ESPN doesn’t see the Miami Heat as one of the East’s true heavyweights heading into the 2026-27 NBA season, even after the franchise landed Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson.
That’s the surprising part of the latest contender rundown. On paper, Miami checks a lot of the boxes teams usually need to make a real run.
Erik Spoelstra brings championship-level coaching and a track record of steering the Heat into the postseason no matter how messy the injury situation or rotation puzzle gets. Bam Adebayo now has Antetokounmpo and Thompson beside him, two players who have already won the Larry O’Brien trophy as either a first or second option.
And despite the losses of Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis in the Antetokounmpo deal, the roster still has depth.
Tim Hardaway, Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontecchio, and Ryan Conwell have all signed new deals, while Spoelstra also has flexibility with Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, Pelle Larsson, Nikola Jovic, and Bobby Portis in the mix.
Still, ESPN slotted Miami seventh in its Eastern Conference contenders list, projecting the Heat as a 47-win team. The full order had the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons tied at the top at 53-29, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers at 51-31, the Philadelphia 76ers at 50-32, the Boston Celtics at 48-34, the Atlanta Hawks at 47-35, then Miami.
The Toronto Raptors were next at 45-37, with the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic both at 44-38. The Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Chicago Bulls were all projected at 31-51, while the Milwaukee Bucks were at 25-57 and the Brooklyn Nets at 18-64.
ESPN pointed to the health of Antetokounmpo as the major variable hanging over the Heat’s ceiling. As the outlet put it: "Miami and Toronto acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard, respectively. After pulling off such seismic deals, both teams will begin the season considering themselves top contenders - pending the health of those stars,"
If Antetokounmpo stays on the floor, the numbers could be enormous. Basketball Reference’s 2026-27 Per 36 Minutes Projections have him at 31.6 points on 60.2% shooting from the field, plus 11.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and a block. Those marks would set career highs in points, rebounds, and assists.
Miami already showed last season that it can score in bunches. The Heat posted a +2.2 net rating, good for 13th in the NBA, with a 116.7 offensive rating and a 114.5 defensive rating during the 2025-26 season. They also finished second in the league in points per game at 120.9, and they did it without Antetokounmpo or Thompson.
Doubts around newly assembled contenders are nothing new. Some teams have gone on to win the championship with lower expectations than this. For now, though, ESPN has the Heat on the outside of the top tier, with Spoelstra, Adebayo, and Antetokounmpo left to prove the projection wrong.
In Other News...
Former 76ers Pick Could Make Philly Regret Letting Him Go
Charles Basseys NBA path has taken him a long way from the nights when the 76ers drafted him five years ago and then struggled to find him steady minutes. After moving on from Philadelphia, the big man has bounced around to multiple teams, but this offseason brought a cleaner opportunity: a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, where the center depth chart is far less crowded and a real role is available.
For the 76ers, that kind of setup is exactly what can sting in hindsight. Bassey has long looked like the sort of player whose value depends on minutes and trust, and Golden State may be the place where both finally arrive. If he settles into the Warriors rotation and becomes a dependable piece, Philadelphia will be left wondering whether it let a useful frontcourt option slip away too early. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Suddenly Face One Huge Question About Maxeys Role
The 76ers have spent the summer building a roster that looks as star-heavy as any in the league, and that naturally changes the conversation around everyone else in the rotation. With Jaylen Brown and LeBron James now in place, the attention has shifted to how the pieces fit, not just whether the talent is enough, and former NBA players Jason Williams and Patrick Beverley have both weighed in on the potential of the new setup.
For Philadelphia, the most interesting part may be less about the headline names than about where that leaves Tyrese Maxey in the pecking order. When a team adds two players with that kind of resume, the question becomes how the ball moves, who initiates, and how the group keeps its best players involved without losing the edge that made the roster so dangerous in the first place. The 76ers look built to contend, but the way those roles settle could end up being just as important as the talent itself. [Read more 🡒]
VJ Edgecombe Just Sent The 76ers Message Fans Wanted
VJ Edgecombe spent part of the conversation pushing back on the idea that a bigger-name Philadelphia roster would automatically mean a smaller lane for him. With the 76ers adding All-Stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, there has been an obvious question about how much room Edgecombe will have to develop and how his touches might shift, especially for a player still carving out his place in the rotation.
Edgecombes answer was simple enough: he plans to stay aggressive offensively no matter how the minutes or shot chances break down. That mindset matters for Philadelphia, which is expected to manage his usage and lineup fits carefully so he can contribute alongside the stars instead of disappearing next to them. For a young player trying to prove he belongs, the challenge now is less about role anxiety and more about making sure his confidence travels with the changing roster around him. [Read more 🡒]