Should the Heat even still be thinking 2010?

[Iputsomepantson]

Now that the Heat have the Beasley-Wade inside-out tandem, is there really a need for the Heat to think about 2010?

I understand that there will be incredible FA's in 2010, most notably Lebron and Bosh, but the odds either of them actually leaving their teams through FA are slim. They'll either be traded or they'll choose to resign.

Plus, the Heat don't even need to go after big name talents like that anymore. Yes adding another superstar caliber player would be great, but if Beasley turns out to be anything like the player many predict he will become, it would not be necessary.

What's more necessary I think is establishing a lineup for the future and that means adding:

A three point shooting, pass first, hard nosed defense point guard.

A three point shooting, strong rebounding, third option caliber, hard nosed defense SF

Something along the lines of a 15 foot range (if possible), strong rebounding, help defense C

and a veteran bench.

With the exception of the veteran bench which often comes the year a team becomes leading title contenders, the other 3 can and should be acquired through trades before 2010. Even if the Heat have 30 million in cap space in 2010, there is little chance they'll be able to acquire 3 starters who will make them title contenders and a bench to go with it in one off season.

So let's quit the talk of the 2010 offseason guys, it just not practical. The last thing we need is to further gut this team merely for capspace. If this team wants to win a championship any time soon it needs to start acquiring talent NOW. We already have 2 great pieces most teams would do most anything for, hopefully we see some quality talent start to surround it.

Note: It should be interesting to see if Pat Riley even mentions cap space for 2010 this offseason after acquiring Beasley, but if the Heat do not sign a player to a 3 year deal, or if there are not any trades which bring in players with 3+ years left, it could be a sign that Pat Riley is still interested in the 2010 capspace strategy. However, I think that strategy probably was only developed incase the Heat did not acquire a superstar-caliber talent in the draft.

[GameTime_3]

Check the interview 12:35 mark. He talks about how he wants to have alot of flexibility in 2010.He says that he would call around and see whats out there but he wants to keep the flexibility. He talks about how agents call teams when the know you have money and he said he wants the agents to be calling in 09" and 2010".
http://790theticket.com/audioplayer.php ... erg%20Show

[Iputsomepantson]

I just don't see how the Heat will be able to have capspace unless they flat out let Haslem and Marion walk. I mean what talent could they get for them that wouldn't have a deal longer than 2 years and even in they acquire such talent, what would be the point in acquiring such talent if you are going to just let them walk away too.

Also, even if the Heat wind up with an expiring contract after this year and a guy making ~10 million for Marion, they would still have little cap space next offseason (~50 million in salary with that 10 million salary, Wade, Haslem, Blount, Banks, Cook, Beasley, and Chalmers alone).

And in 2010 they may have cap space, but it would not do much good for reasons I have already stated and the fact that they would not be able to sign ANY good players for the next two seasons who could turn this team into a contender. We might as well continue to tank if that's the case.

So add on:

1) Getting nothing for Marion and Haslem
and
2) Not being able to sign ANY good talent for the next two years

to my list of reasons why saving up cap space for 2010 would be dumb.

[HIF]

I agree with you pants.

let's not give up good things now in the hope that we are selected by Lebron or bosh in 2010.

Sure I'd like them, I'd like a dominant C of any kind any time but they will have the choice where to go and if last offseason didn't teach us anything it should have taught us that we are far from certain of getting the players we want.

If Mo Williams decided not to join us why should Lebron or Bosh?

[Hoops23]

If Miami wants to compete now, they should forget about the cap space in 2010 or next year.

What I'm saying is if Miami use their MLE on free agent/s this summer and signing their own free agents for multi year deal, that means the large amount of cap space is gone but it gives them a good roster to compete for a playoff spot. I still want the cap space for 2010 instead of next year and at the same time compete this coming season, meaning to say, I'd like the team to sign players for two season only. I'd love the Heat to compete for a championship than just getting to the playoffs.

Bosh in 2010!
Bosh-Beasley-Wade trio will be awesome. $17m on the younger Bosh is deserving than giving that money to Marion.

[Iputsomepantson]

Hoops I have no idea what the heck you are saying.

[HeatGuyInChicago]

I don't know why people think its dumb to save for 2010 when 66% of the NBA teams are preparing to do it. Riley is not stupid. If there is deal on the table that will take us to a Championship level, he will pull the trigger. But the plan is to build the talent level up and manage the cap, so the Heat can attract an elite Free Agent in 2010. We have a major advantage being in Florida. The weather is great during basketball season and there are no state income taxes. Miami is in the East which is good for broadcasting. The Heat has excellent coaching and is generally a well run organization. Riley has a lot of respect around the league. The only thing that scares me for LeBron is Jay-Z. His presence some what scares me about D.Wade as well. LeBron is not stupid. He knows his marketability is a function of perception. Nike has not got the return for what it paid for LeBron in terms of a shoe contract. (I saw this in the news but don't remember where). He is using the Jordan model where his value transcends the league. The only way you do that is to win Championships.
If Beasley pans out, the Heat have a big two. If the could land LeBron in 2010, the Heat would be the most nationaly televised team with LeBron, D. Wade, and Beasley. For that to happen, the Heat need to manage the cap to have both Lebron and D. Wade on the team. When salaries are equal, the Heat will win out. Consider that Mo Williams considered signing here for less money. The Bucks had to really overpay to keep him.

Go Heat!!!

[BFRESH44]

From a short look at the numbers, Just to let ya'll know: In the 2010/2011 cap year(if in fact this the year we want to maintain flexibility)......

-We can sign someone to full midlevel exception THIS off-season,

-Have re-signed Shawn Marion at around a 12 mil per figure on the books,

-Have Dwyane Wade on the books on max contract,

-Marcus Banks' deal still on the books,

-Michael Beasley and Daequan Cook both still on there rookie scale deals (6, and 2 million),


and STILL have enough salary flexibility to sign a near max player in the summer of 2010.

Reasons because? Udonis Haslem(7.1 million) and Mark Blount 7.9 Million come off the books that very off-season.

If my number were correct during my short look, Miami has about 48-49 million in guranteed salaries with my above scenario.

Salary cap this summer is around 57 million. I'm projected the cap to be at around 60-62 millon in 2010.

So that's about 13-14 million in salary flexilibilty.

So if the goal is to maintain flexiblity in 2010, we might as well see if we can sign a useful player for the MLE that can help us THIS OFF-SEASON. Diop or James Jones anyone?

Just FYI.

[HeatGuyInChicago]

I caution everyone about projecting the salary cap figures up. The United States is going through a weak economy if not a recession.

Go Heat!!!

[CaliHeat]

Yea Im not really into waiting until 2010 but I do understand that is Riley's thinking.

I may be crazy BUT:

Do you think a Lebron-Wade-Beasley trio would work?
I know there all great players but who would take the last shot, who is the go to guy?
I cant see Lebron and his ego defer to Wade and I want the ball in Wade's hands at all times in clutch situations.

Also, Chis Bosh is a PF, just like Beasley.
Would a front line of Beasley-Bosh really work?
I think playing Bosh at C can expose him kind of like Pau Gasol in this years playoffs.

[HIF]

Really there is as much chance that Wade leaves as Lebron comes.

If 66% of the teams are creating cap space for 2010 that's a hell of a lot of choice for these guys.

nearly max would not be enough anyway.

[HeatSince88]

From a short look at the numbers, Just to let ya'll know: In the 2010/2011 cap year(if in fact this the year we want to maintain flexibility)......

-We can sign someone to full midlevel exception THIS off-season,

-Have re-signed Shawn Marion at around a 12 mil per figure on the books,

-Have Dwyane Wade on the books on max contract,

-Marcus Banks' deal still on the books,

-Michael Beasley and Daequan Cook both still on there rookie scale deals (6, and 2 million),


If my number were correct during my short look, Miami has about 48-49 million in guranteed salaries with my above scenario.

So that's about 13-14 million in salary flexilibilty.

That's only 6 players under contract, meaning you'd have to consider cap holds totalling about $3 million. Dropping your best-case-scenario cap space to $10 mill. Nowhere near enough for Bosh or Lebron.

Plus, that's two years of a bunch of crap players like Kwame Brown coming through here since we can't commit ANY salary (beyond the MLE this year in your scenario) beyond 2010.

I personally think Wade's already tried of playing with guys like that, and he's only had to do it one year .... Smush, Ricky, A-Johnson, Blount, Penny, etc. You want him to do so for another 2 years? The guy deserves talent ASAP. Not in 2010-11 after we finally use cap space. By 2011 he might have nothing but cadaver ligaments holding his knee together. We'd have to worry about re-signing HIM rather than competing with 15 other teams for Bosh that offseason.

I say we try to get someone great ...

1) RIGHT NOW (using Marion's contract as bait) ...
2) if that doesn't work, try to get someone great AT THE DEADLINE ....
3) if that doesn't work, try to get someone great NEXT OFFSEASON ...
4) if that doesn't work, try to get someone great NEXT TRADE DEADLINE ...
5) then if two years of trying fails, try to get someone great in 2010

Why we would automatically pass up numbers #1-4 and just wait a couples years for #5 (like every team in the NBA is planning to do as well) is beyond me. Riley needs to try and acquire greatness CONSTANTLy, not go on vacation a couple years while Pfund puts together teams of Kwame Brown, Smush Parker, etc.

Just my opinion though, could be wrong!

[boyboy142]

I absolutely hate the 2010 strategy. Because I think if we dick around failing to improve our roster enough Dwyane's just going to walk and we're gonna be stuck with a lot of cap space and no one to use it on. I'd much rather try and maneuver our way into a lot of cap room next offseason and put together a top 5 team so that Wade has something to stay for. The LeBron and Bosh stuff is just fanboy wetdreams.

I'd consider doing something like:

Haslem
Blount

to Cleveland for

Sczerbiak and Damon Jones

Then we've got what, 30 million in cap space next offseason? Move Marcus Banks and you have enough to almost max out 3 players.

[Iputsomepantson]

If the Heat acquired Chris Bosh, he could play center. He's not soft like Gasol, the guy can play C, especially in today's nba with Shaq no longer the dominating force in the league and the nba rewarding speed more than strength

[Hoops23]

from the Miami Herald

Riley said, ``A lot of short [term] money will have to be accepted by these guys . . . We've got to protect our backside in 2010.''

I think this statement from Riley answer the question in this thread.
Chris Bosh is the better fit than Boozer or Brand. Bosh can play both center and PF unlike the other two which I think he can coexist with Beasley.

check this article also from Sun Sentinel's Ira W. Its about the 2010 and Bosh

[BlaZeN27]

I don't get this Bosh thing, he truly isn't a center. There's a reason they went out and got Jermaine O'Neal. He's on the skinny side and he's not the toughness dude out there (kind of soft, basketball wise). I would much rather Emeka Okafor for this team.

[HeatGuyInChicago]

No, for the Heat, that never appeared to be the legitimate target of Pat Riley and his own cap-clearance sales. The Heat doesn't need someone taking shots away from Wade; it needs someone to make those shots easier to create.

I respect Ira, but this is not well thought out. LeBron will be welcomed. It's another guy that create his own shot and shots for others. He also does this very efficiently. It's hard to believe that Riley will not go after him. I will agree with his assessment of LeBron being an invitation only arrangement. Wade wants to win, and he is friends with LeBron. If the Heat don't go after him, we know that LeBron is not interested.

Go Heat!!!

[SA37]

No, for the Heat, that never appeared to be the legitimate target of Pat Riley and his own cap-clearance sales. The Heat doesn't need someone taking shots away from Wade; it needs someone to make those shots easier to create.

I respect Ira, but this is not well thought out. LeBron will be welcomed. It's another guy that create his own shot and shots for others. He also does this very efficiently. It's hard to believe that Riley will not go after him. I will agree with his assessment of LeBron being an invitation only arrangement. Wade wants to win, and he is friends with LeBron. If the Heat don't go after him, we know that LeBron is not interested.

Go Heat!!!

Miami would/will make their pitch to LeBron.

If the best player in the league -- and in 2010 he will be -- becomes a free agent at 25 (twenty-friggin'-five!) and you have the cap space to sign him, you don't pass on the opportunity. Period.

Can you imagine a trio of LeBron (25), Wade (28), and Beasley (21)?

Ok, while the chances are low we land LeBron, you still take your shot. And Pat Riley will. Remember about 7-8 years back Riley almost got McGrady over from Toronto? Riley's pulled Shaq. He pulled Eddie Jones. He pulled Alonzo Mourning. He almost pulled an in-his-prime Gary Payton. He made a sales pitch to Grant Hill, IIRC, the summer he signed with Orlando.

Honestly, if Beasley shows within the next 2 seasons that he is going to come even remotely close to fulfilling his potential, is there any team in the league that can offer a better package than Miami? Probably not.

[Heat11114]

The problem is Cleveland could make that exact pitch to Wade and Lebron, not to mention have roughly another 15 mil to fill out the roster. I can't even imagine a team passing on 17 million in cap space when all-stars are available for the chance at other players the next year. Especially when there will be a number of teams making a pitch for these guys.

[GameTime_3]

The problem is Cleveland could make that exact pitch to Wade and Lebron, not to mention have roughly another 15 mil to fill out the roster. I can't even imagine a team passing on 17 million in cap space when all-stars are available for the chance at other players the next year. Especially when there will be a number of teams making a pitch for these guys.

They will not have the same to offer, for one we do not have state income tax. Second we would have another potential star already in place in Beasley(Hopefully). Miami is also alot more marketable then Cleveland, which we all know Lebron will take into consideration. The Heat will also have some nice young players on cheap contracts, Cook,Chalmers,Beasley; While Cleveland would have what young players on cheap pay role? Overall, things even i could see miami winning out but chances are slim it gets to the point where we even get to talk to Bron, But Chris Bosh would be a nice plan B.