The Heat highlight the battle of develop players vs. sell tickets. The NBA fan looks at player development in the lense of the NBA season ONLY. Many NBA teams tend to approach player development with one question: “Are they ready to play in a game?” Unfortunately, when a player can sell tickets and has had a successful college career, the answer is easy and leads to problems.
Year-round transition from college to pro
Rookies can’t transition easily to the professional game and need to learn to become “a pro.” They have to learn about money management, “new friends” that ask for money, being “an adult” instantly. Then the players have to acclimate to the physicality of the game. They are playing against equally matched players in speed and physical stature.
One can understand why Miami, focuses on developing players that are “in the development machine” instead of trying to sell tickets with big name rookies. During the 2023 NBA Finals, the Heat’s big storyline was the nine undrafted players that were on the team. The Heat organization views themselves as a true professional basketball team, not “an entertainment selection.”
Heat try for the “whale” but “don’t put their eggs in the basket”
Yesterday, Heat fans fainted as the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery. Every Heat fan thought that the lottery was rigged at that moment because the opportunity for Cooper Flagg was gone. This thought is simply about “selling tickets” and being excited to attend Heat games.
Cooper Flagg won’t be good individual player right away. That allure will wear off quickly. The Heat are among targeted teams for Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokumpo. There is no doubt that the Heat will sign one of those players. But, if they don’t, they will prepare to continue with their basketball development and bide their time. As a fan, I would rather have a basketball franchise with this viewpoint (instead of trying to ONLY sell tickets.)
