early going, as Miami's strength of schedule ranks as the fifth-toughest in the NBA, per TeamRankings.

Butler told Amick there have been stretches in games where the Heat showcase their potential but that now it comes down to playing at that level "consistently."

"Yeah, we're 2-5, but we straight," Butler said. "We've got time, man. We've just got to play with a little bit more urgency and realize how fragile this thing is, trust in one another and play basketball the right way on both sides of the ball. There's a lot of good things, so I don't get discouraged."

A slow start isn't necessarily uncharted territory for the Heat.

In 2020-21, Miami started the campaign 7-14 before finding its stride en route to a 40-32 record that ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Butler is convinced an even more impressive turnaround is on the horizon this season.

"Y'all will look back at this, and be like, 'Oh man, they started 2-5 and they ended the season f--king 77-5,'" he told Amick.

While that's a bit ambitious, the Heat have a golden opportunity to start turning things around over the next few weeks. Six of their next seven games are at home, and aside from games against the Warriors and Phoenix Suns, most of the contests are highly winnable.

Even some modest offensive improvement should put Miami back on the path toward a playoff berth, leaving concerns about the slow start in the rear-view mirror.