Realistic targets for 2014

[truthiness]

As mentioned before, I think the idea of trying to get Melo is beyond stupid, both from a financial and basketball point of view.

So let's see what would be some more realistic targets for 2014:

Pau Gasol would be the best FA C, assuming the wheels don't come off this season. He's had his issues some times, playing poorly in a couple of series, but he's still very good when playing C and is a great teammate. He might take less money to play for a few more titles with a guy who doesn't berate him constantly. Especially if the Lakers suck this season. Double so if Pringles doesn't play him inside. Triple so if Kobe keeps taking his frustrations out on Gasol.

Okafor might fit even better than Pau. He can play very good D and is ok on offense as well. Dwight Howard made him look like somewhat of a disappointment, and he was overpaid for a while, but he is (or at least was) a pretty good player. He's also a class act and he should fit very well not just on the court but in the locker room too. And the fact that he was overpaid could work in Miami's favor, as he might accept a mid level or minimum deal for a chance at some titles.

In 2014 Gortat might be better than Gasol and Okafor, but he didn't make anywhere near the money they made, so the odds of him taking a huge paycut are probably very low. He did taste some success with the Magic though, and he must know that the teams that can give him more money might not even sniff the playoffs. And Miami is the only current contender that could give him starting minutes.

Getting one of them before 2014.

This would be a major coup for the Heat and it would solidify them as favorites.

The best case scenarios for the Heat would be for the Wizards to suck so bad that they decide to tank and buy Okafor out, and go for Wiggins (rather unlikely) or for the Suns to play just good enough to seem like they are ruining their chances at Wiggins. This might push them to buy out Gortat. And if that happens, we should hope Riley is able to work his magic again.

Then there is (the highly unlikely) scenario where Pau has a serious falling out with the Lakers (more likely with D'Antoni and/or Jim Buss than with Kobe) and he asks for a buyout.

So, even if I don't hold much hope for Oden (although I would love it for him to be healthy and dominant just to troll the rest of the league), with a little luck the Heat might still fill that big hole at the 5.

[HIF]

Can't be bothered to read. This is like the media and 2014.

let's enjoy this season first.

If we 3peat and are on for a 4peat then everyone will want to stay and will be happy to sacrifice. If we bomb out who knows.

Let's do the job in front of us.

[truthiness]

Can't be bothered to read, yet you can be bothered to talk/post. That's overly douchy, don't you think?

Also, if would have had the common sense to read first and speak later, you'd have seen that it also touches the coming season.

But of course you live with the impression that people hold their breath waiting for you to dispense some more wisdom.

[RexBoyWonder]

I do think we'll have enough cap space to add at least 1 quality player (after the big 3 will sign new contracts for less money per year but for more years), With a bit of planing and luck we could probably even add 2 nice players. Our first priority whould be one these Centers :

Gortat
Emeka Okafor
Varjao
Bougot

Then we'll need to replace Battier/Allen with one of these guys :

Brandon Rush
Thabo Sefolosha
Trevor Ariza
Ben gordon

Kyle Lowry is Also a name i'll keep an eye on as a possible and realistic upgrade at PG.

My dream lineup would be :

Lowry/Rio
Wade/Rush/Draft pick
Lebron/Rush/Ennis
Bosh/Haslem/Vetern min
Gortat/Oden/Birdman

Maybe we trade Cole, we might also draft a rotaion player in the first round..hard to tell at this point.

I think part of the reason we didn't spend our MiniMLE this summer is because Pat wants to maximize our flexibility for next summer when we'll say goodbye to a few rotation and bench players. We'll need to get younger and deeper to keep contending for years to come.

[Heatin4]

Can't be bothered to read, yet you can be bothered to talk/post. That's overly douchy, don't you think?

Also, if would have had the common sense to read first and speak later, you'd have seen that it also touches the coming season.

But of course you live with the impression that people hold their breath waiting for you to dispense some more wisdom.

I second this opinion. People have to read before they post around here. Just disrespectful.

[LoveMyHeat]

"Let's do the job in front of us."

I hate to break it to you but we fans don't have any control over wins or losses. We can speculate about the future as much as we want.

[RexBoyWonder]

After going over the numbers more carefully and trying to be abit more realistic, i'll adjust the lineup i suggested in my previous post to this one :

Rio/Cole
Wade/Ben Gordon
LBJ/Rush/Ennis
Bosh/Haslem/draft pick
Gortat/Birdman/Hamilton(Oden?)

Keeping Oden will be tricky if he stays healthy and looks good in the playoffs, but that's a good problem to have.

The keys to rebuilding a talented deep roster around the big 3 will be :

1)Resigning Rio to a modest new contract (that's very achievable, dont see any other team making him their starting PG)
2)Getting Gortat (or another good starting Center) to take a little less then he could from a crap team in order to join the Heat party.
3)Draft smart & incorporate our young guys like Ennis, making them decent rotation players on the cheap.

[dolphinatik]

Hamilton is playing for another team. Mysteriously injured and didnt play one minute of SL for us this year he is on another teams training camp now. I would take KG if available.

[RexBoyWonder]

Hamilton is playing for another team. Mysteriously injured and didnt play one minute of SL for us this year he is on another teams training camp now. .

Where do you get this from? link?

And KG would never join us, too much pride.

[HeatGuyInChicago]

KG would not like it here anyway. Our players like to have fun.

[narmerguy]

I think there's just too much variability to even have this discussion with any seriousness. There's so much with the big3 / oden / league / championship that will affect this.

[Heatin4]

"Let's do the job in front of us."

I hate to break it to you but we fans don't have any control over wins or losses. We can speculate about the future as much as we want.

I bet some Heat staff come here for ideas or if not their ideas match highly with the ones outlined in this thread for future target. You dont plan 1 year ahead people you plan years ahead if you want to stay good.

[Boarder Patrol]

Assuming the big three all re-sign, you likely will have minimum contracts and the full MLE right?

[truthiness]

Hamilton is playing for another team. Mysteriously injured and didnt play one minute of SL for us this year he is on another teams training camp now. .

Where do you get this from? link?

And KG would never join us, too much pride.

1. You overrate Ben Gordon's abilities and underrate his ego. He'll be older and slower, but still a too short SG with dubious handles that wants to be the man. I doubt he accepts a pay cut, and his playoffs heroics happened 4-5 years earlier, and he seemed to be on the decline since.

2. On the current market, you ain't getting Gortat unless he takes a massive pay cut. The only hope of getting him for a playoff run is him being cut mid-season by the Suns so they can out-tank the Sixers and Jazz.

3. Why don't you ever learn ? "Young guys like Ennis" used to be "young guys like Pittman", and they rarely amount to anything. The Heat can't afford to play a project heavy minutes during the season, what with that competing for 1st seed and all. So most of the time they young guys will end up in the NBDL, Europe or China. Or just end of the bench scrubs. Cole's story was a bit different, but it won't work the same with big guys. Teams don't let big guys with REAL potential fall too low in the draft. Cole was a PG at a time the league was (and still is) full of competent PG's.

4. Garnett ? I dislike him. A LOT. One of the players I could almost say I hate. I recognize his qualities as a player, but he can go **** himself with a shovel for all I care.

But let's get one thing straight. With Garnett is not about pride or loyalty. It's MONEY. Money comes first with him. Not winning, not anything else. He didn't agree to go to the Celtics and play for a title until they gave him a huge extension. Same with the Nets now.

So I guess what I am trying to say is that Garnett can go **** himself with a gold plated shovel. He certainly affords it.

[BlackFalconGSW]

Brandon Rush would be a great fit imo. Plus he's bff with Rio (Kansas). Great 3pt shooter + solid defender.

[BFRESH44]

Maybe I'm delusional, but I legitimately think we can get LeBron and Bosh to sign with us in 2014.

Bring them home, Riley!

[truthiness]

Wait, are we supposed to believe they are likely to leave ?
I would actually put the odds of the big 3 staying together higher than the odds of them splitting.
It's usually ego and money that split teams, but so far they showed they could overcome these obstacles. I hope they will stay together. I am not sure by any means, but the logical thing would be for them to stay together - unless a major rift develops during the season. Which I hope won't happen.

And **** Melo. I don't need him. I dont' want him.
He can stay in NY or go to LA.
That's where he belongs.

I would gladly take Okafor and/or Pau Gasol over Melo any day of the week.

[SWadeUP]

This forum is so obsessed with these cats Leaving. MY GOD. STFU.

Enjoy this $hit. 3 peat is under way, and after its over, Theyre gonna re-up their contracts....with the Miami heat.... All of them.

[Heat fan06]

Looking ahead is pointless.

[Darkstar77]

A guy like Vince Carter might work if Ray Allen is gone. Dude shot 40% from 3 last season and is a far better ball handler than Ray at this point in their careers. He brings more to the table than Ray does.