The Miami Heat limped through an injury-filled season in 2017-18, but managed to finished 44-38 and get into the playoffs, where they were dispatched by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games.
The Heat played without Dion Waiters for 52 games, without Hassan Whiteside for 28 — although some of those absences were coach’s decisions — and got only 18 games from Rodney McGruder, an important projected piece of their rotation.
What the Heat did get last season was a first All-Star appearance from 31-year-old Goran Dragic, who led the team in scoring and assists and some solid play from young veterans Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson.