2008–09 Miami Heat season


The 2008–09 Miami Heat season was the 21st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association.
Following a disastrous 15-67 season, Pat Riley resigned as head coach, and promoted Heat assistant Erik Spoelstra to become the new head coach; he was the youngest NBA head coach at the time of his hiring. With a healthy Dwyane Wade back in the lineup, the Heat greatly improved on their regular season record and returned to the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games, all of which were decided by double-digit margins.

Key dates

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
12Michael BeasleyForwardUnited StatesKansas State
252Darnell Jackson ForwardUnited StatesKansas
234Mario Chalmers GuardUnited StatesKansas

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

Playoffs

The Miami Heat returned to the playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference after a 15-67 season in 2007–08 matched up against the Atlanta Hawks who in 07-08 as the eighth seed took the champion Boston Celtics to 7 games in a first round series after being predicted by many not even to win a game.

First Round: (5) [Miami Heat] vs. (4) [Atlanta Hawks]

Transactions

Trades

The Heat traded Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks, and cash to the Toronto Raptors for Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon, and a $4 Million trade exception on February 13, 2009.

Free agents

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer team
Shaun LivingstonOctober 3LA Clippers

Subtractions