[CanadianGMParticipant]

 I think the Heat need to get a little more youth. They have done well signing all there backups at the veteran minimum but they badly need to inject some young up and coming players to make up for the decline of D Wade. Shebazz Napier is a nice start. I think Pat Riley is considering Lance Stephenson. A projected lineup with Stephenson, Wade, James, Bosh would have enough ball handling and playmaking ability they wouldn’t necessarily need a traditional point guard. They might even have 5 million to throw at another big.

Salary Cap- James (4 year 80 million, 1 st year 17.5) Bosh (5 year 70 mill, 1 st year 12.5 million) Wade ( 4 year 50 million, 1 st year 11 million) Haslem ( 2 years – 5 mill), Cole ( 2.1- possible trade) Shabazz Napier( 1 million) Veteran minimum options costing 500k against cap.Need at least 6 to sign totals 3 million( Allen, Anderson, Beasley, Oden, R Lewis, Chalmers, J Jones, Mike Miller,T Douglas) this leaves roughly 15 million in cap space which I would offer Lance Stephenson 9 million for 1 st year (4 years-41 million) and Pau Gasol 6 million for 1 st year, 5 million for 2nd, 4 million for 3rd (3 years-15 million).

PG- L Stephenson starts ( Napier, Chalmers/Douglas cheaper than traded Cole) SG- Wade start(Allen, Stephenson with Napier when Wade sits out) SF- James starts(Beasley, Miller,J Jones) PF- Bosh (R.Lewis,James) C-Gasol starts (Anderson,Oden, Bosh when James plays PF)

[CanadianGMParticipant]

 That sounds like promising line up for Spoelstra to juggle.

Start- Stephenson, Wade, James, Bosh, Gasol. 1 st off bench Napier, Allen, Anderson 

shutdown D or when wade rests knees- Napier, Stevenson, James, Bosh, Anderson

Small ball-Guards- Stephenson, Wade, Allen.  Bigs- James, Bosh

They would definitely give The Spurs a better series in the finals by being able to run 10 strong as San Antonio just wore Miami out and Eric Spoelstra didn’t have faith in his deeper bench. Could bring Wade off bench in finals to lead the second unit if he is getting tired after a fifth conse utile deep playoff run.

Starting 5- PG- Napier (24 mpg),  SG- Stephenson, (36 mpg) SF- James.(36 mpg) PF- Bosh. (32 mpg)C- Gasol (28 m

[CanadianGMParticipant]

 That sounds like promising line up for Spoelstra to juggle.

Start- Stephenson, Wade, James, Bosh, Gasol. 1 st off bench Napier, Allen, Anderson 

shutdown D or when wade rests knees- Napier, Stevenson, James, Bosh, Anderson

Small ball-Guards- Stephenson, Wade, Allen.  Bigs- James, Bosh

They would definitely give The Spurs a better series in the finals by being able to run 10 strong as San Antonio just wore Miami out and Eric Spoelstra didn’t have faith in his deeper bench. Could bring Wade off bench in finals to lead the second unit if he is getting tired after a fifth conse utile deep playoff run.

Starting 5- PG- Napier (24 mpg),  SG- Stephenson, (36 mpg) SF- James.(36 mpg) PF- Bosh. (32 mpg)C- Gasol (28 m

[bmac697Participant]

 There is no way Stephenson and gasol sign with the heat while signing the big three. This is lances first chance to get paid, so he’s going to be looking for 15 mill, but sign 10 12 range. Then add gasol at let’s say 7 to 10 bosh wade 15 per and Lebron 20. They wouldn’t be able to sign all of then even with record 55 cap space. We know Haslem will re sign to 2 yrs 5 mill, good deal for him. I see more Lowry sign and trade for cole and future picks plus cash. Sign him for 8 to 10 and maybe you’d have enough to attract gasol, gortat, hawes but I think will be out of price range. They heat have put themselves in great position to add another player or two. I wonder if four years ago they kinda thought about this, see how the years played out and know they has chance to opt out re sign and add someone if they needed too. If so very good planning pat Riley you are a smart man. 

[CanadianGMParticipant]

 I love Lowry, especially since Im from Canada and he showed enough heart that would make any Canadian proud. I just like the ball in Lebrons hand and would like a bigger defender to help with rebounding and possibly step in for Wade. In no way is Napier at Kyle Lowrys level but they don’t need a top flight point guard. They need a defender who can shoot threes. 

Signing Lowry takes the ball out of James hands or Lowry defers to the best player in the game and suddenly becomes an ordinary guard. Keep ballin in Toronto and play with The Big 3 in the all star game instead. They can pay Lance 9 which is pretty much 10 million as Florida has no state income tax. The bigger lineup helps matchup with the bigger west teams and gives them an advantage as there shortest player on the floor would be the 6 foot 4 Wade. It would leave Wade or Stevenson being guarded by small PG and they could post up and destroy.

[CanadianGMParticipant]

 I love Lowry, especially since Im from Canada and he showed enough heart that would make any Canadian proud. I just like the ball in Lebrons hand and would like a bigger defender to help with rebounding and possibly step in for Wade. In no way is Napier at Kyle Lowrys level but they don’t need a top flight point guard. They need a defender who can shoot threes. 

Signing Lowry takes the ball out of James hands or Lowry defers to the best player in the game and suddenly becomes an ordinary guard. Keep ballin in Toronto and play with The Big 3 in the all star game instead. They can pay Lance 9 which is pretty much 10 million as Florida has no state income tax. The bigger lineup helps matchup with the bigger west teams and gives them an advantage as there shortest player on the floor would be the 6 foot 4 Wade. It would leave Wade or Stevenson being guarded by small PG and they could post up and destroy.

[bmac697Participant]

 There is no way Stephenson and gasol sign with the heat while signing the big three. This is lances first chance to get paid, so he’s going to be looking for 15 mill, but sign 10 12 range. Then add gasol at let’s say 7 to 10 bosh wade 15 per and Lebron 20. They wouldn’t be able to sign all of then even with record 55 cap space. We know Haslem will re sign to 2 yrs 5 mill, good deal for him. I see more Lowry sign and trade for cole and future picks plus cash. Sign him for 8 to 10 and maybe you’d have enough to attract gasol, gortat, hawes but I think will be out of price range. They heat have put themselves in great position to add another player or two. I wonder if four years ago they kinda thought about this, see how the years played out and know they has chance to opt out re sign and add someone if they needed too. If so very good planning pat Riley you are a smart man. 

[CanadianGMParticipant]

 This would give a strong second unit and help preserve Wade so he makes it through 4 th year of contract.

Second 5- G- Wade 24mpg, Allen 15 mpg,Forwards- Beasley 15mpg, R Lewis 15 mpg, Anderson 15 mpg)

That leaves a bottom with some sort of combination of Haslem,Chalmers M Miller, Oden, J Jones, T Douglas) They obviously don need this much depth as that 3 rd unit would be in most teams Top 8 rotation. Perhaps they could look at more youth for these players who play only in blowouts, injuries or when rest is needed for starters. I don’t mean to tell Pat Riley how to do his job as he seems to be the top NBA recruiter out there but youth is needed. 

[CanadianGMParticipant]

 This would give a strong second unit and help preserve Wade so he makes it through 4 th year of contract.

Second 5- G- Wade 24mpg, Allen 15 mpg,Forwards- Beasley 15mpg, R Lewis 15 mpg, Anderson 15 mpg)

That leaves a bottom with some sort of combination of Haslem,Chalmers M Miller, Oden, J Jones, T Douglas) They obviously don need this much depth as that 3 rd unit would be in most teams Top 8 rotation. Perhaps they could look at more youth for these players who play only in blowouts, injuries or when rest is needed for starters. I don’t mean to tell Pat Riley how to do his job as he seems to be the top NBA recruiter out there but youth is needed. 

[cozmojimParticipant]

 Everybody in this scenario takes less than they could get elsewhere (except Tony D.) seems like a lofty Idea. Riley does have the Magic though, so I guess it’s possible.

[cozmojimParticipant]

 Everybody in this scenario takes less than they could get elsewhere (except Tony D.) seems like a lofty Idea. Riley does have the Magic though, so I guess it’s possible.

[zolaParticipant]

Top priority for Heat is to sign real center. The best option for them in this year’s free agent class is Marcin Gortat. He is younger and better defender than Pau Gasol and Spencer Hawes (not younger) who can also be their free agent targets.

I really like this year pick, I would give Shabazz a bigger role. LeBron is their primarly playmaker so throwing a big money to PG doesn’t make a lot of sense for me. They should keep Allen, Beasley and Andersen or eventually sign Jodie Meeks instead of Allen. They should try to sign DeAndre Kane

Napier-Wade-James-Bosh-Gortat

Cole-Allen-Beasley-Haslem-Andersen

[zolaParticipant]

Top priority for Heat is to sign real center. The best option for them in this year’s free agent class is Marcin Gortat. He is younger and better defender than Pau Gasol and Spencer Hawes (not younger) who can also be their free agent targets.

I really like this year pick, I would give Shabazz a bigger role. LeBron is their primarly playmaker so throwing a big money to PG doesn’t make a lot of sense for me. They should keep Allen, Beasley and Andersen or eventually sign Jodie Meeks instead of Allen. They should try to sign DeAndre Kane

Napier-Wade-James-Bosh-Gortat

Cole-Allen-Beasley-Haslem-Andersen

[zolaParticipant]

There is also few very cheap free agents who can be valuable contributors from bench like Aaron Brooks, Ben Gordon, Kris Humphries, Aron Baynes

[zolaParticipant]

There is also few very cheap free agents who can be valuable contributors from bench like Aaron Brooks, Ben Gordon, Kris Humphries, Aron Baynes

[Ghost01Participant]

 I think the Heat are confused.

When you pay 3 players to be stars, you are leaning on them and should expect to have a mediocre supporting cast.

 

The Heat may be better next season, but paying Wade and Bosh like stars, only for them to perform like average players in the playoffs, is going to lead to them needing LeBron to be truly spectacular for them to win the title. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 I think the Heat are confused.

When you pay 3 players to be stars, you are leaning on them and should expect to have a mediocre supporting cast.

 

The Heat may be better next season, but paying Wade and Bosh like stars, only for them to perform like average players in the playoffs, is going to lead to them needing LeBron to be truly spectacular for them to win the title. 

[burgessfourParticipant]

 like they need to move on from D-Wade. He’s just not special enough anymore to be included in the big three. They may be better of signing two guys in the 8-10 million range rather than having him back.

[burgessfourParticipant]

 like they need to move on from D-Wade. He’s just not special enough anymore to be included in the big three. They may be better of signing two guys in the 8-10 million range rather than having him back.

[NtsapParticipant]

 Not Lowry the Heat need a center. 

[NtsapParticipant]

 Not Lowry the Heat need a center. 

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 "The Heat need more youth"

*suggests the Heat pay Pau Gasol 15 mil over three years

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 "The Heat need more youth"

*suggests the Heat pay Pau Gasol 15 mil over three years

[Author]

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