We'll get to the Miami Heat's chances of winning an NBA title in just a moment in this weeks Miami Sports Weekly Rundown.
I'm David Baumann with your Miami Heat Season Preview.
I've been covering the NBA for 14 seasons... One fewer than Udonis Haslem has spent in a Heat jersey.
NBA 2017-18 Season Miami Heat Predictions
That said, I think a Miami Heat season preview 100% NEEDS to start with a mention of Udonis Haslem returning for a 15th season.
He's been with the Heat so long (yup, I'm starting with "he's so old" analogies)...
...that when Haslem was making his NBA debut in 2003, international soccer star Christiano Ronaldo was making his pro debut at the same time for Manchester United.
Here's what else was happening around the world at that time...
- Saddam Hussein had just been captured in Tikrit.
- Andre Agassi had just won an Australian Open.
- Carson Palmer had just been drafted #1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.
- Barry Bonds had just stolen a base to become the first player in MLB history to record 500 steals and 500 home runs.
- The original Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl movie just made its debut... and so did Finding Nemo.
- And Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" had just been named song of the year by the Grammys.
OK, I think you get the picture... Udonis Haslem is old!
But, for real... MUCH RESPECT to "U.D." for sticking around the same NBA team for 15 seasons.
He's a three-time NBA champ and the Heat's all-time leading rebounder.
Incredible feat.
So what's in store for this team in 2017?
Well, this was a team that went 41-41 the year before... narrowly missing out on the playoffs.
The Heat did make a remarkable 30-11 run to make a strong push toward the playoffs, although they fell just short.
Taking a look at this 2017-18 team... The core returns, minus power forward Luke Babbitt, who they let walk to the Atlanta Hawks for a minimum deal.
But Babbitt is easily replaced by newcomer Kelly Olynyk, the Heat's lone major free agent acquisition, from the Boston Celtics.
He signed a four-year $50M contract.
Olynyk, a 7-footer, can light it up from three-point range (36.8% career 3's), and he enjoyed a solid postseason last year for the C's.
But he's no star... And I don't think he's got star quality.
Only flashes.
His middle-of-the-road career stats as follows:
A very steady 9.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG. 36 career starts in 278 games played over four seasons.
Again, I'm not holding my breath for a breakout season for Olynyk.
My guess is he'll remain right around that same pace, which should still be fine and productive.
Returning at center is stat-stuffer Hassan Whiteside, the team's leading moneymaker at $23.7M this year.
Whiteside got into an interesting beef with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid recently on social media. It's nice to see some sort of budding rivalry between two big men who want to be the best at their position in the East!
That junk-talking between those two could be fun to follow heading into the regular season.
So go ahead and circle the Heat-Sixers games on the schedule this year.
The team's leading scorer at 20.3 PPG, Goran Dragic, returns as point guard. Although he's a constant focus of trade rumors.
We'll see if Dragic can finally go through a full season without being one of the most popular names to be thrown about at the February trade deadline.
Josh Richardson started the final 13 games of the season at shooting guard and posted 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists per game on the year.
Justice Winslow hasn't started a regular season game since December 30, 2016, due to a torn labrum, but now says he's "100% healthy."
As Winslow continues to recover, I expect Richardson to start... But I could envision Winslow taking over that starting role late on in the year.
Speaking of injuries, Rodney McGruder had surgery Tuesday, October 17 to repair a "surprise" stress fracture in his leg.
He had no idea of the extent of the injury until a recent diagnosis.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said, "Whatever you say the timetable is, Rodney's going to come back sooner."
He's out indefinitely.
Fresh off a career-best season, Dion Waiters got a fresh new contract (4-years, $52M). He'll turn 26 this winter, so he's just entering his prime.
And boy, even though Waiters only played 46 games last seasons due to injuries, he racked up some memorable shots, none bigger than this game winner against the Warriors!
James Johnson returns as a power forward. He had a solid all-around year: 12.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG and 3.6 APG.
Another all-around guy, guard Tyler Johnson returns. He had similar numbers to James Johnson: 13.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.2 APG.
And veteran journeyman guard Wayne Ellington is back. He had arguably his best season yet in Miami this past year.
Also back: Okaro White, a second-year forward from Florida State.
So who's gone? Josh McRoberts (to Dallas), Willie Reed (to LA Clippers) and Babbitt.
Who's new? Rookies Bam Adebayo (Kentucky), Derrick Walton, Jr. (Michigan) and Matt Williams (UCF). Both Walton, Jr. and Williams are on two-way contracts, meaning they can only spend 45 days in the NBA, and the remainder of the year on the team's G-League affiliate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Adebayo looked very good in both Summer League and although he got off to a sluggish preseason, he finished strong.
You should hope for him to make a potential impact.
Also added are seven-foot free agent big men A.J. Hammond from Dallas, Jordan Mickey from Boston, and Olynyk.
And now, for the odds...
Vegas Insider has only nine NBA teams with better chances of winning an NBA title this season.
They've got the Heat tied with the Nuggets, Pelicans, Sixers and Raptors with 100/1 odds to win it all.
And Bovada has the Heat tied with the Lakers with the 12th best odds to win it all (+10,000).
All of Las Vegas has the Golden State Warriors as the runaway favorites to win the title.
So here's my prediction:
The Heat will go 44-38 this season and make it to the first-round of the NBA Playoffs. I think they'll likely get knocked out then, but if all goes well.. and some of the young guys blossom quickly... or if Olynyk proves me wrong and becomes a borderline All-Star, then I think the Heat could potentially make some noise and pull off a first-round upset.
Feel free to hold me to the fire if I'm wrong about anything.
The Miami Heat open the regular season on the road at the Orlando Magic Wednesday night.
You can follow Sports Columnist David Baumann at @DavidBaumannORL on Twitter.
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