Miami Heat needs to address in the offseason…

 dude where the hell will they get this kind of money lol?

 dude where the hell will they get this kind of money lol?

 Definitely let Chalmers go.  He has been non-existent in the Finals and Tony Parker has basically abused him.  The Heat definitely need an upgrade at the point.  Ray Ray is in ridiculous shape and is still the top 3 point shooter in the league.  I can’t believe he’ll be 40 next year.  Just a great player and has been so disciplined in keeping his conditioning and work ethic up well into his 30’s.  Love that guy.  I don’t really agree with bringing back Battier.  He’s like 36 and has played no significant role in the playoffs or the finals for the Heat.  Great guy, great leader, great teammate, but his production is basically not a factor now.  Can’t lock down guys on the perimeter anymore and the Heat need to get younger on the becnh.  I agree with bringing back Bird and Rashard.  

 Definitely let Chalmers go.  He has been non-existent in the Finals and Tony Parker has basically abused him.  The Heat definitely need an upgrade at the point.  Ray Ray is in ridiculous shape and is still the top 3 point shooter in the league.  I can’t believe he’ll be 40 next year.  Just a great player and has been so disciplined in keeping his conditioning and work ethic up well into his 30’s.  Love that guy.  I don’t really agree with bringing back Battier.  He’s like 36 and has played no significant role in the playoffs or the finals for the Heat.  Great guy, great leader, great teammate, but his production is basically not a factor now.  Can’t lock down guys on the perimeter anymore and the Heat need to get younger on the becnh.  I agree with bringing back Bird and Rashard.  

I’m not sure Miami will have many options if Wade opts in. I believe he would have another 2 years left on his contract at around 42 million. You already have an aging roster as it is. I’m not sure about the future and I don’t blame them for going all in (they still won two and are not out of it yet), but the biggest mistake they made is not getting some young guys to groom during this period. This is a team without a real fall back plan.

I’m not sure Miami will have many options if Wade opts in. I believe he would have another 2 years left on his contract at around 42 million. You already have an aging roster as it is. I’m not sure about the future and I don’t blame them for going all in (they still won two and are not out of it yet), but the biggest mistake they made is not getting some young guys to groom during this period. This is a team without a real fall back plan.

but only because the 1st 2 will not happen.

LeBron is more likely than not leaving and Allen is 50-50 on retiring, so add in if LeBron does leave Ray would look for a better title contender to chase a ring.

but only because the 1st 2 will not happen.

LeBron is more likely than not leaving and Allen is 50-50 on retiring, so add in if LeBron does leave Ray would look for a better title contender to chase a ring.

Chalmers has turned into the Roy Hibbert of these Finals….

Chalmers has turned into the Roy Hibbert of these Finals….

Ha…that would mean Chalmers was good at one point. You have to be good to disappear in my opinion. He’s been awful, but lets be honest Chalmers has never been a guy they NEED to get production from.

Ha…that would mean Chalmers was good at one point. You have to be good to disappear in my opinion. He’s been awful, but lets be honest Chalmers has never been a guy they NEED to get production from.

 The Heat do not have many options. Even if the big 3 opts out and resign for less, how much less do you think they’re resigning for? Miami is still stuck to filling out the team with veteran minimum players. I’m not sure about the mid level exemption if they’ll have it, but 5.5 million isn’t enough to get either Lowry or Gortat. The Heat need to pursue older vets that’ll take less to finally win.

Bigs- Okafor, Kaman, Frye (does he have a player option?), Hawes (with mle), Jermain O’Neal, Jordan Hill, Gooden

Pg- Hinrich, Mo Williams (LeBron can recruit him), but may be stuck with Chambers

 The Heat do not have many options. Even if the big 3 opts out and resign for less, how much less do you think they’re resigning for? Miami is still stuck to filling out the team with veteran minimum players. I’m not sure about the mid level exemption if they’ll have it, but 5.5 million isn’t enough to get either Lowry or Gortat. The Heat need to pursue older vets that’ll take less to finally win.

Bigs- Okafor, Kaman, Frye (does he have a player option?), Hawes (with mle), Jermain O’Neal, Jordan Hill, Gooden

Pg- Hinrich, Mo Williams (LeBron can recruit him), but may be stuck with Chambers

 Miami as a very top team will always be an attractive option to veterans willing to take minimum to try and chase a title.

I agree that Lewis will probably resign and Battier can still do a role when needed. Ray Allen I fully agree is in fantastic shape for one of the oldest guys in the NBA and can use his basketball IQ and know how to get himself into shooting positions for another few years yet. I wonder if Ray might get Miami to try and reach out to Paul Pierce to come to Miami, if PP would take minimum he’d be a great addition for the Heat for a year or two.

 Miami as a very top team will always be an attractive option to veterans willing to take minimum to try and chase a title.

I agree that Lewis will probably resign and Battier can still do a role when needed. Ray Allen I fully agree is in fantastic shape for one of the oldest guys in the NBA and can use his basketball IQ and know how to get himself into shooting positions for another few years yet. I wonder if Ray might get Miami to try and reach out to Paul Pierce to come to Miami, if PP would take minimum he’d be a great addition for the Heat for a year or two.

Heat’s big 3 need to re adjust their salaries to stay together and keep winning long term. Lebron is the only one that actually only deserves his high pay at this point. If they jointly agree to all have the same salary over say the next 3 yrs say at 15 million/yr or less each is reasonable sacrifice. RLewis and RAllen should be brought back at 2million/yr, not Chalmers. One of RSessions, JBayless, DCollison and if healthy NRobinson would fit nicely with Heat along with NCole. Then another big with Anderson and Oden is needed, PGasol if he is willing to go for a ring with a lower priced contract than he can actually get or some other mobile Bigs to help on interior D and rebound is needed also. Draft the best BPA in the late first or even get two 2nd rounders by trading back in this deep draft might be better. Jerami Grant, Jordan Clarkson and Clint Capela to stash overseas and save for money for FA’s, have the most potential to fit the Heat’s athletic style of play. Heat are actually lucky they are in the less competitive East, with Indiana the only really threat now.

Heat’s big 3 need to re adjust their salaries to stay together and keep winning long term. Lebron is the only one that actually only deserves his high pay at this point. If they jointly agree to all have the same salary over say the next 3 yrs say at 15 million/yr or less each is reasonable sacrifice. RLewis and RAllen should be brought back at 2million/yr, not Chalmers. One of RSessions, JBayless, DCollison and if healthy NRobinson would fit nicely with Heat along with NCole. Then another big with Anderson and Oden is needed, PGasol if he is willing to go for a ring with a lower priced contract than he can actually get or some other mobile Bigs to help on interior D and rebound is needed also. Draft the best BPA in the late first or even get two 2nd rounders by trading back in this deep draft might be better. Jerami Grant, Jordan Clarkson and Clint Capela to stash overseas and save for money for FA’s, have the most potential to fit the Heat’s athletic style of play. Heat are actually lucky they are in the less competitive East, with Indiana the only really threat now.

Point guard situation: Bringing in a veteran who can drain the 3 ball, play average D and has chemistry with Lebron

Starting: Cole

Bench: Mo Williams, Jimmer

Shooting guard situation: Get D Wade in the Manu role, I keep saying it but maybe it’ll finally happen

Starting: Allen 

Bench:Wade, Pietrus

Small forward situation: Shawn Marion can come in and play small ball and replace Battier as he is retiring. Warren comes in and brings some scoring off the bench

Starting: Lebron

Bench: Marion and also TJ Warren

Power forward situation:

Starting: Bosh

Bench: Haslem, Lewis

Center Situation: get bigger and sign a quality veteran for cheap who will play team first

Starting: Chris Kaman

Bench: Birdman, Isaiah Austin

Starting line up possibilities

(regular ball) Cole – Allen – Lebron – Bosh – Kaman

(small ball) Cole – Allen – Lebron – Marion – Bosh

(end of a game on offense) Williams – Wade – Allen – Lebron – Bosh

(end game on defense) Cole – Lebron – Marion – Bosh – Kaman

Point guard situation: Bringing in a veteran who can drain the 3 ball, play average D and has chemistry with Lebron

Starting: Cole

Bench: Mo Williams, Jimmer

Shooting guard situation: Get D Wade in the Manu role, I keep saying it but maybe it’ll finally happen

Starting: Allen 

Bench:Wade, Pietrus

Small forward situation: Shawn Marion can come in and play small ball and replace Battier as he is retiring. Warren comes in and brings some scoring off the bench

Starting: Lebron

Bench: Marion and also TJ Warren

Power forward situation:

Starting: Bosh

Bench: Haslem, Lewis

Center Situation: get bigger and sign a quality veteran for cheap who will play team first

Starting: Chris Kaman

Bench: Birdman, Isaiah Austin

Starting line up possibilities

(regular ball) Cole – Allen – Lebron – Bosh – Kaman

(small ball) Cole – Allen – Lebron – Marion – Bosh

(end of a game on offense) Williams – Wade – Allen – Lebron – Bosh

(end game on defense) Cole – Lebron – Marion – Bosh – Kaman

I think Miami has a lot of work to do this summer, it won’t be easy at all. As someone pointed out recently somewhere (I don’t remember who, Lowe on Grantland or Ziller on Sbnation, or maybe some analyst on twitter, whatever), they deserve praises for how they were able to divert attention from talks about their future. I haven’t read any rumor related to their plans or LeBron’s or Wade’s or whatever. All you’ve heard all season long was how they were doing on the court.

That being said, lack of depth and bench help has been a major issue this year. Many of their role players are old and have lost a step or two: Battier has been a non factor in the playoffs, Haslem has become the new Juwan Howard, they got a little more than expected from Rashard Lewis, but when you have to give him heavy minutes it’s clear you have a problem. Same if you have to dust off James Jones. They missed Mike Miller a lot, they destroyed the Spurs last year when they played with those small lineups with LeBron at 4 and four shooters around him. And age and lack of depth played a role on defense too: those legs aren’t as quick as they used to be and they have a lot of mileage on them. You cannot play the hyperaggressive, trapping defense they’ve always played if you’re slow on your legs. They played more conservative defense this year, especially during the RS and when they tried to bring back again some blitz and traps against the Spurs it didn’t work as it used to. Of course the Spurs have gotten smarter and they have figured out some ways to face Miami aggressiveness. But they haven’t been as good as they used to be if not for short stretches.

That’s somehow the downside of the big 3 formula, with most of the cap committed to 3 players it’s hard to build a competitive supporting cast. They managed to do that signing veterans eager to win a ring with relatively cheap contracts, but all those veterans were aging and now they are old. The Spurs are an old team but they have a very deep bench, they saved energies throughout the whole season and playoffs, so now they’re still fresh and with a lot to give. They managed to do that because their own big 3 accepted to get less money than what they could in order to stay competitive. Parker, Ginobili and Duncan’s contracts call for less than $30 million combined. It’s even laughable to think Ginobili gets $7 million each season while a guy like Bargnani is getting almost twice as much for being arguably the most booed player in Nba history (and I can list dozens of players with similar contracts and contribution).

In my opinion this is what the Heat have to understand, not only their execs but also their players and the big 3 first and foremost. If you want to keep the big 3 formula, you have to accept a pay cut. But I don’t think it will happen, at least not to the same proportion of the Spurs big 3. There’s not the same culture, there are different personalities. Bosh is the only one who might agree, but only (and understably so) if at least Wade did the same. And LeBron is commonly regarded as the best player in the world, back in 2010 he signed for a smaller amount than the max and he’s always getting the "MJ/Kobe wouldn’t have done that" crap for everything. You can’t ask him to sign a $14-15 million contract, it would be beyond laughable.

So if they can’t afford to try again with the big 3 formula they have to find out other strategies, but again, it’s not easy. Bosh is the most expendable of the three, image and stats wise. But imho he’s the easiest one to bring back and the most important player not named LeBron. Also, it’s not easy to find a player so good, who does so many things and who’s at the same time so coachable and unselfish. Wade in my opinion is the easiest to replace if you take into account only what you get on the floor. He’s getting older, while he’s still very good he’s declined a lot, especially on D he needs to rest a lot (how many games has he played this regular season?), his knees are definitely a big question mark, he gets a lot of money and he still has (understandably so) the mindset of a top 4-5 player in the league even if he’s not in that category anymore. But Wade is a legend for this franchise. He’s been drafted by Miami, he’s almost single handedly led them to their first title as big underdogs and won two other rings as LeBron’s sidekick. It would be kind of Paul Pierce to the Nets-like depressing to see him go away.

In the end I think Miami will keep the big 3, because they can let Wade go away and because I can see Bosh making some sacrifices just to stay there. What they have to do, they definitely need to work to get those 3 a decent supporting cast, it’s mandatory if they want to be competitive with the best West teams. The gap with teh Spurs was narrow last year, the Spurs have been clearly better all season long now that they are deeper and the Heat. Whether they will be able or not depends mostly on how much it will cost to bring back the top 3.

I think Miami has a lot of work to do this summer, it won’t be easy at all. As someone pointed out recently somewhere (I don’t remember who, Lowe on Grantland or Ziller on Sbnation, or maybe some analyst on twitter, whatever), they deserve praises for how they were able to divert attention from talks about their future. I haven’t read any rumor related to their plans or LeBron’s or Wade’s or whatever. All you’ve heard all season long was how they were doing on the court.

That being said, lack of depth and bench help has been a major issue this year. Many of their role players are old and have lost a step or two: Battier has been a non factor in the playoffs, Haslem has become the new Juwan Howard, they got a little more than expected from Rashard Lewis, but when you have to give him heavy minutes it’s clear you have a problem. Same if you have to dust off James Jones. They missed Mike Miller a lot, they destroyed the Spurs last year when they played with those small lineups with LeBron at 4 and four shooters around him. And age and lack of depth played a role on defense too: those legs aren’t as quick as they used to be and they have a lot of mileage on them. You cannot play the hyperaggressive, trapping defense they’ve always played if you’re slow on your legs. They played more conservative defense this year, especially during the RS and when they tried to bring back again some blitz and traps against the Spurs it didn’t work as it used to. Of course the Spurs have gotten smarter and they have figured out some ways to face Miami aggressiveness. But they haven’t been as good as they used to be if not for short stretches.

That’s somehow the downside of the big 3 formula, with most of the cap committed to 3 players it’s hard to build a competitive supporting cast. They managed to do that signing veterans eager to win a ring with relatively cheap contracts, but all those veterans were aging and now they are old. The Spurs are an old team but they have a very deep bench, they saved energies throughout the whole season and playoffs, so now they’re still fresh and with a lot to give. They managed to do that because their own big 3 accepted to get less money than what they could in order to stay competitive. Parker, Ginobili and Duncan’s contracts call for less than $30 million combined. It’s even laughable to think Ginobili gets $7 million each season while a guy like Bargnani is getting almost twice as much for being arguably the most booed player in Nba history (and I can list dozens of players with similar contracts and contribution).

In my opinion this is what the Heat have to understand, not only their execs but also their players and the big 3 first and foremost. If you want to keep the big 3 formula, you have to accept a pay cut. But I don’t think it will happen, at least not to the same proportion of the Spurs big 3. There’s not the same culture, there are different personalities. Bosh is the only one who might agree, but only (and understably so) if at least Wade did the same. And LeBron is commonly regarded as the best player in the world, back in 2010 he signed for a smaller amount than the max and he’s always getting the "MJ/Kobe wouldn’t have done that" crap for everything. You can’t ask him to sign a $14-15 million contract, it would be beyond laughable.

So if they can’t afford to try again with the big 3 formula they have to find out other strategies, but again, it’s not easy. Bosh is the most expendable of the three, image and stats wise. But imho he’s the easiest one to bring back and the most important player not named LeBron. Also, it’s not easy to find a player so good, who does so many things and who’s at the same time so coachable and unselfish. Wade in my opinion is the easiest to replace if you take into account only what you get on the floor. He’s getting older, while he’s still very good he’s declined a lot, especially on D he needs to rest a lot (how many games has he played this regular season?), his knees are definitely a big question mark, he gets a lot of money and he still has (understandably so) the mindset of a top 4-5 player in the league even if he’s not in that category anymore. But Wade is a legend for this franchise. He’s been drafted by Miami, he’s almost single handedly led them to their first title as big underdogs and won two other rings as LeBron’s sidekick. It would be kind of Paul Pierce to the Nets-like depressing to see him go away.

In the end I think Miami will keep the big 3, because they can let Wade go away and because I can see Bosh making some sacrifices just to stay there. What they have to do, they definitely need to work to get those 3 a decent supporting cast, it’s mandatory if they want to be competitive with the best West teams. The gap with teh Spurs was narrow last year, the Spurs have been clearly better all season long now that they are deeper and the Heat. Whether they will be able or not depends mostly on how much it will cost to bring back the top 3.

 Is there no salary cap anymore?  I mean wtf…

 Is there no salary cap anymore?  I mean wtf…

 Oh man he sux sooooo bad now.  Even with 30 games off, his knees are shot.  I dont think he is even a top 50 player anymore

 Oh man he sux sooooo bad now.  Even with 30 games off, his knees are shot.  I dont think he is even a top 50 player anymore