The Future of the Miami HEAT

[An0nym1ty]

I'm not even remotely interested in building a team around Blake Griffin.

Neither am I. For LeBron, considering everything he's brought this franchise, actual fair value would start at, probably, CP3, DeAndre Jordan, JJ Reddick, Reggie Bullock, and then some firsts. Of course, this isn't an actual return proposal, just a list of the only names I'd be happy with if this awful scenario were to happen.

Those numbers won't match up without more addition by the Heat, and I can imagine these are the players the Clips would least want to give up if they were gunning for LeBron. But, I mean, in terms of just getting some sort of proper value, CP3 is the only player on their entire roster who can even start to approach that level when talking about LeBron.

[contract]

I'm not even remotely interested in building a team around Blake Griffin.

Neither am I. For LeBron, considering everything he's brought this franchise, actual fair value would start at, probably, CP3, DeAndre Jordan ...

That'll do.

[Heat_Fan_87]

I don't think i would take cp3 over blake.

[EscapoTHB]

If Lebron leaves it won't be in a sign and trade. Are those even legal anymore?

I really think the tough decision and the tough thing to figure out how to do is to get rid of Wade. He makes too much money--and even if he takes a paycut--his ego probably isn't going to accept the massive reduction in role he'd need to take next year. And maybe he shouldn't? If he was on the Bobcats for instance, I think he would probably still be able to put up 25/5/5 on good percentages. Just because I think he's a better player the higher the usage--even if it's not conducive to a championship anymore.

But it's clear right now that he's a big obstacle to the Heat's future. You just can't rely on him, and his inability to defend anymore really hurts the team and puts more of a burden on Lebron. His strength: efficient scoring, isn't outweighing the drags he has on the team in terms of turnovers, bad defense, and hurting floor spacing. Additionally, because of his ego, he keeps us from using Bosh as a number 2 option, which Bosh should be at this stage of his career.

It's tough. I don't know what they're going to do.

It would be interesting if Lebron left and it was Wade and Bosh and better role players. I think that Wade would be a lot better in that role as the man, and the Heat would probably still be contenders in the weak east. Especially if Lebron went to the Western conference.

[contract]

If he was on the Bobcats for instance, I think he would probably still be able to put up 25/5/5 on good percentages.

Wade simply could not do that anymore. Absent some medical miracle, his days of 20+ pts per game are over.

[Flash4thewin]

While anything is possible I cannot believe he'd go back to Cleveland, that owner, and those fans. I seriously doubt he leaves, but if he does it sure as heck isn't going to be to go back to that hellhole of an organization or a town that vilified him more than any other group.

I think Lebron is thinking long term with that Carmelo talk. Why would you do that if you had no plans to stay? We're going to need to replace Wade in a few years it seems when he's no longer able to play, which seems to be coming sooner than anyone Heat related would like I believe.

Lebron wants to play with Melo, where is the big question. The Knicks should have the cap space next season but they are the Knicks so i logically assume its here.

[gom]

The Clippers gut their team for Lebron, Toronto trades a young piece and two draft picks for two white guys?

Wow, "gut their team for LeBron"?

LAC Out: Blake Griffin, JJ Redick, 2014 1st Round Draft Pick, Darren Collison (sign and trade),

Collison is leaving anyway. Redick is not a starter on the team. It's basically Griffin, a bench performer, and a draft pick for LeBron James.

This deal is bad for Miami, not the Clippers, but if it's inevitable they get something instead of nothing.

Toronto fans hate the deal. I didn't expect that. I guess I value Redick more than they do.

Anyway, I was looking for thoughts on how it could work.

[gom]

I'm not even remotely interested in building a team around Blake Griffin.

The assumption is that LeBron is leaving to go play for the Clippers. We're just trying to get value out of it. They aren't trading Crawford, Jordan, or Chris Paul. So now what can be done? Like I said, it's a crap deal for Miami, but you still have to try to get something out of it.

Putting Collison into the deal costs the Clippers nothing and helps solve a Miami issue (though only a little better than Chalmers actually - but I assumed he was moving on too).

The Redick to Toronto move was just to get an extra draft pick for this year. It really is "extra", but it can't come from the Clippers because their 2015 pick is already traded to the Celtics.

[Purch]

MVP candidate Griffin is a better player at this point than Paul is. Not to mention he's much younger at this point. Blake will continue to be a top 5 player for a long time.

[gom]

I really like Blake Griffin.

You guys have probably read this but I'll put this up here for you:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2098 ... and-energy

BleacherReport is hit and miss, but the writer here also reports for the Herald. I think his criticism of Riley (who I very much admire) is fair & correct.

[KingDavid]

If Lebron leaves it won't be in a sign and trade. Are those even legal anymore?

I really think the tough decision and the tough thing to figure out how to do is to get rid of Wade. He makes too much money--and even if he takes a paycut--his ego probably isn't going to accept the massive reduction in role he'd need to take next year. And maybe he shouldn't? If he was on the Bobcats for instance, I think he would probably still be able to put up 25/5/5 on good percentages. Just because I think he's a better player the higher the usage--even if it's not conducive to a championship anymore.

But it's clear right now that he's a big obstacle to the Heat's future. You just can't rely on him, and his inability to defend anymore really hurts the team and puts more of a burden on Lebron. His strength: efficient scoring, isn't outweighing the drags he has on the team in terms of turnovers, bad defense, and hurting floor spacing. Additionally, because of his ego, he keeps us from using Bosh as a number 2 option, which Bosh should be at this stage of his career.

It's tough. I don't know what they're going to do.

It would be interesting if Lebron left and it was Wade and Bosh and better role players. I think that Wade would be a lot better in that role as the man, and the Heat would probably still be contenders in the weak east. Especially if Lebron went to the Western conference.

I don't want to get banned so I'm just going to say that if LBJ leaves, please go with him and never return.

[gom]

If Lebron leaves it won't be in a sign and trade. Are those even legal anymore?

Here is the article that was the source for the origin of the trade:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs ... os-angeles

Yes, sign and trade deals are actually done under the new CBA.

Larry Coon (the author of the espn piece) is the maintainer of the CBA faq file:

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm