OT: Enjoy Kicking The Heat Around Right Now

[europa]

Because it isn't going to last long. If anyone's watching the Lakers-Heat game, we're seeing the future in Miami and it's looking real scary. Wade and Marion forming a strong 1-2 punch, a young athlete at SF in Wright and plenty of room for improvement elsewhere. If the Heat find a good PG to team with Wade and add the right pieces for depth they're going to be a contender again - perhaps as soon as next season.

[75totheMACCfund]

mo williams and CV for Haslem and jason williams...

[jakecronus8]

Redd and Storey for Ricky Davis, JWill, Dorell and Daequan cook.

[europa]

I like Yi's potential but it's scary to think how much better the Bucks would be with Marion. He is such a good player and impacts the game in so many ways on both ends of the court.

[Comet]

If they do that, then they could compete for the second round in the playoffs next season. But until they get a good man in the middle, the second round is probably as far as they'll get.

[europa]

Redd and Storey for Ricky Davis, JWill, Dorell and Daequan cook.

Wade is the SG in Miami. They have no reason to trade for Redd. If the Bucks were going to make an offer to Miami, Mo would be the guy to offer. We know the Heat like him and they will have a hole at PG after this season when Jason Williams becomes a free agent.

If they do that, then they could compete for the second round in the playoffs next season. But until they get a good man in the middle, the second round is probably as far as they'll get.

That would be a major jump forward from this season. They'll add a lottery pick this summer - perhaps that's where they find their PG or their C to replace Shaq. Adding a lottery pick to the Wade-Marion duo is a scary thought. Again, this team is going to bounce back and I think they're going to bounce back quickly.

[bucks59]

Plus the Heat have to expiring contracts to add talent and will probably end up with a high draft pick in a very strong draft.

[Comet]

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That would be a major jump forward from this season. They'll add a lottery pick this summer - perhaps that's where they find their PG or their C to replace Shaq. Adding a lottery pick to the Wade-Marion duo is a scary thought. Again, this team is going to bounce back and I think they're going to bounce back quickly.

Okay, but keep in mind that Marion is at the end of his prime. If the Heat do land a center, by the time he proves a worthy replacement for Shaq Marion will be in decline. I agree that they'll bounce back, but I doubt they'll bounce back to top-2 in the East.

[europa]

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Okay, but keep in mind that Marion is at the end of his prime. If the Heat do land a center, by the time he proves a worthy replacement for Shaq Marion will be in decline. I agree that they'll bounce back, but I doubt they'll bounce back to top-2 in the East.

I think Marion probably has another three years at least as a top player. His game isn't in decline by any means. The Heat will likely get a high lotto pick. As long as they don't screw it up, that player should be a good one. They are a prime destination for free agents so they can acquire talent that way. I think anyone writing this team's obit is doing it prematurely. Depening on the moves they make next summer, I think this team could emerge as a legit contender again.

[aboveAverage]

Every team is doing something to make themselves better next year except us...

[Max Green]

Every team is doing something to make themselves better next year except us...

Nah, we'll be there to pick up the players they can't who can't make any other teams and overpay them like usual.

[Fight the Tank]

If the Bucks really could have traded for Marion they blew it. That guy does so many good things. I know it would have been tough to leave the "Yi" money on the table but you know what else makes money for an organization? **** winning games and Marion would have helped a lot.

[Comet]

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I think Marion probably has another three years at least as a top player. His game isn't in decline by any means. The Heat will likely get a high lotto pick. As long as they don't screw it up, that player should be a good one. They are a prime destination for free agents so they can acquire talent that way. I think anyone writing this team's obit is doing it prematurely. Depening on the moves they make next summer, I think this team could emerge as a legit contender again.

Correct, Marion is still an all-star and will remain so for a few more years.

But let's focus on team needs right now for the Heat. Jason Williams is a very meh-ish PG, and will be a free agent after the season. That means they'll need another one. They also need another C. If they draft a C and sign a PG, the C probably won't make a huge (if any) impact because big men usually take longer to develop as opposed to guards, who can make an impact right away. Drafting impact centers is rare is today's NBA.

Now, if they draft a PG and sign a C, they might have a harder time doing so. They could probably draft a PG, but where could they sign a C? Andris Biedrins is restricted, leaving Jermaine O'Neal as the only quality C on the market, if he opts-out. They could trade for a C, but what do they have to offer? They won't trade Wade or Marion, so all they really have to offer is Dorell Wright, Ricky Davis, Udonis Haslem, and a few others I'm forgetting. They just don't have great trade bait, and if they do manage to land a C in this scenario, their depth will have been drained.

Again, I'm not saying that won't bounce back, but I'm so sure if they'll be a legit contender.

[europa]

I think it could happen. Now a lot obviously depends on the moves they make. But I think the foundation has been established. They have the Wade-Marion duo and a young talent in Wright. They will add another strong player in the lottery (or maybe they trade the pick for a proven player which means they're even further along). One of the advantages of having Wade is you don't need a prototypical PG. You just need a guy who can run the offense when needed but primarily spot up and shoot jumpers. Those guys are much easier to find than prototypical PGs. They do need a center but with Wade-Marion-lotto pick-Wright they may not need a standout one, just a good rebounder and defender. They have a good PF in Haslem who is now expendable and can be used as trade bait. They have the means to make good moves this summer.

Again, we have to see what moves they make next summer but given the foundation they have now and the potential that is there it would not surprise me at all if they ascended to the No. 3 spot in the East as quickly as next season and became a contender again. That's the beauty of adding a proven talent like Marion - you don't have to sit around and wait 4-5 years to improve. You can do so quickly and then you just need to start adding the right pieces around the proven talent you already have.

Things change quickly in the NBA. Not long ago the Heat were World Champs. This season they looked like doormats. Now their future is very bright again - a helluva lot brighter than the Bucks', that's for sure.

[xTitan]

Marion can opt out at the end of this year, does anyone truely believe he would have stayed in Milwaukee past this year? So you trade the Yi pick for one year of Marion and you still have zero chance of advancing past the second round.

[stellation]

I like Yi's potential but it's scary to think how much better the Bucks would be with Marion. He is such a good player and impacts the game in so many ways on both ends of the court.

8 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and 2 blocks in the first half... and that's with only, what a handful of days and practices to learn the system and how the team plays?

I like Yi a lot too, but the thing that really annoys me about not doing the trade (and here I am ignoring Marion leaving after his contract is up and just assuming that we can keep him around) is that it seems like they were opting for "building for the future" with Yi; Marion is only 1 year older than Redd so if Redd is not too old and one day can help you contend then Marion is in the same boat too.

[europa]

Marion can opt out at the end of this year, does anyone truely believe he would have stayed in Milwaukee past this year?

I don't think and never have believed that Marion was going to leave $17M guaranteed on the table and opt out of his deal no matter where he may have ended up had the Suns traded him before the season. I'll take my chances with a proven Top 20 player (one GM was quoted after the Heat trade saying he believes Marion is a Top 10 player) who is a major impact player on both ends of the court. Again, I like Yi's potential but that's all it is right now - potential. Marion is a flat-out stud.

[xTitan]

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8 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and 2 blocks in the first half... and that's with only, what a handful of days and practices to learn the system and how the team plays?

I like Yi a lot too, but the thing that really annoys me about not doing the trade (and here I am ignoring Marion leaving after his contract is up and just assuming that we can keep him around) is that it seems like they were opting for "building for the future" with Yi; Marion is only 1 year older than Redd so if Redd is not too old and one day can help you contend then Marion is in the same boat too.

You simply can't do that, I guess as a fan you could but as someone trying to build a franchise you simply can't do it.

[Fight the Tank]

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I don't think and never have believed that Marion was going to leave $17M guaranteed on the table and opt out of his deal no matter where he may have ended up had the Suns traded him before the season. I'll take my chances with a proven Top 20 player (one GM was quoted after the Heat trade saying he believes Marion is a Top 10 player) who is a major impact player on both ends of the court. Again, I like Yi's potential but that's all it is right now - potential. Marion is a flat-out stud.

I don't think Marion opts out of that 17 mill either. Tough call though.

[Bucks_Revenge]

players like Ricky Davis are holding back the heat.