Training Camp/Roster Speculation Thread!

[BFRESH44]

We aint too far fellas. Carrying on from the off-season/free agent thread. Post all info/speculation leading up to training camp here...

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

Sooooo excited for next season.

Let's go HEAT!

[LeBosh Wade]

any1 have a discount code for league pass?

[SmushedPennies]

8 days 'til Media Day!

Might as well post where the roster stands here:

1) LeBron James
2) Dwyane Wade
3) Chris Bosh
4) Ray Allen
5) Mario Chalmers
6) Shane Battier
7) Udonis Haslem
8) Rashard Lewis
9) Mike Miller
10) Norris Cole
11) Joel Anthony
12) James Jones
13) Dexter Pittman

Camp hopefuls:

14) Terrel Harris
15) Jarvis Varnado
16) Mickell Gladness
17) Garett Temple
18) Josh Harrellson

Those are the official 18 of 20. Robert Dozier has been working out here every day, and apparently just has to accept the offer. Rumor has it swingman Chamberlain Oguchi should be accepting an offer soon, too.

7 guys fighting for 2 spots. Here's my prediction for the final 15:

Chalmers / Cole
Wade / Allen / Harris
James / Battier / Miller / Jones
Haslem / Lewis
Bosh / Harrellson / Anthony / Pittman

Harris and Harrellson win the final 2. Terrel looked really good in Summer League, despite only having one statistically strong game. I think he's shown he's an NBA talent, and would be a good guy to keep around developing for when Battier, Miller, Jones, and Allen fade. Barring a Temple or Oguchi clearly outplaying him, indications are he's a shoo-in for a spot.

Harrellson seems to have really intrigued the Heat. We were linked to him on draft night, and that was before 1) He showed 3-point range, as he never shot them and rarely shot jumpers in general in college 2) We learned how crucial floor spacing is to our offensive attack. The fact that based on last season's numbers in NY, he'd be our second best rebounder to go along with his 33.9% 3-pt stroke and scrappy play makes him a perfect fit.

I see Pittman and even Jones as being on the bubble, but I wouldn't predict that they'd be cut. Still, surprises happen. No one expected Harris and Gladness making the team last season, with Eddie House getting swapped out. I've been enamored with the possibilities Dozier's athleticism, intangibles, and defensive versatility would bring. He's a great role player to play next to great players, yet I still saw nice things in Summer League. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing Jones let go of for Dozier, who could wind up a Shane/UD replacement down the line. JJ is great shooter insurance, but he's so one-dimensional and increasingly redundant I'd almost rather see us go a different route with his spot.

With the talk of a "blank slate" regarding Pitt's chances in camp from the Herald's Barry Jackson's mystery Heat source, and recurring speculation from beat writers (Winderman, Skolnick, Reynolds) that Gladness may have played himself into a favored position over Dexter, it seems Pitt needs to play the best ball of his life to lock his spot down. It could be subterfuge being spread by the Heat staff to light a fire under his ass, but there's no doubt in my mind they're not incredibly happy with him and may be willing to swallow his deal. Let's remember, we drafted Pittman before we knew what our ideal style of play was. He doesn't completely fit it now, though it is important to keep your roster versatile. I think its great he finally lost a considerable amount of weight, but his issue has been what happens on the hardwood. This is the hardest part of the roster to predict for me, because I get the feeling the battle between Pitt and Gladness is really even right now. Regardless of what I hear, the gut tells me its still Pittman's to lose.

[DefenseWins]

Is there a possibility for JJ to be cut or waived? It'd suck if he was waived because he'd be picked up in a heart beat.

But I feel we have ENOUGH sharpshooters. More bigs, even if they are rookies, would be more ideal.

Lewis and Allen coming in, I mean, JJ isn't going to get ANY playing time at all lol. Maybe for Miller if he's hurt in the beginning but that's it...

[MartyCONLONNN]

One thing I'd like to see this season is more of a willingness to let some of these guys like Pittman and Harrellson, particularly the latter, get some extended stretches with some of our starting/key guys. It has always been my belief that if you put the lesser talented (no, not the Joel's... guys with actual basketball skills) next to Lebron and Wade LONG ENOUGH, you are bound to get some results in truly highlighting their strengths, as long as that strength just so happens to be complimentary (see: Boobie Gibson). It's actually not that crazy of a belief, more of a rule of nature lol.

For example, a lineup of:
Wade
Allen
LBJ
Bosh
Jorts

This is a potential lineup that the big 3 era has never seen before. elite perimeter defense/help defense on the wings, a long quick solid help defending big in Bosh, with a sturdy strong post defender/scrapper big in Jorts (Joel often gets bullied on backdowns, Damp had strength but was out of shape couldn't stay in front of a log, Big z actually was a log and couldn't really provide hustle "activity" plays). With that you have 2 very capable actual rebounding bigs, another thing we've rarely seen. Now that's not to say that this can't be countered with a stretch 4, and that it is our prettiest defensive lineup.. cuz it's not, and Jorts may very well have issues fully digesting our system. But it is still very formidable on paper especially defending against traditional PF/C lineups.

The real intrigue comes at the offensive end, where the story is that we are at our best with the big 3 and 2 shooters... so we went after Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Presto! (That alone will be awesome) But by all indications Harrellson is a premier 3 point shooter for the Center position which throws a curve in there because he would fit the criteria of our best lineups while offering the high rebound % that so many of us drool about and still having a "traditional lineup". Having a threat like Allen naturally garnering so much attention with Harrellson demanding that a center sag out allowing Bosh to stay in more a comfort midrange area is spacing Nirvana, just one of our many new ideal spacing scenarios, but one that i'm very very intrigued by and hope to see this season.

[SmushedPennies]

I totally agree, and like where you're going with that lineup. Its not right putting Pitt out there with Miller, JJ, and Cole and expecting him to show something.

Really hoping Jorts can move well enough to play Heat D, because his strengths can be a major boon.

[BigDaddyPR]

So, Darko signs with Boston.... SMH... Still dont understand why we didnt gave him a chance. Well see...

[LeChosen1]

Jorts is not going to be ahead of Joel

[Hallstar]

Jorts is not going to be ahead of Joel

I doubt he makes the team but that's another story

[diablerouge]

Jorts is not going to be ahead of Joel

I doubt he makes the team but that's another story

not only wil he make the team but he will be our back up 5. spoelstra won't play anyone that can't knock an open jumper created by the big 3.

chalmers/cole
wade/allen/harris
james/battier
lewis/haslem
bosh/jorts/anthony

[CablexDeadpool]

I think Pittman gets cut

Jorts and Harris and Varnado makes the team.


Of course Joel is gonna be on this team forever lol.

[hml_rb]

Jorts is not going to be ahead of Joel

I doubt he makes the team but that's another story

not only wil he make the team but he will be our back up 5. spoelstra won't play anyone that can't knock an open jumper created by the big 3.

chalmers/cole
wade/allen/harris
james/battier
lewis/haslem
bosh/jorts/anthony

If that lineup can play up to its potential it will make me very wet.....I mean it will make the net very wet

[Shv3d]

So, Darko signs with Boston.... SMH... Still dont understand why we didnt gave him a chance. Well see...

When you watch him "play" you'll see why. He's a cancer.

[Pimpwerx]

So, Darko signs with Boston.... SMH... Still dont understand why we didnt gave him a chance. Well see...

Meh. He was the one center I wanted us to sign, but I also understood that he remained available this long for a reason. There's something not right with him. If Spo and co don't think he works well in our system, I'm fine with that.

I find that while we struggle at picking well in the draft, we're usually pretty good at grabbing free agents. We're just mining the bottom of the barrel, at this point, and anyone who signs now is gonna be of questionable worth. Jorts, unlike Darko, seems really motivated to join the team, and his skillset seems to fit what we're looking for better. I just hope he works out well for us. PEACE.

[Heats_Finest]

Miami should or should have tried to trade for Andris Biedrins. He would have to have a small price tag, Miami should offer like Joel Anthony + Mike Miller. That would make the contracts match up, and we get much more use out of Biedrins than we do Miller or Anthony, Millers production has been replaced by Allen, and if Allen gets injured we use James Jones for spotty minutes until Allen came back. Biedrins does everything Joel Anthony does but better, he's more efficient on offense, better hands, his rebounding is much better, the guy is actually an elite rebounder when given minutes, and he can block shots.

He's probably an expiring contract now, I'm not sure, I know his contract is worth 9-10 mil a year, but the dude is still young, he's only 26, he's in his prime. No way he's regressed that much since his 11+11 years, with 61% shooting from the floor. Imagine having that on this team at center, with Bosh slotting back to power forward. If he's an expiring contract, I know it's not realistic that Golden State would want to take that much contract back, but if he wasn't an expiring it's really not that unrealistic if Pat were to offer it.

[Wade2k6]

Miami should or should have tried to trade for Andris Biedrins. He would have to have a small price tag, Miami should offer like Joel Anthony + Mike Miller. That would make the contracts match up, and we get much more use out of Biedrins than we do Miller or Anthony, Millers production has been replaced by Allen, and if Allen gets injured we use James Jones for spotty minutes until Allen came back. Biedrins does everything Joel Anthony does but better, he's more efficient on offense, better hands, his rebounding is much better, the guy is actually an elite rebounder when given minutes, and he can block shots.

He's probably an expiring contract now, I'm not sure, I know his contract is worth 9-10 mil a year, but the dude is still young, he's only 26, he's in his prime. No way he's regressed that much since his 11+11 years, with 61% shooting from the floor. Imagine having that on this team at center, with Bosh slotting back to power forward. If he's an expiring contract, I know it's not realistic that Golden State would want to take that much contract back, but if he wasn't an expiring it's really not that unrealistic if Pat were to offer it.

First, Biedrins hasn't stayed healthy in like 4 years. And even when he does play he's useless. Second, both Mike Miller and JA have an additional year on their contracts (expire after 2015) than Biedrins (expires after 2014), so I'm sure GSW would rather just keep Biedrins knowing he'll be off the books a year sooner.

[Vertical Limit]

rofl @ your sig.

[SmushedPennies]

Jorts is not going to be ahead of Joel

I doubt he makes the team but that's another story

not only wil he make the team but he will be our back up 5. spoelstra won't play anyone that can't knock an open jumper created by the big 3.

chalmers/cole
wade/allen/harris
james/battier
lewis/haslem
bosh/jorts/anthony

For the active 12, I'd think fully healthy they'd go Miller over Harris. Love the starting lineup, though. So much pop, and then you have Allen and even Cole's instant offense off the bench, as well as a bunch of scrappy defenders, and the secret weapon: Mr. "Let it Fly" himself.

[BFRESH44]

@EthanSkolnick
Udonis Haslem on what's been evident at Heat workouts: "Our spacing is going to be ridiculous."