After two trips to the NBA finals in 2020 and 2023, the Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat’s best days are likely behind them. After a series of issues with the franchise, the all-star 35-year-old wing has requested a trade out of South Beach, leaving Miami uncertain of its future direction. The Heat no longer have the star power to sustain a deep playoff run but are still too good to tank for a top draft pick. All-Star center Bam Adebayo is still just 27 years old, and 25-year-old Tyler Herro has taken a big leap as a ball handler this season. These two are both solid players who can feature on a contending team but, collectively, aren’t good enough of a core for the Heat to build around. Given these two truths, worries of long-term mediocrity surround Miami.

However, amidst this turmoil and uncertainty, rookie center Kel’el Ware has chipped in with glimpses of star potential. With his immense two-way talent, the 20-year-old big man may be the key to the Heat finding success in a post-Jimmy Butler reality.

The 15th overall pick hasn’t yet found consistency this season, but has shined in spurts of. greatness. He most recently exploded for 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Coming off the bench, he matched up with Victor Wembanyama and outscored last year’s Rookie Of The Year winner. In his second 25-point outing this season, The 7-footer’s tantalizing athleticism stood out as he took full advantage of his ground coverage skills and vertical tools to thrive as a play finisher. These athletic traits, combined with his budding skill as a shooter and off-the-dribble scorer give him vast two-way potential.

Ware’s potential is in line with Miami’s current best player, Bam Adebayo. The big man duo played extended minutes along one another in the frontcourt, and it proved to work as the Heat defeated San Antonio.

While Miami is still faced with a difficult decision to make about Jimmy Butler’s future with the franchise, Ware can help make this decision a bit easier with his excellence; the 20-year-old has given many reason to believe that he can be a future star for the Heat to rely on in a post-Jimmy Butler world.

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A massive yacht allegedly rented out by legendary hip-hop producer Metro Boomin burst into flames while docked outside one of Miami’s most popular strip clubs early Sunday morning, according to reports.

The fire broke out on the 95-foot-long vessel outside Booby Trap On The River only about 30 minutes after it docked at the adult entertainment club at around 3 a.m., Local10 reported.

Workers at the club immediately sprung into action to help evacuate about 10 people onboard the boat, including Metro Boomin and five crew members, according to the director of security at the Booby Trap on the River, Michael Marhefka.

“The boat pulled up and they were on the boat maybe 30 minutes at the dock and we noticed what sounded like fire alarms going off,” Marhefka told the local outlet.

“When we looked at the boat we did see some smoke inside the boat. We made the determination to evacuate the boat immediately.”

After everyone was safely removed from the boat, the flames continued to grow, engulfing the vessel and prompting a massive response from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue at around 4 a.m.

Fire officials said more than 30 units — some responding from land and others in fire rescue boats — were called to the scene to help extinguish the growing inferno, according to NBC 6.

The blaze, which officials said was challenging to put out because of the yacht’s size and fuel load, became so large that it drew a large crowd of onlookers in awe of the flames.

An unnamed witness at the scene told NBC 6 that the fire was “unexpected” and that she had never seen “anything like this.”

Another said the fire “scared” her and others because of its size.

The yacht ultimately sank into the Miami River. No injuries were reported, according to officials.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said they tried to limit the fuel runoff with “specialized oil spill response equipment that entails an oil-absorbent boom” after the fire was extinguished, according to the Miami Herald.

“This strong mesh-like sleeve encases a highly absorbent material that soaks up oil and surface sheen,” MDFR spokesperson Nicholas DiGiacomo told the outlet.

An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the blaze.

Metro Boomin, who has collaborated with artists such as The Weekend, Young Thug, Future, and Travis Scott, has not released a public statement about the incident.

The Florida State women’s basketball team welcomed rival Miami to the Tucker Center on Sunday, amidst the upcoming winter snowstorm that is expected to hit Tallahassee in the coming days. The Seminoles stayed hot and buried the Hurricanes 88-66.

FSU was led by junior superstar guard Ta’Niya Latson, who ended the night with 30 points, three rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Makayla Timpson broke the school record for career double doubles, notching the 42nd of her career as she scored 10 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

After the talented forward got the record, she was subbed out of the game to a standing ovation and a big hug from coach Brooke Wyckoff.

“It felt great, I’m just grateful for this moment,” Timpson said. “I don’t want it to end, but just grateful for my team and my coaches. They encourage me each and every day and I’m just grateful to do it here at the university.”

Senior forward Malea Williams got the scoring going for the Seminoles when she buried a 3-pointer off of the opening tip-off, followed by another 3-pointer from junior guard Sydney Bowles.

The next time down the court, senior guard O’Mariah Gordon, although small in stature, was able to get in the paint to grab a rebound while being surrounded by multiple bigger and taller Miami defenders for the put back to make the score 8-0. In the blink of an eye, the Seminoles were up big, but basketball is a game of runs.

Florida State and Miami settled into their games and what has become a trend for first quarters, the Seminoles began to struggle. Miami began a run of their own and took their first lead when senior guard Haley Cavinder buried a 3-pointer, followed by an uncontested layup by her twin sister, Hanna. Miami had the lead 13-10 and, at that point, Wyckoff had seen enough and took her first timeout with three minutes and 37 seconds left in the first quarter.

Wyckoff isn’t naïve about her team’s inability to start fast, especially during home games.

“I know they’re not trying to come out and have a slow start,” Wyckoff said. “They’re trying and there are just some things that we’ve got to adjust to, maybe adjust a little bit quicker and that’s on us to help them figure those things out, but I could sense that we we’re going to be OK.”

FSU came out of the timeout with a little more focus. Sophomore guard Raiane Dias Dos Santos buried a 3-pointer to stop the bleeding and tied the game at 13. The talented guard finished the night with six points, three rebounds, five assists and gave the Seminoles extended minutes.

“The No. 1 thing about Raiane is that she just stays ready,” Wyckoff said. “There’s been games where she’s played one minute, and she had the same attitude every single day. She’s a sponge, she wants to learn, she’s a great teammate and she can play both sides of the ball. I’ve loved her growth on the offensive and defensive end, so she’s just ready and she stepped up.”

The Hurricanes led 22-18 at the end of the first quarter. Florida State scrapped with the Hurricanes and was able to tie the game at 28 with five minutes and 12 seconds left until half with Latson at the line for two shots. She buried both to give the Seminoles the lead.

Miami went cold from the floor the rest of the half and FSU extended its lead after going on a 7-0 run, forcing Miami to use a timeout. After a Latson 3-pointer gave FSU a 42-30 lead with one minute and 16 seconds left, the guard wanted more and heaved a half-court shot as the half expired only to see it hit the back of the rim.

The ’Noles went into halftime with a 42-32 lead and looked firmly in control.

The second half belonged to the Seminoles, who came out hot with an 8-0 run capped off by back-to-back 3-pointers from Latson. From then on, it was tough sledding for the Hurricanes to get anything going offensively. Florida State let the Cavinder twins score a combined 15 points in the first half. In the second half, the Seminoles stymied them at every turn and the famous TikTok sisters were held to two points in the second half.

FSU put the Hurricanes away in the fourth quarter as a 12-2 run put the game out of reach, 85-61 with three minutes and 22 seconds left.

It doesn’t matter which sport, FSU fans, players and coaches will always cherish a win over the Miami Hurricanes.

“This one means just a little bit more,” Wyckoff said. “These women came out ready to go despite a little bit of a slow start in the first quarter. It was a full team effort today and that’s what you need against an in-conference rival, so just really happy with what we did today.”