****The Official 2013-14 NBA Thread****

This.

We have ability to reload and retool. Ultimately I think he stays but if Wade is willing to take further cuts to make this team better it will go a long way.

 

Please send me a picture of your degree in psychology.

 

The one message I took from both the Big 3 and Spo yesterday that I'm taking to heart is do not let anyone tell you that this experiment was a failure.

This was a smashing success. It was the best 4 year period in South Florida sports history. They made the interminable regular season interesting. Sure, 4 for 4 would have been great, but the only universe where going 2-2 in 4 straight finals is a disappointment is one inhabited by Skip Bayless and Bill Simmons, and I don't want to live there.

 

I think Wade will take less to help retool the team - but if he refused to opt-out and it blew up the Big 3 - what would it do to his legacy in Miami?

 

Hurt it in the short term, probably.

but i think over time people would understand.

 

There are some in the analytics community that thought that prior to this year.

He was top 10 for One year IMO.

 

He was measuring his words. There is a lot of wishful thinking in your post.

 

Any team with LeBron is a contender. Obviously. The question, as he gets older, is whether he thinks he can win more rings for more years on a team with younger franchise cornerstones. I mean the Heat truly have zero proven young players on the roster right now. I imagine that matters at least a little. Again, I think he stays because of the organization and system, a good second scorer in Bosh, and his guy Wade....but is it crazy to say that the way this team got smoked in the Finals has impacted his thinking at least in part?

 

They don't look "well-built" for the future?

check their Pay Roll for next year. Uh yeah..that's what "well-built" looks like.

 

No. Magic Johnson got "smoked" in the finals. it happens. All Three franchises that made 4 finals in a row...went 2-2.

The Heat has stored "young guys" for the specific reason of having seasoned vets in the rotation. Riley does not like rookies and young players in the rotation. They also traded away 6 1st round picks for Lebron and Bosh.

 

I swear that you are my favorite person to see on here, for some reason you make me feel better for the Heat in the future when you start stating facts and put down the haters.

 

This is what I am hearing:

Haslem opting out in favor of an extension.
Carmelo Anthony had a meeting with a certain Chinese Conglomerate in Miami for an endorsement deal. The Company has ties to another group that has an affiliation with Micky Arison.

This is what I am thinking:

Watch what they do in the draft. If they draft a point guard....then they are going after a big fish in FA (Melo). If not..they are going with a +2 strategy and going after a PG in FA, and a mix of Ariza/Morrow...etc...

 

The Miami Heat is the favorite to win the 14'-15' NBA Championship at 5/2.

 

Can't wait to see them draft Cotton in the 2nd....wishful thinking, sarcasm, there is a small chance? hahhaahha

 

So if we see Shabazz Napier's name get called, get super duper excited. If it's Mitch McGary or somebody else get merely regular excited.

 

I will know a little more leading up to the draft of who they worked out, or had scouts go see.

 

In terms of young guys we still have Ennis who might be a player, and I'd like to see Beasley and Oden brought back at the right price.

Who are some decently priced PGs that are free agents? Bledsoe? Lowry?

 

Pretty much.

 

Patty Mills and Avery Bradley can be had for cheap. (relatively cheap)

This is a GREAT Free Agent crop for the Heat. it's all the guys that they need to fill out the bench.

Luol Deng, Thabo Sefolosha and Shawn Marion are also options.

Riley will watch Carlos Boozer's situation in chicago as well.


These are guys that I think they should really REALLY look into:

Ed Davis PF
Channing Frye PF
Greg Monroe PF

another nugget to pay attention too.....Pat Riley tried to trade for Rudy Gay twice before the big Three formed. He likes his defense, and slashing ability. He is a also a Free Agent.

 

Bazz will be gone before the Heat pick at 26....Best pure PG in the draft IMO...

 

Gay's inability to shoot consistently is a problem though, no?

Can't see Deng, but Thabo and Marion are options. Not sure if Marion particularly enjoyed his previous Heat experience though.

Boozer is an interesting case. He only has one year left so I imagine some under the cap team will claim him. He can help a team that doesn't have a crazy coach.

 

Can you imagine a defensive front line of Greg Monroe and Chris Bosh?

You can conceivably have a offseason, where you add:

Luol Deng (I am told he wants a 1 year guarantee to play into a larger contract)
Shawn Marion
Greg Monroe
Anthony Morrow
Draft Pick
Draft Pick

 

Perhaps, but pretty much every mock draft I've looked at he is there.

But who knows.

If he is there, he is the obvious pick. However, there are some raw athletic guys who might be worth a shot, particularly Zach Levine and Jerami Grant. We need to start developing some young athleticism

 

I want Patty Mills to be our starting PG.

 

Scarey, if it happens then oh man!

 

I think Deng is HIGH..on the wishlist if a certain offensive powerhouse doesn't sign with us....

 

Monroe is an RFA though, I believe.

How could we construct a contract that Detroit wouldn't match?

SVG supposedly wants to keep him and dump Smoove if possible

 

Ahh, I see now.

Deng is slightly smaller fish, but bigger than an Ariza/Morrow combo.

 

I'm not opposed to Carmelo. He's a great spot-up shooter, and that will always work with LeBron.

But this team absolutely needs to improve defensively. You can't win titles giving up 50%+ shooting.

 

you front load a ton of it.

 

Um - how is Miami creating enough cap space to snag Deng at $10mil (he just turned down 3 yrs $30 so have to imagine that's the floor) and Monroe for at least that much, if not more? Marion was making $9 mil last year - so what is he coming in at?

 

It obviously requires the Big 3 opting out and then taking less.

It would essentially be the same deal as last time. Get the big 3 to commit, sign the other guys and then work out the salaries of the big 3. They were literally finalizing the salaries minutes before the pep rally in 2010 once they knew exactly how much they were paying Haslem, Miller, etc.

 

Calipari turned down $80 mil from Cleveland as well. It's not the money...it's Cleveland.

How the Hell is Miami Signing Chris Bosh, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade at $22 mil each when the cap is only $58 mil?

 

Deng turned down that deal from Chicago.

I'm just pointing out if you put Deng at $10mil, Monroe at $12mil and Marion at $5mil - that's $27mil. You'd need the Big 3 to sign for REALLY below market value to make that happen.

 

Yep, I try to keep spirits up but even I need Section sometimes because he keeps it 100% legitimate and if its just his own opinion he says so.

Glad he's a Heat fan.

 

It's Deng or Marion and Monroe.....not both. and it would be more like Deng at $7 and Monroe at $11 for $18.

Cleveland I thought gave him that offer as well. In Chicago he had issues with the coach and GM...he was a goner.

 

I'm curious to see if Miami renegotiates their TV contract this offseason. Going to be a big deal.

 

You and Section eased this loss a lot for me, it hit me hard when our team lost but this season going to be a lot better.

I like to pretend Section is actually Pat Riley himself.

 

It NEVER bothers me when any of my teams lose to a Better team. They were better...tip your cap...smile at them...nod....have a laugh at your own expense...then make sure you Improve and then give it to them later.

 

This right here is what I'm talking about, you're right, the Spurs bench was younger and deeper than ours, that's why we lost. Spurs were the better team.