NBA Southeast

Udonis Haslem will return to the Miami Heat for his 20th—and final—season in the NBA.

The 42-year-old announced his decision to sign a new contract with Miami during an appearance at his youth camp on Sunday.

Haslem also noted that he will retire at the end of next season:

Udonis Haslem added that this will be his final season. “One more year,” he said.

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) August 21, 2022

Haslem appeared in 13 games for the Heat last season, averaging 2.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

Playing time has been limited for the veteran forward in recent years, appearing in just one game in 2020-21 and four in 2019-20. In the past six seasons, Haslem has just 58 total appearances and zero in the postseason.

The Heat still recognize his value as a locker room presence, giving him the option to return each season despite minimal on-court contributions. On the day free agency opened, the organization sent a "delegation of employees" to Haslem's vacation home to convince him to return for the 2022-23 season.

Despite the team interest, Haslem was unsure about returning as of last week.

"For me, it's just a lot going on," he told Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. "I have a lot of things that I had to really, really think about."

He is now ready to return, joining Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant as the only NBA players to spend an entire career of at least 20 seasons with one franchise.

Haslem has helped the Heat win three NBA titles, playing significant minutes during each of the playoff runs. He appeared in 44 combined postseason games, making 30 starts, in 2012 and 2013 as Miami won championships behind LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Even if it would be a smaller role, he is looking to earn a fourth ring with a team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

It appears the Boston Celtics and TD Garden might need to make some substantial upgrades to its locker room for visiting NBA teams.

Miami Heat veteran Duncan Robinson slammed the Celtics for having the worst locker room in the league for visiting teams.

"If you walked in and said, 'This is a high school locker room,' I would say that's a s----y high school locker room,'" Robinson said on his podcast, The Long Shot, per Sports Illustrated's Jayden Armant.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, who was making a guest appearance on Robinson's podcast, agreed with Robinson's comments.

"The Boston Celtics locker room is the worst visiting team locker room in the NBA," Connaughton said.

Both Robinson and Connaughton spent a significant amount of time in Boston's visiting locker room last season.

The Celtics eliminated the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games before eliminating the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in as many games. The Bucks had to play Game 7 at TD Garden, while the Heat played Game 7 in Miami.

If more opposing players speak up about Boston's locker room for visiting teams in the near future, then maybe the team will make some upgrades. But for now, it's likely it will remain the same.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro said the team's front office should let the roster "run it back" after reaching the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

YouTube star Jake Paul asked Herro how he'd approach the rest of the NBA offseason amid trade rumors linking the Heat to a pair of superstars, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell:

KD or Spida in South Beach this year?

Nah, @raf_tyler wants to run it back with the same squad 🔥 pic.twitter.com/e5rNgfIhvr

— betr (@betr) August 19, 2022

It's been a quiet offseason for Miami. It lost forward P.J. Tucker to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency but re-signed guard Victor Oladipo. The most notable addition so far was first-round draft pick Nikola Jovic, who doesn't figure to make a major impact right away.

Although the Heat have been linked to both Durant and Mitchell throughout the summer, there's been nothing to suggest a blockbuster trade is imminent, so Herro may get his wish of running it back with the same core.

They've been a consistent contender since Herro arrived in 2019. They reached the NBA Finals in his rookie season before falling short against the Los Angeles Lakers.

As it stands, Miami features one of the NBA's deepest rotations, led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but whether there's enough high-end star power to chase down a title is up for debate.

That's the main reason they've been linked to KD and Mitchell. Team president Pat Riley explained in June the front office would explore all possibilities, but noted the high cost of acquiring elite talent would be a factor.

"If there's one out there, throw 'em to me," Riley told reporters. "But you can always use more, but it's got to be a good fit, but not at the cost of doing something that could be prohibitive."

Should the Heat ultimately stand pat, they're going to need a bounce-back year from Kyle Lowry and for Herro to take another step forward in his fourth season.

They open the 2022-23 campaign Oct. 19 against the Chicago Bulls, giving Riley and Co. two more months to decide whether there's a roster-altering move worth making.

Herro is hoping that type of deal doesn't come to fruition.

The Orlando Magic haven't made the playoffs since the 2019-20 campaign, but that could change with the influx of young talent the franchise has had over the last several seasons.

Orlando's starting five is expected to feature all first-round picks—Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.

What makes the lineup the most exciting it's been in a long time is the addition of Banchero, who was selected first overall in the 2022 NBA draft. Many believed Jabari Smith Jr. would be the No. 1 pick, but Banchero climbed to the top after a Zoom call with the Magic just two days before the draft.

Banchero starred at Duke as a freshman in 2021-22, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 39 games while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from deep.

The 19-year-old also delivered some impressive performances during the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League, which gave the organization some confidence that he will succeed at the next level.

The Magic also feature a talented bench that includes Markelle Fultz, R.J. Hampton and Jonathan Isaac, which makes them even more of a threat to earn a playoff spot this year.

That said, here's a look at Orlando's 2022-23 schedule, championship odds, top matchups and season forecast.

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2022-23 Magic Schedule Details

Season Opener: at Detroit Pistons

Championship Odds: 500-1 (via FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Oklahoma City Thunder (First Game: Nov. 1)

The Magic and Thunder are two of the youngest teams in the NBA, which means we're going to be in for one of the most exciting matchups of the 2022-23 season when these two meet for the first time on Nov. 1.

It will also mark the first meeting between Banchero, the 2022 No. 1 pick, and Chet Holmgren, the 2022 No. 2 overall pick, at the NBA level. The pair previously met during their freshman seasons at Duke and Gonzaga, respectively, during the 2021-22 season.

The Blue Devils won that game 84-81, and Banchero finished with 21 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal, while Holmgren finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Beyond that, the Thunder also feature a lineup that includes Josh Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Darius Bazley, which will make for an interesting matchup against the Magic.

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Houston Rockets (First Game: Nov. 7)

Like the Thunder, the Rockets also are one of the NBA's younger teams, meaning that we will get a good look at what the future of the league holds when the Magic meet them for the first time on Nov. 7.

It will also mark the first-ever meeting between Banchero and 2022 No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith Jr., who was widely expected to be taken first overall by Orlando before the franchise flipped and selected Banchero.

Houston's lineup also includes Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Jae'Sean Tate. Put that lineup against the lineup of the Magic and we'll be in for one of the more exciting matchups of the season.

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Season Forecast

While the Magic are going to be fun to watch this season with all of their young talents, it will be difficult for the franchise to compete in an increasingly difficult Eastern Conference that includes the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks.

It will be difficult for Orlando to compete for a playoff spot in general, especially after they finished last in the East last season with a 22-60 record. In addition, teams like the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks all got better with offseason acquisitions, so the Magic could be in for another disappointing year.

However, there's optimism that this team can begin to turn things around in 2022-23, especially behind a new franchise cornerstone in Banchero, so they should at least fair better than they did in 2021-22.

Record Prediction: 27-55

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The Washington Wizards missed the playoffs last season, but they have high hopes for the 2022-23 campaign with a fully healthy Bradley Beal available.

Washington's starting five should look a lot better this season following the addition of former Denver Nuggets veteran Will Barton and a full season of Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks last year.

In addition, the Wizards selected Johnny Davis 10th overall in the 2022 NBA draft out of Wisconsin, and he's slated to be the team's starting point guard to accompany Beal at shooting guard.

Davis had an impressive 2021-22 season for the Badgers, averaging 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31 games while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor and 30.6 percent from deep.

The Wizards will be hoping his game translates at the next level, or they'll be spending another season searching for that extra piece to put alongside Beal.

This will also mark Washington's second season under head coach Wes Unseld Jr., who was hired ahead of the 2021-22 season to replace Scottie Brooks. If his roster can remain healthy, he'll be expected to guide the team to the postseason.

All that said, here's a look at Washington's 2022-23 schedule, championship odds, top matchups and season forecast.

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2022-23 Wizards Schedule Details

Season Opener: Oct. 19 at Indiana Pacers

Championship Odds: +16000 (via FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Dallas Mavericks (First Game at American Airlines Center: Jan. 24)

While the Mavericks visited the Wizards toward the end of last season, Porzingis will make his highly anticipated return to Dallas on Jan. 24 in what should be an exciting matchup.

The Wizards acquired Porzingis and a second-round pick in the 2022 NBA draft from the Mavericks last season in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.

Porzingis had spent two-and-a-half seasons in Dallas before being moved to Washington, and a lot of his time with the Mavericks was marred by injuries. In 17 games with the Wizards last season, he averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 blocks.

The 27-year-old will be looking to prove to the Mavericks that they made a mistake by trading him, though it seems as if he's a better fit in Washington anyway.

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Boston Celtics (First Game: Oct. 30)

One of the most difficult matchups of the season for the Wizards will come against the Boston Celtics. However, it's always a good battle between lifelong friends Beal and Jayson Tatum, who grew up together in St. Louis.

The Wizards defeated the Celtics in their first two meetings of the 2021-22 campaign. There's no reason to believe they can't compete with the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

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Season Forecast

Health will be a huge factor for the Wizards during the 2022-23 campaign, and it could be a determining factor in whether the team reaches the playoffs.

Beal missed half of the 2021-22 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. Porzingis, meanwhile, has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and Kuzma also missed time last season because of injury.

Making sure Beal, Porzingis and Kuzma remain healthy will need to be a priority for Unseld, and if that means resting them every so often, then so be it.

If the Wizards can remain healthy, they could compete for one of the lower seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They could land anywhere from the sixth seed to the eighth seed.

Record Prediction: 46-36

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The Charlotte Hornets enter the 2022-23 campaign having not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, but the franchise has high expectations this year after making a few changes over the summer.

One of the biggest changes was firing head coach James Borrego and hiring Steve Clifford, who previously coached the franchise from 2013-18.

However, it'll still be difficult for the Hornets to compete in a tough Eastern Conference that includes the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat.

That said, here's a look at some of Charlotte's top games, championship odds and a record prediction for next season.

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2022-23 Hornets Schedule Details

Season Opener: Oct. 19 at San Antonio Spurs

Championship Odds: +12000 (via FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Atlanta Hawks (First Game: Oct. 23)

The Atlanta Hawks beat the Hornets 132-103 in last season's play-in tournament, which marked the second straight year Charlotte had been blown out in the play-in round.

After being embarrassed, the Hornets will be looking to get a little revenge in 2022-23.

However, that will be no easy task as Atlanta bolstered its starting rotation over the summer by acquiring Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs. It now boasts a starting five that includes Murray, Trae Young, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins and Clint Capela.

While the two teams split their regular-season series in 2021-22, it seems Atlanta might have the upper hand in 2022-23, though Charlotte should not be overlooked.

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Boston Celtics (First Game: Nov. 28)

One of the more difficult matchups of the season for the Hornets will come against the Boston Celtics, which reached the 2022 NBA Finals before falling to the Golden State Warriors.

It won't be easy for LaMelo Ball and Co. to go up against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, but the Celtics offense should also see a boost in 2022-23 following the acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers, making things even more difficult for Charlotte.

That said, if the Hornets can hang with the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, it will be a good sign for a team that will likely be battling for one of the lower playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

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Season Forecast

The Hornets are one of the most exciting teams in the NBA with their mix of young talent and athleticism. But that's not going to be enough to help them get over the hump in 2022-23.

Ball can be reasonably expected to take another step forward this coming season. Miles Bridges remains a free agent, though it's hard to know what his future in the NBA is after being accused of domestic assault by his girlfriend. The 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to three felony domestic violence charges in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, per ESPN's Baxter Holmes.

The Hornets will have to hope Gordon Hayward can remain healthy. He hasn't played more than 49 games in a season since the 2019-20 campaign but, he's a solid contributor when healthy.

Charlotte could be a competitor for the East's No. 5 seed, but it could also fall anywhere from the No. 8-10 seeds with competition in the conference on the rise.

Record Prediction: 45-37

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The Atlanta Hawks will hope a rebuilt rotation will be enough to climb the standings in the Eastern Conference.

After losing to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs last season, Atlanta added a key piece this summer with the trade for Dejounte Murray. The organization also acquired veterans Justin Holiday and Maurice Harkless while drafting high-upside guard AJ Griffin.

These players join a rotation with two-time All-Star Trae Young and impact centers/forwards Clint Capela and John Collins, creating a dangerous lineup that can match up with nearly anyone in the league.

The Hawks also gave up several key players from last season, though, losing Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari in trades and Delon Wright to free agency. These players ranked second, fifth and eighth in minutes played in 2021-22, respectively, and won't be easy to replace.

It creates some question marks, but expectations are high heading into 2022-23.

Smile, the schedule is here 😁

Delivered by @PapaJohns pic.twitter.com/bHGGp9T0ua

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) August 17, 2022

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2022-23 Hawks Schedule Details

Season Opener: Oct. 19 vs. Houston Rockets

Championship Odds: 55-1 (FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Miami Heat (First Game: Nov. 27)

The Boston Celtics won the Eastern Conference last season, but the Heat remain a team to beat after posting the best record in the league in 2021-22.

Miami also embarrassed the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, cruising to an easy series win in five games.

Young was especially held in check, averaging just 15.4 points and 6.0 assists per game in the series on 31.9 percent shooting, including 18.4 percent from three-point range. He shot 5-of-23 from the field in the last two games, both losses.

On the other hand, the series was a breakout for De'Andre Hunter, who averaged 21.2 points per game with 35 scored in the Heat's clinching Game 5. The forward has the talent to take the next step, but he needs to show it more consistently.

This game could be an opportunity for Hunter to show his ability, Young to bounce back and the entire team to show it's a real contender in the East.

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New York Knicks (First Game: Nov. 2)

While Young struggled against the Heat last year, he remains a star against the New York Knicks.

The point guard torched the Knicks during their 2021 playoff matchup, and he kept it up in the 2021-22 season, averaging 35.7 points in three games. In his last trip to Madison Square Garden, Young scored 45 points on just 25 shots.

It has made him one of the biggest enemies in New York City.

The Knicks were also targeting a trade for Murray before Atlanta swooped in for the former San Antonio Spurs guard.

You can be certain fans won't be too excited to watch Young and Murray play together against New York.

It could create an exciting atmosphere when the two Eastern Conference foes battle at MSG.

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Season Forecast

The backcourt experiment will be an interesting one as head coach Nate McMillan designs his offense around two guards who averaged over nine assists per game last season.

Murray, who set a career high with 21.1 points per game and earned his first All-Star selection, might have to concede some touches to the ball-dominant Young after joining Atlanta.

The addition is still a big one for the Hawks, giving the team a much-needed secondary scorer and an elite perimeter defender. With Murray's ability to match up with an opponent's top weapon and Capela's shot-blocking inside, Atlanta should improve significantly on the defensive end.

After finishing 26th in defensive efficiency last year, this will go a long way.

The Hawks might still be a step below the elite teams in the East—including the Heat, Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks—but they have the talent to compete with anyone and should be playoff-bound.

Considering this team reached the Eastern Conference Finals just two years ago, another deep run is possible.

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Record Prediction: 48-34

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The Miami Heat have put themselves consistently in championship contention in recent years, highlighted by a trip to the 2020 NBA Finals, and now they'll look to secure the franchise's fourth title.

Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro remain the roster's strong foundation, but the Heat are going to need a bounce-back year from Kyle Lowry, who struggled while dealing with a hamstring injury in last season's playoffs, to come out of the Eastern Conference.

Miami will continue to lean heavily on Lowry to help run the offense after a quiet offseason with mostly depth additions and subtractions.

Barring a blockbuster trade—Kevin Durant was linked to Miami following his trade request from the Brooklyn Nets—the Heat are betting on internal improvement as they look to get past the reigning East champion Boston Celtics and the conference's other contenders.

Let's check out the key information about the Heat's regular-season slate following the NBA's schedule release. That's followed by a look at some key matchups and a season outlook.

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2022-23 Heat Schedule Details

Season Opener: Oct. 19 vs. Chicago Bulls

Championship Odds: 15-1 (via FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Boston Celtics (First Meeting: Oct. 21)

The Heat and Celtics faced off in the conference finals last season. Miami surged to an early 2-1 lead in that series before ultimately falling short in six games. It wouldn't come as a surprise if there's a playoff rematch on the horizon.

Before that, both teams will be focused on trying to lock down a high seed in the East, which has become far more competitive and balanced over the past few years. The conference featured 10 teams with a record over .500 in 2021-22.

Miami edged Boston for the top seed last season, but each of the top four teams ended up within two games of each other, so there wasn't much margin for error atop the standings.

Aside from the importance in the big picture, the battles between the Heat and Celtics feature no shortage of great head-to-head battles, led by Butler vs. Jayson Tatum and Herro vs. Jaylen Brown.

It sets the stage for some of the most intriguing regular-season matchups of the campaign.

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Philadelphia 76ers (First Meeting: Feb. 27)

Miami pushed past Philly in the second round of last season's playoffs on the strength of a standout series from Butler, who spent the 2018-19 season with the Sixers.

You'd struggle to find someone with more competitive fire than Butler, and he showed it again after knocking the 76ers out of the playoffs:

“Tobias Harris over me?” Damn Jimmy Butler 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/Avvkjpglsq

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 13, 2022

The six-time All-Star is tough to slow down regardless of the circumstances, but he becomes nearly unstoppable when playing with a chip on his shoulder, which is why his clashes with the Sixers are so entertaining.

Beyond that, the games are important for the same reasons as the Heat vs. Celtics in terms of jockeying for position in the conference.

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Season Forecast

The balance of power in the East could shift significantly depending on whether Durant is ultimately traded, especially if he lands with a team like the Heat or Celtics, so that situation continues to hang over the league following the schedule release.

As it stands, Miami is likely ticketed for a similar regular season to last year based on the limited roster turnover throughout the summer.

The Heat have some possible upside depending on the performance of Lowry and Victor Oladipo, who's shown occasional flashes of a return to being an impact player.

If the two veterans can showcase consistent play closer to their peak form earlier in their careers, it would provide a major boost to Miami's outlook, especially at the offensive end.

The team won't have a ton of youthful contributors beyond Herro unless rookie Nikola Jovic is able to carve out a spot in the rotation, so it can't bet too heavily on the more standard internal growth that other contenders tend to rely on when they don't make splash offseason moves.

Ultimately, the Heat should cruise to another postseason appearance, but what they accomplish in the playoffs will be the deciding factor in whether the season is a success.

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Record Prediction: 52-30

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Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro isn't outwardly concerned with the multitude of past and present trade rumors involving his name.

"I mean, every summer, that's just what it is," Herro told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel at a team-sponsored back-to-school event Tuesday.

"I mean, ever since I've been here, my name's been in rumors. So rumors, like I said last summer, they don't bother me. I’m just getting ready for this season, and whether I'm on the Heat or somewhere else, I'm getting ready for the season."

Herro's name was notably floated in rumors involving Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell this year.

He was also suggested as a potential trade piece involving then-Houston Rockets guard James Harden in 2020, and Ethan J. Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports reported that there was a "75 percent chance" Herro would get traded during the 2021 offseason.

While that did not happen, trade rumors have occurred during or after each of Herro's three NBA seasons.

The former Kentucky star made the 2019-20 All-Rookie team after posting 13.5 points per game during the regular season.

He shone during the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals, when he averaged 19.2 points per contest (including a series-high 37 in Game 4) against the Boston Celtics en route to helping the Heat make the NBA Finals.

After averaging 15.1 points during his second campaign, the 22-year-old broke out last season, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors. He posted 20.7 points on 44.7 percent shooting (39.9 percent from three-point range) alongside 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per matchup.

Unfortunately, a strained groin slowed him down and also held him out during last season's playoffs. He was held to just 78 minutes over four contests in the Heat's seven-game Eastern Conference Finals loss to Boston.

Despite all of the trade talk, Herro is still a member of the Heat, whose Jimmy Butler-led nucleus from last year's top-seeded Eastern Conference team remains intact.

The Miami Heat are still in pursuit of Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell, but they reportedly have a backup plan in place.

Sean Deveney of Heavy spoke to an executive who believes acquiring Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets is Miami's "Plan B."

“If you want to give up [Tyler] Herro before you pay him and you want to move [Duncan] Robinson, you would have to add a pick, but those two guys and Omer [Yurtseven], that might be enough to get Hayward if the Hornets decide to reconfigure," the executive said. "It’s a short-term move for Miami, but they need to make their move now. You can play him at the 3 and go big or go small at the 4. He’s a guy they’ve had interest in before.”

The Hornets were reportedly exploring a trade of Hayward ahead of the 2022 NBA draft but did not make a move. It's unclear how motivated the Hornets are to make a move now, especially given the uncertain NBA future of Miles Bridges, who is currently facing domestic violence and child abuse charges.

Regardless, it's almost a lock that Herro would not be involved in any trade for Hayward, barring some previously unknown falling out with the organization. Herro is a 22-year-old coming off winning Sixth Man of the Year; Hayward is a full decade older and hasn't played more than 72 games in a season since 2019.

Even if the Heat add Robinson's contract to the mix, there's no world in which moving Herro in a deal for Hayward makes sense. Robinson's five-year, $90 million contract has proved to be a misfire from Miami's perspective, but Hayward's locked in for $61.6 million over the next two years. Robinson's guaranteed only $64.4 million over the next four seasons.

A more logical Hayward-to-Miami deal could be consummated after Jan. 15, when the Heat could package Victor Oladipo, Robinson and a draft pick.