NBA: Way-too-early playoff predictions for the 2021-22 season

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Miami Heat Bam Adebayo (Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports) /

5. Miami Heat

After adding Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, and Markieff Morris, all while retaining Duncan Robinson and Victor Oladipo, there are high hopes once again for the Miami Heat heading into this season. I don’t think many expect this team to make another NBA Finals run, but it’s not completely off the table if a few things fall their way.

Ultimately, success for this team will likely fall on the shoulders of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. If those two are the all-NBA players that they have the capability of being, there’s no question that the Heat will be a factor in the East this season.

How far they can go remains to be seen, but I feel like the floor for this team, assuming they remain healthy, is the sixth seed. The East is just so deep. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if this team finished in the top 3.