Former NBA sharpshooter Danny Green doesn’t seem to believe that the Miami Heat have a high playoff ceiling in the 2025-26 season.
Danny Green says the Heats CEILING is 6th seed and avoid the play in
“The ceiling for me, unless they make a move, that roster, they can be top 6 and avoid the play in but I don’t see them getting out of 1st round unless Spo really out coach somebody like Milwaukee”
(Via… pic.twitter.com/5RZgx3KsX3
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) November 10, 2025
Green essentially said that as currently constructed, the Heat could avoid the play-in as a top-six seed but aren’t going to make it out of the first round unless head coach Erik Spoelstra outcoaches a team like the Milwaukee Bucks. Green later acknowledged the Orlando Magic as another team that could be a good matchup for the Heat, particularly if Spoelstra outcoaches Orlando.
Miami is 6-4 through the first 10 games of the season. It hasn’t had star guard Tyler Herro available for any of those matchups. In addition to that, star big man Bam Adebayo has missed time with a toe injury.
Despite the injuries, the Heat have played over .500 basketball, and newcomer Norman Powell has looked like a solid addition to the team, as he’s averaging 23.3 points per game.
The Heat have made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons under Spoelstra, so it’s not a surprise that Green expects them to be in the mix for a top-six spot.
However, Miami has failed to make it out of the first round in back-to-back seasons, losing to the Boston Celtics in the 2023-24 season and the Cleveland Cavaliers last season.
It’s possible the Heat will make a move to bolster their roster at the trade deadline, but team president Pat Riley and company may want to see how Miami looks at full strength with Herro, Adebayo, Powell and others all in the rotation.
The Eastern Conference is certainly more open than it has been in previous seasons since stars Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Halliburton are both sidelined with Achilles injuries. So, even though Green is down on the Heat’s chances, they may be able to change his line of thinking by earning a higher seed by the end of the regular season.
The Heat are back in action on Monday night against the Cavaliers, as they look for revenge from last season’s playoff loss. Miami would love to pick up a win at home over a Cleveland team that is widely expected to be one of the best in the NBA this season.