The Indiana Pacers are the kings of the Eastern Conference, becoming the fifth different conference champion since the LeBron James-led Cavaliers secured four-straight East titles (2014-18).
The Miami Heat, who were mercifully swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers (who self-combusted to these same Pacers!), endured their worst season in a decade. Few expected the Indiana Pacers to make the NBA Finals, but they are a team beautifully constructed under the new CBA. What could the Heat learn from their roster construction? Let’s examine!
Having a floor general matters:
I think this will be the most important point because the Heat has been a bottom-third offense each of the last three seasons without a legitimate floor general since Kyle Lowry’s departure. A true point guard is a dying breed, and the Pacers have one of the best in the NBA in Tyrese Haliburton.
The beautiful thing about Haliburton is how remarkably efficient he is as a scorer and passer. It’s hard to do just one efficiently as a lead guard–let alone both at a near-elite level. Rick Carlisle has also done a masterful job of empowering his best players. Though Haliburton is the conductor of that freight train, one of the most efficient offenses of the modern era.
Miami doesn’t have a floor general; I’ve campaigned for Isaiah Stevens, but he did miss nearly two months of the G-League season due to injury and still had parts of his game that he needs to iron out. Three of the four teams that made the conference finals had very good point guards with great offenses. I don’t think that was by mistake.
Obtaining young, distressed assets carries upside:
Two young assets that Indiana bought low on were Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith. They acquired Toppin for a pair of second-round picks in the summer of 2023 while acquiring Nesmith as a throw-in in the Malcolm Brogdon trade in 2022. Both players were former lottery picks who weren’t in the right situations; sometimes, a change of scenery is all that is needed.
Miami already has one example with Davion Mitchell. Mitchell was a former top-10 pick who bounced around two different spots before finding a (temporary?) home in South Florida. Remember the cost, too: P.J. Tucker and a second-round pick.
That’s the value of having second-round picks at your disposal–which the Heat don’t.
Finding those “distressed” assets that fit is far easier said than done, but the Pacers struck gold with a few of the players they acquired and meshed together. The Heat is no stranger to finding diamonds in the rough, but will that track record continue? Time will tell.
Trading star players (when you’re not contending) at their peak value isn’t always a bad thing!
Once again, I’m not advocating for the Heat to blow it up to smithereens.
However, when you’re not contending, trading players at peak value–especially when you’re devoid of assets (like the Heat have been)–isn’t the worst idea. They messed that up with Butler last offseason, but now have a chance to capitalize on Tyler Herro’s value if they’re not going to pay him.
Historically, this is not how the Heat has operated and, to a certain extent, I commend them for it. But the Pacers traded Paul George, who turned into Domantas Sabonis (and Victor Oladipo), who turned into Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson. Obviously, more dice were rolled and they built a legitimate contender with depth. They also sold high on Brogdon as an expiring and it worked out for them.
You have to win more than just one trade–no duh. And you don’t trade players just to trade players–you have to strike when the iron’s hot. We aren’t privy to the conversations of what may or may not be on the table for Herro or others of value. One could bet that there isn’t a Haliburton-esque player there. But as Miami transitions into this new phase, bypassing sell-high opportunities can’t be an option if you’re not contending.
Tough defenders are the best:
Nastiness. Toughness. Tenacity. Deflections. Bulldogs. Complimentary traits that matter defensively. The Pacers have prioritized that with Nembhard, Nesmith, McConnell, Walker, etc. Mitchell has it; Bam Adebayo has it. Haywood Highsmith has shown glimpses of being disruptive, but those reps were less consistent in 2024-25. The rest of the roster? Not enough grittiness defensively.
Get back to your identity. Add more dawgs to the kennel. Defense wins championships, and while the Heat were a top-10 unit, they weren’t consistently tough enough, and it showed.
