East Notes: Heat, projections, Celtics, Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton

Heat

Despite back-to-back first-round exits that weren’t especially competitive, the Heat actually climbed in ESPN’s latest long-term power rankings.

Per ESPN, Miami moved up three spots thanks to top-10 marks in management, market and money.

With Jimmy Butler no longer on the roster, the Heat are not projected to be a luxury tax team.

That opens the door for potential spending power in the summers of 2026 and 2027, a key factor in their improved outlook, ESPN writes.

Celtics

A year ago, the Celtics were still riding high as the defending champions and looked set to control the Eastern Conference for years to come.

Then came Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury in May, followed by a second-round exit and the departures of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in cost-cutting trades.

It’s a reminder, ESPN opines, of just how quickly things can change in the NBA. Even so, Boston still boasts a strong core of Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, with Brad Stevens running the front office and Joe Mazzulla on the bench.

Assuming Tatum is healthy again by 2026-27, ESPN expects the Celtics to bounce back quickly.

Pacers

Indiana’s story is one of what might have been. As ESPN points out, had the rankings been compiled during the Pacers’ march to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals, the debate would have been how high to slot them in the top 10.

Instead, Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles rupture looms large. While he’s expected back for the final two seasons covered in these future rankings, the Pacers face fresh questions after the departure of center Myles Turner — most notably about ownership’s willingness to pay the luxury tax.