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| "Tell you what Juwan, come back in 15 years and we'll see if we can sign you then" |
2009-10 Record: 47-35
Additions: LeBron James (FA), Chris Bosh (FA), Mike Miller (FA), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (FA), Eddie House (FA), Juwan Howard (FA), and whoever makes the team between Dexter Pittman (Draft) and Da'Sean Butler (Draft).
Subtractions: Jermaine O'Neal, Quentin Richardson, Michael Beasley, Dorell Wright, Yakhouba Diawara, Rafer Alston, Shavlik Randolph, Kenny Hasbrouck (Both Randolph and Hasbrouck can still make the team, but I doubt they do over Pittman or Butler).
So if you hadn't heard by now, the Miami Heat managed to do the seemingly impossible and land all three of the biggest free agents of this summer in LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and retaining Dwyane Wade. This is by far the most massive free agent haul in history, and it was an all or nothing gamble that paid off in spades. Usually there aren't any awards that are virtual locks from preseason, but Executive of the Year for Pat Riley seems to be one of those rare cases.
Even when the Heat managed to grab those big names, they were criticized as saying they wouldn't be able to put enough talent around them, and yet they managed to fill out a full roster of decent complementary players. Mike Miller was the first signing, and his shooting will spread the floor nicely with all the double teams that Wade, James and Bosh will command. They traded away the disappointing Michael Beasley for a second rounder in order to make the space. They also managed to re-sign Udonis Haslem, a very underrated player in his own right, for a decent salary. They also added depth to their front court by signing Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, Jamaal Magloire and Juwan Howard. None of those guys are world beaters or even close to it. What they are though are decent complements to the Miami Thrice. The thing the Heat need most from their center is defense, which is one reason the Heat re-signed Joel Anthony, who although he sucks in almost every category, is an elite shotblocker. Eddie House provides an excellent shooting option off the bench. The Heat's 2nd rounders of Pittman and Butler have some upside, and whoever makes the team could be a key player down the road (my bet's on Butler).
This Heat team has changed the entire dynamic and power structure of the NBA almost overnight. Miami has to be included in title conversations with the Lakers, Celtics and Magic. When this team is at full strength they will almost be unguardable on offense. Sure you can double off of whoever's playing center, but who do you double? Do you double LeBron? Wade? Bosh? There are too many threats. LeBron and Wade are great at setting up their teammates too, and can handle the point guard duties by themselves. The shooters the Heat have put around them will allow them to space the floor and get open shots against almost anybody. Even if you do manage to defend them well one game, all that running around the floor is going to make defenders exhausted, and in a 7 game series, that'll be a problem.
On defense, Dwyane Wade and LeBron are two of the best perimeter defenders in the league themselves. Bosh isn't an elite defender, but he can hold his own. Anthony is an elite shotblocker, and Udonis Haslem is also a good man defender. Still, a team with legitimate size could bother the Heat a lot down low. It's their biggest and perhaps only weakness.
This is a team tailor-made to excite NBA fans and be fun to watch night in and night out. They'll probably have the best record in the league (LeBron's Cavaliers had the best record in the league with 66 wins last year, and he didn't have Wade or Bosh next to him) during the regular season, and are considered by some the favorites to win a title. I still will reserve some doubts until I see them play those other contenders and teams with size but its hard to argue against them right now.
Projected Win Range: 65-70
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