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Woj: 'Don't Sense' Kawhi Leonard Leaves Clippers to Sign Heat Contract Despite Rumors

May 18, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers smiles during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on May 13, 2021 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  Mandatory Copyright Notice:  Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers smiles during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on May 13, 2021 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kawhi Leonard is hoping to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to an NBA title this postseason, but the five-time All-Star's future is becoming a source of discussion since he can opt out of his current contract this summer. 

On the latest episode of The Woj Pod (starts at 41:50 mark), ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported he "doesn't sense" that Leonard will leave the Clippers amid rumors he could join the Miami Heat. 

After the NBA trade deadline on March 25, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on The Jump that the Heat's midseason moves to acquire Victor Oladipo, Trevor Ariza and Nemanja Bjelica left them with flexibility for the summer to pursue Leonard since none of those three players is under contract past this season. 

Windhorst did note that it would take "some kind of miracle" for Leonard to decide he wants to leave the Clippers. 

The free-agent class of 2021 has been decimated by several superstars who could have hit the open market deciding to sign new deals.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert and Jrue Holiday are among the players who have signed extensions. 

Leonard has a $36 million player option on his current deal for the 2021-22 season. The expectation is that he will opt out and sign a new contract with his hometown team after signing with the club as a free agent in the summer of 2019. 

George, who also had a player option on his previous contract, signed a four-year, $190 million extension in December. 

The Clippers have gone 96-48 in two seasons with Leonard and George as their top two players. Leonard has averaged 26 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 109 games since the start of 2019-20. 

Giannis, Bucks Beat Heat 122-108 as Jimmy Butler Sits with Injury Before NBA Playoffs

May 16, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks brings the ball up the court in the game against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 13, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks brings the ball up the court in the game against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 13, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks' quest for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs stayed alive with a 122-108 home win over the Miami Heat on Saturday at Fiserv Forum.

Milwaukee scored 44 first-quarter points to propel itself to a 16-point lead after 12 minutes. The Bucks led by as many as 24 points in the game, but Miami stopped the bleeding and cut the deficit to as few as 11 points in the fourth quarter.

However, that's as close as the Heat would get, as Milwaukee shot 53.5 percent (65 percent at halftime) from the field en route to the 14-point win. Seven Bucks scored in double digits, led by Khris Middleton and Bryn Forbes with 21 apiece. Reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo pitched in 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The Heat were without Jimmy Butler (lower back tightness). Kendrick Nunn stepped up as the team's top scorer, tallying a game-high 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting.

The 46-25 Bucks will move from third to second with a road win Sunday over the Chicago Bulls and a Brooklyn Nets home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 39-32 Heat, who saw their four-game winning streak end, fell to sixth in the Eastern Conference.


Notable Performances

Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists

Bucks F Khris Middleton: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists

Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists

Heat G Kendrick Nunn: 31 points, 6 rebounds

Heat C Bam Adebayo: 5 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists

Heat G Duncan Robinson: 17 points


Bucks' Balanced Offense Propels Milwaukee

It was a good day at the office for the Bucks rotation, which featured a relentless and balanced attack that elicited no answer from the Heat defense.

Brook Lopez made all but one of his 10 shots. Middleton (8-of-12) was efficient as well.

The onus wasn't on Giannis to do much offensively with his teammates providing more-than-adequate support.

Only one player took more than 12 shots in Jrue Holiday, who paced the team with 10 assists and masterfully orchestrated the unstoppable Bucks attack.

This dish was probably the best of them, with Lopez getting behind the Heat defense to finish Holiday's lob pass:

The bench proved to be a big problem, too, with Forbes knocking down five of six three-pointers and Bobby Portis adding 14 points of his own.

Their collective effort forced Miami to play catch-up all game, with Nunn having to play some hero ball to keep the Heat alive.

But Nunn's effort wasn't enough with the Bucks proving too strong. Milwaukee dominated from all over the court, even outscoring Miami 50-34 in the paint.

Giannis played a big part in that difference:

He also put defenders in the spin cycle.

The Bucks benefitted from playing the Heat without Butler, but their efforts were impressive nevertheless, allowing Milwaukee to keep the positive momentum going with the playoffs just one week away.


Heat Can't Match Bucks' Firepower Without Butler

The Heat sorely missed Butler on this night, as Miami struggled to contain Milwaukee on defense and couldn't find many answers on offense outside Nunn, who kept this game from being a complete blowout.

Miami shot just 27-of-78 (34.6 percent) from the field sans Nunn. The bench in particular got nothing going, shooting a combined 12-of-35.

In the starting lineup, All-Star center Bam Adebayo struggled, making just two of his nine shot attempts. He helped keep the offense afloat with a team-high eight assists, but the Bucks' deep offense was too much to overcome.

This would clearly have been a different game with Butler on the floor. The five-time All-Star is averaging a team-high 21.5 points on 49.7 percent shooting, 7.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. His ability to be a menace on both ends of the floor should have kept Miami in the game into the fourth quarter.

The bottom line, however, is that the Heat struggle without Butler. Miami is 6-13 with Butler sidelined and 33-19 otherwise this year, per Basketball Reference.

His excellence on both ends has led to Butler having the fifth-most win shares in the entire NBA (9.3), per Basketball Reference.

His defense, particularly in the first quarter, was missed.

Ultimately, this game was a very hard test for Miami against a Bucks team still having something to fight for even with the regular season winding down Sunday. The Heat fought valiantly after getting punched in the mouth after 12 minutes, but Milwaukee was just too strong in the end.


What's Next?

Miami closes the regular season with a road game Sunday against the Detroit Pistons at 8 p.m. ET in Little Caesars Arena.

Milwaukee will visit the Bulls on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.

Jimmy Butler Won't Play for Heat vs. Bucks Because of Back Injury

May 15, 2021
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) in action during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) in action during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler will miss his team's road game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday due to lower back tightness.

Per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Nemanja Bjelica will replace Butler in the starting lineup.

Butler has missed time this season with ankle and knee injuries and has not played more than 65 games since the 2016-17 campaign.

When healthy, he is the go-to leader for the defending Eastern Conference champions as someone who can stuff the stat sheet by attacking off the bounce, shooting from the outside and defending the opponent's best player on a nightly basis.

He is a five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and four-time All-Defensive selection.

The Marquette product is averaging 21.5 points, 7.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game this season as the Heat look to return to the NBA Finals.

While Miami does not have anyone in its lineup who can replicate Butler's impact, look for the combination of Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro and Andre Iguodala to see more playing time if he is sidelined following this latest setback.

Heat Insider: Victor Oladipo's Future Hinges on MIA Pursuing FAs Like Kawhi, Lowry

May 15, 2021
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 8: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat celebrates during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 8, 2021 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Carlos Goldman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 8: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat celebrates during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 8, 2021 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Carlos Goldman/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Miami Heat have a lot of flexibility going into the offseason, with the option to either add high-profile free agents or keep the current roster intact.

One key question mark will be the future of Victor Oladipo, who played just four games with the Heat before requiring surgery on his injured quadriceps. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the injury could force the guard to miss the first half of the 2021-22 season.

Winderman explained the team's plans going into the summer:

"The chances of Oladipo returning to the Heat could come down to whether the team attempts to maximize salary-cap space to sign an outside free agent, such as Kyle Lowry or, possibly, Kawhi Leonard, or instead opts to operate above the salary cap and prioritize retaining the current roster."

The 2021 free-agent class has fewer game-changing superstars than past years, especially after Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a new deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

But Kawhi Leonard could hit the open market if he declines his $36 million player option. There are also proven veterans possibly set to hit the market like Kyle Lowry and Chris Paul, as well as intriguing restricted free agents like John Collins and Lonzo Ball.

The Heat have done a good job of limiting long-term commitments with Jimmy Butler ($36 million) and Bam Adebayo ($28.1 million) the only high-priced players on the books for 2021-22. Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala are the only other players with guaranteed money, while Goran Dragic and Andre Iguodala have team options.

With that flexibility, Miami can add a high-priced free agent to create a Big Three alongside Butler and Adebayo, hoping the supporting cast will be enough to compete for a title.

If it instead decides to run it back with the current squad, which sits fifth in the Eastern Conference and made the NBA Finals last season, there could be new contracts for contributors like Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn.

The trade for Oladipo didn't go as planned because of his injury, but the Heat also acquired his Bird rights in the deal with the Houston Rockets. It gives them the ability to add an extra year to an extension as well as go over the salary cap to re-sign him.

When healthy, the two-time All-Star has proved he can be a difference-maker on both ends of the court. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in 2020-21 across 33 games with the Pacers, Rockets and Heat.

The Heat have showed they can compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference with this roster. Keeping the group together and adding more production from Oladipo could be enough to make another deep playoff run in 2022.

Windhorst: 'Good Chance' Victor Oladipo out Next Season After Surgery on Quad Injury

May 14, 2021
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 08: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat holds his right knee after being injured in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Arena on April 8, 2021 in Miami, Florida.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,  by downloading and or using this photograph,  User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 08: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat holds his right knee after being injured in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Arena on April 8, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Miami Heat shooting guard Victor Oladipo may reportedly miss the entire 2021-22 NBA season after Thursday's surgery on his right quadriceps tendon.

"They haven't announced it, but there's a good chance Oladipo's gonna miss all of next season," ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Friday's edition of the Hoop Collective podcast.

Oladipo, who was acquired by the Heat in a March trade with the Houston Rockets, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason with the conclusion of his four-year, $85 million contract.

The 29-year-old two-time All-Star made just four appearances with the Heat after the trade. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 33 games this season across stints with Miami, Houston and the Indiana Pacers.

Oladipo previously suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon in his right knee while a member of the Pacers in January 2019, and his latest injury to the knee came in an April 9 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Maryland native has enjoyed stretches of strong play over the past two years, he hasn't displayed the same high-end form he did prior to the injury. It's something he discussed less than a week before getting hurt against the Lakers.

"I had a lower extremity injury, so I wasn't able to use my lower extremity for a long period of time," Oladipo told reporters. "One leg is stronger than the other. I have some hypertrophy in one leg than the other. Working my way back and finding my balance is something I'm still continuing to work at."

Oladipo ranked ninth among all NBA players in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus during the 2017-18 season, his last full campaign before the knee problems.

Another full season on the sideline would further complicate his effort to return to the league's upper echelon and create questions about his upcoming foray into free agency.

Neither the Heat nor Oladipo have publicly provided a timetable for his return to action.

Jimmy Butler Says 'Nobody Intimidates' Heat: 'I Like Our Chances Against Anybody'

May 14, 2021
MIAMI, FL - MAY 13: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on May 13, 2021 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 13: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on May 13, 2021 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

After taking down the No. 1-seeded Philadelphia 76ers with a 106-94 win Thursday, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler said this was a sign of things to come in the postseason.

"I like our chances against anybody, honestly," he told TNT after the game. "Nobody intimidates us. … I think it's gonna be difficult to beat us four times."

With the win, the 39-31 Heat held on to the fifth seed. The 76ers (47-23) remained in first but are now just one game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets (46-24).

Butler, who was questionable pregame because of an eye injury, scored 21 points, and Bam Adebayo added 18 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. There were four other Heat players who reached double digits: Tyler Herro (18), Goran Dragic (15), Kendrick Nunn (13) and Trevor Ariza (10).

Even Udonis Haslem got in on the fun, making his first appearance of the season before he got ejected in under three minutes after earning two technical fouls for going at it with Dwight Howard.

The Heat shut down a Philadelphia team that could have clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory. Tobias Harris scored 21 points, with Shake Milton posting 12 points as the second-leading scorer for the 76ers. Joel Embiid was limited to six points, and Ben Simmons had eight.

"I just didn't think we were ready to play the game tonight," 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. "You could see it early. Everything hurt us; their man hurt us, their zone hurt us, our defense hurt us. … They got everything they wanted, moved faster, ran harder. South Beach is very tough."

As it stands, the Heat will face the fourth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the postseason. They'll wrap up the year on the road against the East's current No. 3 seed in the Milwaukee Bucks, followed by a trip to face the Detroit Pistons.

The 76ers will finish the season against the Orlando Magic on Friday and Sunday.

Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo Power Heat to Win Over Joel Embiid, 76ers

May 14, 2021
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots over Philadelphia 76ers forward Danny Green (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, May 13, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots over Philadelphia 76ers forward Danny Green (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, May 13, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The Philadelphia 76ers will have to wait at least one more game before clinching the top spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Had they won Thursday, it would have been theirs. But 21 points from Jimmy Butler allowed the Miami Heat to hold off the East's top team and earn a 106-94 victory.

The 39-31 Heat remain in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

As for the 47-23 76ers, Tobias Harris also dropped 21 points, but he had little help behind him in the loss. 

Notable Performers

  • Jimmy Butler, Heat: 21 PTS, 5 REB
  • Bam Adebayo, Heat: 18 PTS, 12 REB, 8 AST 
  • Tyler Herro, Heat: 18 PTS, 6 REB
  • Tobias Harris, 76ers: 21 PTS, 4 REB
  • Shake Milton, 76ers: 12 PTS, 4 REB

Jimmy Butler's Hot Start Fuels Heat

The 76ers won both of the previous tilts against the Heat this season, but that was amid the team's COVID-19 outbreak that left it with just eight available players. Among those sidelined were stars Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, so the team that Philadelphia previously faced was a different group than what it saw Thursday. 

Butler was questionable heading into Thursday with an eye injury, but he was seeing just fine from tip-off.

By the end of the first quarter, he led all scorers with 16 points on perfect shooting (five-of-five from the field, including three-of-three from the line). 

In addition to being the lift that the Heat needed to get on top of Philadelphia early, his performance was also historic: 

Udonis Haslem made his season debut, but it ended after three minutes when he was ejected for shoving Dwight Howard—who later earned his 16th technical foul of the season and is expected to be suspended for Friday's game against Orlando. 

He did manage to log four points on two-of-two shooting with a rebound before he was tossed.

Butler was quieted in the second quarter and didn't score, but Tyler Herro stepped up off of the bench to post 14 total points by the break. 

By the close of the third, Adebayo was the team's second-leading scorer with a double-double by way of 16 points and 10 rebounds, and was three assists shy of making that a triple-double. 

He didn't quite get there, finishing at 18-12-8, but six different players poured on double-digit scoring to help the Heat secure the win. 

Philadelphia Can't Climb Out of Early Deficit

The 76ers opened quickly with a 6-2 lead over the Heat, but they spiraled downhill from inside the 10 minute mark of the first quarter and didn't lead again. By the time there was 2:40 gone in the second frame, they fell into a 19-point hole.

Tobias Harris had 10 points, while Embiid was limited to four. 

Things didn't get too much better after the half. Philadelphia trailed by 19 heading into the break, with 14 total points from Harris to lead the way. Ben Simmons was the second leading scorer for the team, with six points. 

At the half, the 76ers were shooting just 37.5 percent from the field and a horrific two-of-10 from deep. Comparatively, Miami was hitting 57.5 percent of attempts and was 42.1 from beyond the arc. 

Even more striking was the fact that Philadelphia was out-rebounded 27-12 in the half. Allowing Miami extra chances was the last thing that a failing 76ers squad needed.

Danny Green finally joined the show in the third quarter, finishing the frame with 11 total points. But the 76ers, who were being out-rebounded 34-22, still couldn't keep pace with a Heat team that had five players scoring in double-digits. 

Defensively, the Heat were stepping up to stop the 76ers' attempts. Duncan Robinson led with a pair of blocks as the team combined for six. 

Harris, Green and Milton were the only players to score double-digits, with Simmons and Seth Curry recording eight and Embiid limited to six, ending the night getting out-rebounded 47-30. 

The 76ers started slow and just couldn't recover against a Heat team that came ready to avenge their earlier-season losses.

What's Next? 

The 76ers will face the Orlando Magic on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. 

Miami heads to face another top team in the East with an 8 p.m. ET tipoff against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. 

Heat's Victor Oladipo to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery on Quad Injury

May 12, 2021
Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball during a NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Saturday, April 3, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball during a NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Saturday, April 3, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Miami Heat star Victor Oladipo will undergo season-ending surgery on his right quadriceps tendon Friday.

The team said the timetable for his recovery is unknown for now.

The Heat didn't give up much to acquire the 28-year-old ahead of the 2021 trade deadline largely because he hadn't been the same player since he ruptured his right quad tendon in January 2019.

In only his fourth game with Miami, Oladipo immediately grabbed at his right knee after landing from a two-handed jam in the fourth quarter of a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on April 8.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rntTWn_5Hks

The Heat were initially cautious about saying anything definitive about the nature and severity of his injury.

Losing the two-time All-Star hurts Miami's quest to make another NBA Finals appearance, but the injury may be even more detrimental to Oladipo's next contract. The Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman reported on April 10 that it was "increasingly unlikely that Victor will get anything near a maximum deal this summer, in terms or annual dollars or even years, from the Heat or elsewhere."

DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas are both cautionary tales for how quickly persistent injuries can affect a star player's future earnings.

Oladipo now heads into the offseason with a big question mark surrounding the status of his right quad tendon.

Heat Clinch 2021 NBA Playoff Spot; Latest Eastern Conference Standings

May 12, 2021
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Heat won 96-94. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Heat won 96-94. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Heat clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs on Tuesday with a 129-121 road win over the Boston Celtics.

Here's a look at the latest Eastern Conference standings with four-plus days of regular-season basketball remaining following Miami's victory. The top six finishers will be guaranteed playoff berths, and the Nos. 7-10 teams will enter a play-in tournament to decide the final two seeds.

                    

Eastern Conference

1. Philadelphia 76ers: 47-22

2. Brooklyn Nets: 45-24

3. Milwaukee Bucks: 43-25

4. New York Knicks: 38-30

5. Atlanta Hawks: 38-31

6. Miami Heat: 38-31

7. Boston Celtics: 35-34

8. Charlotte Hornets: 33-36

9. Indiana Pacers: 33-36

10. Washington Wizards: 32-37

11. Chicago Bulls: 29-40

12. Toronto Raptors: 27-42

13. Orlando Magic: 21-47

14. Cleveland Cavaliers: 21-48

15. Detroit Pistons: 20-50

                

Expectations were high in Miami heading into the 2020-21 campaign after the team returned the key group that led them all the way to the NBA Finals, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bam Adebayo was there to hold things down from the 5, which helped as star Jimmy Butler missed 10 games in January to work through the league's health and safety protocols. 

At the trade deadline, they picked up extra pieces that helped push them over the edge in a tight Eastern Conference, where several teams were hovering around the .500 mark and trading playoff seeds back and forth even as late as the middle of April. 

Trevor Ariza came to town from Portland to share time with Nemanja Bjelica and Andre Iguodala in the front court, an area Jimmy Butler was dominating once he returned from his lengthy absence. Victor Oladipo found a home in Miami, joining the team from the Houston Rockets and pushing the more-than-capable Goran Dragic to the bench. However, he's been limited to just four games with Miami thus far due to a right knee injury.

The original pieces of the championship-contending Heat still starred throughout the 2020-21 campaign: Entering Tuesday, Butler averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and Adebayo was good for 18.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists with 1.0 blocks. Tyler Herro, who broke out in the postseason last year, embraced a bench role and averaged 15.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. 

Adebayo earned an All-Star selection, though Butler was snubbed, and in his return from the break, he showed that he deserved to be in Atlanta. 

His late-season surge, combined with the Heat's trade-deadline acquisitions, put them in position to make it to the postseason, but that was only the first step.

To get back to the NBA Finals in consecutive years for the first time since their four-year run from 2010-14, the Heat will have to bring the same energy into a bracket that also includes the Philadelphia 76ers, super-team Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks at the top. 

Woj: Heat's Duncan Robinson Could Get Contract Worth $20M Per Season in FA

May 9, 2021
Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson (55) looks to pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson (55) looks to pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson will enter restricted free agency this offseason, and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski thinks he's due for a significant pay raise. 

Robinson is only looking at a $4.7 million qualifying offer after earning $1.66 million in 2020-21, but Wojnarowski reported that teams may offer the 27-year-old around $20 million in an effort to get him away from the Heat (1:29 mark). 

Robinson, a Maine native and University of Michigan product, joined the Heat for the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League after going undrafted then signed a two-way deal with the franchise. He appeared in 15 games in his first year in the league but has been a starter for the team since. 

Through 67 games in 2020-21, he is averaging a career-best 31.6 minutes per game, with 13.0 points and 3.6 rebounds on 43.8 percent shooting from the field. He hit his 500th career three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 1, his 152nd game. The shot made him the fastest player in NBA history to reach the mark, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel

"That is a staggering statistic, if you think about it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It really is a credit to how much work he’s put into his craft, to develop his shooting ability, on the move, under duress, and evolve." 

According to Wojnarowski, Robinson, who had a league-leading 414 catch-and-shoot threes over the past two seasons entering Sunday's game against the Boston Celtics, could command a similar contract to Brooklyn's Joe Harris, who signed a four-year, $75 million deal in November.