The Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat are both facing major challenges, largely due to questionable personnel decisions. For the Dolphins, these fall on general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel, who have made both smart and regrettable acquisitions. Despite having a relatively easy 2024 schedule, Miami underperformed, finishing below .500 despite a roster featuring several elite players. Beyond roster decisions, coaching issues—such as questionable play-calling and an inability to maximize the team’s deep passing game—also played a role in their struggles.
For the Heat, the post-Jimmy Butler era has been marked by missteps in veteran player acquisitions, largely under the leadership of team president Pat Riley. While the team does lack high-end talent, it has still underachieved with a roster that includes multiple former All-Stars and key role players. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has acknowledged some mistakes, but the team’s struggles—particularly its fourth-quarter collapses—raise questions about both coaching decisions and the offensive system.
Blaming only roster construction would be inaccurate. Both teams have fallen short of expectations despite having enough talent to perform better. While Spoelstra and McDaniel deserve the opportunity to turn things around, they will need support from their front offices—and the ability to maximize the talent they do have.