Exactly 1 year removed from NBA Finals, just four players left with Heat
HOUSTON — It was a year ago, 12 short months, 365 days, that the Miami Heat found themselves in the midst of the 2020 NBA Finals. On this date in 2020, the Heat and Los Angeles Lakers were in the middle of a two-day break between Games 4 and 5 of that series.
Flash forward 12 months, and it is somewhat extraordinary how much has changed for Erik Spoelstra’s team, amid this two-game preseason trip for exhibitions against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
Of the 12 players the Heat utilized in the 2020 NBA Finals, when they fell two victories shy of a championship, only four players remain. Four.
Jimmy Butler.
Bam Adebayo.
Duncan Robinson.
Tyler Herro.
That’s it. Yes, Udonis Haslem and Gabe Vincent (who was on a two-way contract at the time) still are on the roster from that team, but neither saw action in those 2020 NBA Finals.
One year later, much has changed, and for more than the NBA crowning a subsequent champion in July.
“It’s crazy, but that’s the way that the league is,” Butler said, having adjusted to a variety of teammates in stops with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. “You play with a lot of guys throughout your NBA career. But just to think that a year ago that many people are gone, that’s how quick this thing happens.
“You’ve got to be fortunate and win now, because you never know what tomorrow may bring. That’s a fine example of it.”
That transformation, of course, began last season, when, from that NBA Finals rotation, Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones Jr. and Solomon Hill left in 2020 free agency, Crowder to the Phoenix Suns, Jones to the Portland Trail Blazers, Hill to the Atlanta Hawks.
Then, last season, Meyers Leonard was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kelly Olynyk to the Houston Rockets.
And this offseason, Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn and Andre Iguodala moved on, Dragic to the Toronto Raptors, Nunn to the Los Angeles Lakers, Iguodala to the Golden State Warriors.
go. We’re on a bye week. I know Coach Diaz has the team focused on getting ready for a big game [against North Carolina on Oct. 16] in Chapel Hill. That’s not going to be an easy one.
“I don’t think they get any easier along the way. Every week in the ACC is going to be a battle, and our guys need to be ready to go. That’s what we’re focused on: getting more checks in the win column.”
Similar to Diaz, James emphasized the importance of recruiting and continuing to bring in top prospects.
“You saw a lot of freshmen out there against Virginia,” James said.
“We’ve seen a lot of our young guys are finding a way onto the field, really fighting to get that starting spot. That’s something you want to see. You want to see continued growth.
“Recruiting is a key lifeline for the program. We want to see the quality of young people coming in continue to elevate. That’s what every program is focused on.
“Coaching up the guys we have to get the most out of [them], and going out and find[ing] those, that will continue to grow our program.”