If Shaq trade goes down: what's in there for the Pups?

[tanat-0s]

I'm talking about the pick!

If Heat will barely make playoffs with Marion we'll get it and that's good.

But what if they miss on it anyway, what's up with next season?

Are the Heat playoff bound in 2009?

Davis and Marion are free agents this summer, too.

Lotsa questions.

[deeney0]

Next year the pick is top 10 protected, so they can miss the playoffs and still send it our way.

The year after that it's top 6. I can't fathom Miami still being a bottom dweller in 2 years.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

too late to get it this year

next year for sure. which i dont care, i didnt want ot wait until 2011 anyways.

[Calinks]

Yea I hope we get it next year or later.

[shrink]

Its very hard to predict a team's fortunes in the NBA, but I think this is probably bad news for MIN's return on the MIA pick. I didn't mind waiting for the pick, because I felt that MIA would be bad for three years. As Shaq continued to decline, his big $20 mil salary would remain through 2010, and probably keep them in the lottery. For 2010, the pick is only Top 6 protected, and unprotected in 2011.

The trade for Marion means $16 mil of that salary is off the books in 16 months. I think this moves MIA one year closer to financial health, and may mean we never get a lottery pick out of them.

Incidentally, don't expect Shawn Marion to play well in this new situation. The tempo won't be fast, his PG won't be Steve Nash, and there won't be a bunch of other scoring options on the floor drawing defenses away from him.

[theGreatRC]

I researched the schedules and games needed to win by Miami and this is what I found:

Miami is 9-37

The Eighth seeded Nets are 20-28
The Seventh seeded Hawks are 20-24

Miami's next 11 games schedule:

Pistons
Sixers
Lakers
Nuggets
Bulls
~All Star Break~
Rockets
Sixers
Kings
Lakers
Sonics
Kings

Nets next 11:

Magic
Bobcats
Mavericks
Timberwolves
Raptors
Bulls
Pacers
Pacers
Magic
Bucks
Spurs

Hawks Next 11:

Lakers
Cavaliers
Rockets
Pistons
Bobcats
Lakers
Kings
Warriors
Jazz
Spurs
Kings

Hawks definitely have the hardest schedule out of those 3 teams, Nets look to have the easiest, and Heat have a pretty tough one as well.

If Miami could win at least 6-11 games in that stretch, they will be 6 games out of the playoffs, and Miami is practically getting a new player on the court, because Shaq wasn't even out there, so definitely an upgrade for Pat Riley and the Heat.

[deeney0]

The trade for Marion means $16 mil of that salary is off the books in 16 months. I think this moves MIA one year closer to financial health, and may mean we never get a lottery pick out of them.

Marion could very well opt out at the end of this season.

[Basti]

I researched the schedules and games needed to win by Miami and this is what I found:

Miami is 9-37

The Eighth seeded Nets are 20-28
The Seventh seeded Hawks are 20-24

Miami's next 11 games schedule:

Pistons
Sixers
Lakers
Nuggets
Bulls
~All Star Break~
Rockets
Sixers
Kings
Lakers
Sonics
Kings

Nets next 11:

Magic
Bobcats
Mavericks
Timberwolves
Raptors
Bulls
Pacers
Pacers
Magic
Bucks
Spurs

Hawks Next 11:

Lakers
Cavaliers
Rockets
Pistons
Bobcats
Lakers
Kings
Warriors
Jazz
Spurs
Kings

Hawks definitely have the hardest schedule out of those 3 teams, Nets look to have the easiest, and Heat have a pretty tough one as well.

If Miami could win at least 6-11 games in that stretch, they will be 6 games out of the playoffs, and Miami is practically getting a new player on the court, because Shaq wasn't even out there, so definitely an upgrade for Pat Riley and the Heat.

knowing riley I guess he'll do everything to make miami a (playoff) contender again but even in the east IMO it is too late for miami to make it into postseason

but I don't mind if they'd still make it anyhow

[karch34]

If Miami could win at least 6-11 games in that stretch, they will be 6 games out of the playoffs, and Miami is practically getting a new player on the court, because Shaq wasn't even out there, so definitely an upgrade for Pat Riley and the Heat.

If Miami won 6 of 11 games they'd be 15-42 and they'd need the Nets to go 2-9 (22-37)or the Hawks to go 0-11 (20-35) to be 6 games out.

The last 4 spots in the East aren't assured of playing .500 ball down the stretch, but Miami would have to put a heck of a run.

Assuming New Jersey and Atlanta continues at their pace they'd finish 34-48 and 37-45 respectively. Then assuming none of the other teams between Miami and the 8th seed get hot, Miami would have to go 26-10 their last 36 games to get in.

I think they could get close, but making it (even if New Jersey blows the franchise up) would be tough.

[C.lupus]

If Miami picked up someone like Cassell, I could see them going on a nice run. Cassell-Wade-Marion-Halseem is a nice core. However, I think Sammy's likely destination is Boston and I think it would be a mistake for Miami to do that.

[shrink]

Marion could very well opt out at the end of this season.

I think you're right, and that might be even worse for MIN. I don't think Marion is a $17 mil player, even alongside Nash -- but he certainly wouldn't be one alongside whatever young PG MIA is using next season. I HOPE its not Smush Parker.

[deeney0]

Marcus Banks, obviously.

Derrick Rose?

[Worm Guts]

Miami is the only team currently worse than us, if they improve it could mean more ping pong balls for us.