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"The last time we rebuilt, it took us 16 months," he said. "I'd like to try to do it quicker than that." ---Pat Riley

If this is the case, he is expecting to make all of his moves at the present deadline, through this offseason's draft and free agency and the trade deadline next year.

16 months from now would be a year from June and we owe next year's draft pick to Minnesota.

Pat Riley puts a lot of thought into things like this before he says it to the media. I don't see how he accomplishes what he is saying without using the Heat's current expiring contracts for a significant player or players. Some of the names that have been mentioned like Mike Miller are good role players but certainly not building blocks for contenders.

What will it be? Trades, free agency and the draft pick? How?

It doesn't seem like there is enough available for the Heat to become a contender, no matter how you slice it.......................the plan to rebuild in 2010 at least held the hope of the expiring contracts of Bosh, LBJ, etc.

Thoughts?

It is very possible to get a contending team immediately. I posted this scenario in another thread:

This is obviously a very unlikely scenario, but Miami could put themselves in an interesting position if they pulled this deal off:

Miami gets: Jermaine O'Neal and Mike Miller

Memphis gets: Ricky Davis and Dorell Wright

Indiana gets: Jason Williams, Alonzo Mourning, Daequan Cook, Smush Parker, and a future #1 from Miami

Then Miami looks like this to finish the season:

O'Neal - Blount
Haslem - Johnson
Marion - Miller
Wade- FA
Banks - Quinn

The team is very defensively capable (Marion and Wade have quick hands and get in the passing lanes and O'Neal is one of the top shot-blockers in the game), competitive again and would add a lottery pick plus a player or two with the MLE and LLE.

That would be an athletic team capable both of running and playing a half-court game. O'Neal and Marion are both turning 30 this year, so Miami has a 4-5-year window to compete for a title if it wishes to go that long. If it doesn't work out, the team would still be in play for the '10 cap space summer, when O'Neal, Blount, Miller, and Haslem all expire (roughly $48 million of the books).

The truth is, I am not a big Jermaine O'Neal fan. I think he is a good player against mediocre competition and a mediocre player against top-level players. But, in our team, he wouldn't have to be the man because of Wade's presence.

That said, I do think Marion, Wade, and O'Neal is a big 3 capable of competing for a title.

I think this is something Miami would have to do if they could.

I'm thinking something along similar lines. From another thread:

My current train of thought is: a)trade JWill and/or Davis (and wright?) for a 5. b) re-sign Marion for a four year extension c) draft a pg (assuming you don't land the top pick...if not ship out Haslem for a pg and take Beasley)

PG Rose / Banks
SG Wade / Cook
SF Marion / Wright?
PF Haslem / AJ
C J O' Neal / Blount

We can't trade a future #1 pick, IISC. You cannot go w/o consecutive 1st rders, though we can move it on draft day, not before.

If I'm Correct Marion Can opt out for a Long term deal (Remember ZO did this)

That Cap Space is not lock up b/c the player opt out
Sign free agent (Gilbert,B.diddy,Artest,Brand etc etc )no not all
but one .

Then sign Marion Back going over the cap (remember ZO Deal leak out of being done ...this is why we lost Howard b4 he had a Change of heart)

whatever we do in the next 16 months, it better include keeping Marion around long term IMO.

I dont understand the love with J.O.... Hes not that young and he makes a lot of $ and hes very injury prone... many here were dying to get rid of Shaq , and now you guys want J.O.?? i dont understand that one....

To be a contender we need a dominate post player that demands double teams. How to get that player is the question. In the draft we go for the best player and hope to win the draft. Derrick Rose/Beasley are the way to go. O.J Mayo if we cant get those two.

that's actually a good thought....renting JO for 2 years then sign a younger PF in FA....
i was thinking trading for sammy dalembert but he's a little over paid...but very solid center... 10 10 guy w/ 2 blocks and over 500 shooting...
or trading for brand, if marion doesn't opt out this year they both need new contracts the same year....

our draft pick is one of the most important steps in a quick rebuild hopefully we get a good pick... draft seems stacked this year....

Jermaine O'Neal is a punk...I hope he never comes here.

Jermaine has basically the same contract, health issues, and production as Shaq.

If you were on board with shipping out Shaq, it would be antithetical to be on board with adding Jermaine.

They're BOTH 15pt/7reb guys who miss 30 games a year, and have 3-year deals paying them $20+ mill until 2010 (when Wade can be sick of it all and leave).

If you're saying you want a center who will give us those numbers at that contract, you should be livid we just traded away Shaq.

dude big difference of this team having wade, mario, high pick + jermain which actually can still run the break than having just shaq and wade and a pick....marion is the difference maker here....and jermain would just be rented...
jermain > shaq anyday now... more athletic, faster, better defender, just as soft....

In an email to me, Ira says he believes Marion will not be around long term, whether its him opting out after this season or letting his contract expire the next year, he thinks Miami will be more apt to use that chunk of cap space to get more then one player.

I disagree, I think through seperate trades, spending both our exceptions this offsesaon and our lottery pick we will fill enough holes to have success with locking up Marion alongside Wade long term.

I may be jumping the gun with Matrix as he hasnt played a game for us yet, but based on his career stats and all the times I have seen him play, I gotta say he looks like a keeper and the type of player that will be a Riley & staff favorite.

HeatSince88 wrote:Jermaine has basically the same contract, health issues, and production as Shaq.

If you were on board with shipping out Shaq, it would be antithetical to be on board with adding Jermaine.

They're BOTH 15pt/7reb guys who miss 30 games a year, and have 3-year deals paying them $20+ mill until 2010 (when Wade can be sick of it all and leave).

If you're saying you want a center who will give us those numbers at that contract, you should be livid we just traded away Shaq.

You're forgetting defense. Shaq is mediocre at best, JO is one of the best in the league.

JNichols42887 wrote:You're forgetting defense. Shaq is mediocre at best, JO is one of the best in the league.

How is it that one defends while sitting on the bench in a suit?

And if we wanna tit-for-tat on Jermaine-v-Shaq, how about Shaq shoots 58% while Jermaine shoots 44%?

Or how about Shaq only makes $20 mill in 2010, while Jermaine makes $23 mill in 2010.

Or how about Shaq was a driving force behind 6 Finals Appearances and 4 NBA Championships. Jermaine - zero.

Etc.

If Marion opts out this season, IMO the interest with Elton Brand will revive. But I doubt Marion will leave Miami because I dont think there is a team that can offer him money this off-season.

IMO Riley is thinking of a trade for an impact player or franchise changing player because that is the only deal he can make for a quick turn-around. Elton Brand, J O'Neal and Boozer comes to mind.

I think Riley learn from his mistakes in the past when he didn't trade Zo because of his attachment with him that lead to a lottery seasons. The story of Shaq being in and out of the line-up because of injuries is the same story with Zo in the past.

HeatSince88 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



How is it that one defends while sitting on the bench in a suit?

And if we wanna tit-for-tat on Jermaine-v-Shaq, how about Shaq shoots 58% while Jermaine shoots 44%?

Or how about Shaq only makes $20 mill in 2010, while Jermaine makes $23 mill in 2010.

Or how about Shaq was a driving force behind 6 Finals Appearances and 4 NBA Championships. Jermaine - zero.
Etc.

Very well said! J.O. is so overpaid it's rediculous. We need to concentrate on finding that post player in the draft. Trade for a vet PG like Miller or Bibby. J.O. is damaged goods and makes way way too much money.

Immure wrote:dude big difference of this team having wade, mario, high pick + jermain which actually can still run the break than having just shaq and wade and a pick....marion is the difference maker here....and jermain would just be rented...
jermain > shaq anyday now... more athletic, faster, better defender, just as soft....

Jermaine would just be "rented?" Have you seen that contract? How is that a rental?

Paying $60 million plus ... 45 games a year of 15pts/8reb on 44%. And declining rapidly.

This isn't 2002, guys. Take a look at what Jermaine's been up to since then and how his contract is worse than Shaq's in 2010.

Brand would be nice but from what I hear he happens to be Donald Sterling's favorite player and they can offer more money then anyone.

J.O's contract is one of the worst in the league. The Heat do not need that. They need to trade Ricky Davis and J-Will for one of these all star PG's who's contract ends in 2009.