External expectations for the Miami Heat's 2025-26 NBA season sit somewhere between tempered and nonexistent. They're effectively off the national radar, with most projections predicting they'll hover around .500 and find themselves in the Eastern Conference's play-in fight once again.
For some franchises, this might be a slap in the face. With this Heat group, though, they wouldn't have it any other way. They've shocked the hoops world before—looking at you, eighth-seed-turned-NBA-Finalist 2022-23 Heat—and they're quietly poised to do it again.
They may have scored the biggest heist on draft night and the biggest heist of trade season.