Getty Image / Paras Griffin
The last few years have been surprisingly successful for the Miami Heat.
They made it to the NBA Finals 3 years ago and Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
This season, they were expected to once agin find themselves among the best teams in the East. Unfortunately, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for the Heat.
They have struggled to an 11-14 record so far this season, which sees them just outside the playoff picture for this season. They’ve dropped 8 of their last 11 games and were embarrassed at home by a Detroit Pistons team that is among the worst in the league, losing by 20 points.
With the Heat struggling, Charles Barkley is calling for the team to begin trading away some of their players and start over.
Charles Barkley on the Miami Heat: "It might be time to break the team up and start over." pic.twitter.com/GdOzAwLvDP
— Main Team (@MainTeamSports) December 7, 2022
They’ve got some contracts [that are no good]. So they need to start over. That’s my personal opinion. [Where it’s like], ‘Hey, trade some of these guys to contenders or teams [that can] get us some young guys and start over.’
Some of the recent struggles for the Heat can be attributed to Jimmy Butler dealing with an injury, but this team is also definitely hampered by some of its contracts.
The Heat are paying Duncan Robinson just under $17 million this season to barely play. Victor Oladipo is making almost $9 million and has only played 1 game this season. They are also paying Kyler Lowry $28.3 million to shoot under 40% from the field.
Contracts like these have held the Heat back from being able to get the one piece they really ned to be a true contender in the NBA. They haven’t gotten another star to play alongside Butler.
With that not appearing to be an option right now and with the team struggling, moving on from some of these contract before the trade deadline and focusing on future season just might be the best option for the Heat.