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So now that we see Riley chose Beasley, where does everyone think MIA will be? A threesome of Beasley, Wade and Marion is terrifying if Wade stays healthy. If he doesn't, they're bound for another lottery which isn't so bad. Next season is where we see if Wade can overcome the injuries or if he is another Grant Hill/Penny Hardaway who could have been a HOFer, but just got unlucky. The only difference is he won a title. Either way having a building block in Beasley is great whether or not Wade breaks down. Marion is also instrumental in having his huge expiring to net them a good big, and even if not he's not so bad himself.

Wade put up all-star numbers on a bum knee. Imagine what he can do now that he's recovered.

PG- Chalmers/Quinn/Banks
SG- Wade/Cook/Banks
SF- Marion/ Wright
PF- Beasley/ Haslem/ Jackson
C- Haslem/ Blount/ Jackson

If healthy (God-willing), they're a shot-blocker away from having a nice team.

Well, Marion isn't such a bad shot blocker. They just need a center, that's a pretty undersized front court.

second in the southeast division.

They will likely make the play offs but need more pieces to become a solid team.

Besides the Celtics, the East is wide open. I even have a feeling that the C's won't be as good next year as they were this year. They really busted their butts and played out of their minds so that all these guys could finally win a ring. Will they still have the desire? I think the Heat should make a trade with Beasley to get better now. A trade around brand and beasley and salary filler would be great for them...As it stands right now, middle of the pack in the east

Miami needs a capable big man to round out that roster. I personally was hoping for Brand tonight, but Riley has always been known to have tricks up his sleeves...

MLE Diop.

If Haslem is starting at center they could be in trouble. They need a post player at center to compete in the East.

To gain some perspective you have Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando who are all undeniably better then the Heat RIGHT NOW (not including any free agent signings, and Beasely yet to play)

Thats means at best they can say goodbye to home court in the playoffs. To move to the secong lot you got teams like Washington (presumming they keep Areans and Jamieson) and Toronto (Who just picked up JO) who are certainly no worse but have the advantage of already playing together.
Furthermore you have teams like Phily, Atlanta and Chicago who would all be looking to improve especially as they're such young teams.

And to the teams i feel Miami are currently better than, New York, Bobcats, Pacers, Bucks and the Nets. All for a mixture of reasons but generally i just feel Miami's roster is more talented.

To me i think the Heat are looking at falling somewhere from 5-8 with 5 being quite optimistic in my eyes but if D-Wade come's back healthy I would be VERY foolish to doubt them. If Riley can add a genuine low-post player (E.Brand?), some size and a PG that can efficiently create and take the ball out of Wade's hands I feel this team could really move up and contend, but i see that taking a couple of years NOT next season.

Prediction: As stated 5-8, and potentially being a tough playoff matchup but right now there's no way i see them making it out of the first-round.

As always my views don't take offence and really its FAR to early in the OS to call this.

They should be a bottem seed in the east. Seeing they don't make anymore major singings or trades.

Heat fan here, I must say middle of the pack. This year will be a transition year for the miami heat. Hopefully by mid-season we will find a taker for Banks and 09" we will make some moves. Marion will be a hot commodity and who knows what he may bring back. The heat are a Center away from contending again. Chalmers is the perfect PG for wade and he will need a year to get used to the NBA game, the same for Beasley. I say after 09". the miami heat will be a team to look out for.

They wont be tanking next yr since they dont have a 1st rd pick. Its hard to say since we have no idea how good or bad the Heat were. They tanked at least 20 games they could have won. In all honesty we cant even go about judgeing the Heat untill we know the rest of the NBA. Theres still many a trade to be made. If we look back 365 days we have no evidence that the Celtics could win more than 40 games this past season.

fighting for a low playoff spot (kind of like Philly and ATL did this year)

Lmao @ orlandos SF being 2 inches taller that Miami's center... and LMAO @ the Heat listing Beasley at 6'10

They haven't improved their roster enough to be in the middle of the playoff pack. It's still early in the offseason, so we'll know later. But Wade and Marion will be an 8th seed team at most. Adding a rookies' contribution could help them 1 seed or 2 if very lucky.

One problem with this team is that they have absolutely zero perimeter offense. Against a team with good interior D, they can only hope Dwyane can get to the line 20 times a night without suffering an injury.

Their PGs are either unproven or just not very good. They have one of the shortest centers in the league if Haslem is starting. I'm sure there'll be plenty of changes that come in the following months.

Miami has huge weaknesses that might be too much to overcome:

- huge holes at the PG and C spot
- no outside shooting
- no post presence
- no depth
- second option is a rookie

I still think they will make the playoffs, Wade is just that good, but remember the East will be a lot tougher this year. Washington, Atlanta, Toronto, Milwaukee and Chicago will all be better.

Will they tank again?

Florida

One problem with this team is that they have absolutely zero perimeter offense.

Now Miami has alot of situations to sort out(overall depth, starting point/center), but to name that as a problem for the Heat, you do not sound smart at all.

Zero perimeter offense? With a Dwyane Wade whom scores 27, 28 game? Not to mention Marion playing the wing? LOL.