Lakers and Celtics = Hope for this Heat fan

[HeatFanSince87]

When I see these two teams, I see hope as a Heat fan.

You got LA, basically left to die after Shaq and Phil Jackson left 4 years ago, rebuilt around star shooting guard Kobe Bryant. Although not the same, Shaq bails as does Riley(to the front office)and we now rebuild around our star shooting guard in D-Wade.

Then you got Boston, with 24 wins last season, left devasted after they moved back to the 5th pick in the Oden/Durant sweepstakes, parlays that into Ray Allen, then nabs KG, to have the best turn around in NBA history.

Although, we need a lot to fall into place, with D-Wade only 26, and adding either Rose or Beasly, and a player in free agency in 2010.. I have hope..and the Heat have options.

GO HEAT! We Will Rise Again!

[Lane1974]

don't forget those two teams were the beneficiaries of one sided trades...

[Flash4thewin]

It gives us hope but at the same time should point out that our rebuilding for a championship will take at least a 3~4 year period if were lucky. Without the Lakers basically violating the Grizz in the Pau trade they dont get past the second round.

[HeatFanSince87]

Yup..and Riley is the king of those! Im actually quite excited to see what trade Riley puts together with the number 2 pick. I see one HUGE trade, or 2 trades that go hand in hand with eachother. Riley doesnt want to rebuild, I really think he has his eyes on a Boston type turn around..

[Flash4thewin]

I dont think we have the assets to do anything like Boston and now that Pat is in the front office and not coaching its less likely he goes for that type of a move unless its so one sided you cant say no.

If the Jazz dont release Fisher.......
The Pau thing etc.....
Kobe demanding trades etc....
Kobe wining the mvp....

If there is any karma they wont win but it looks like they will win a title this year.

[HeatFanSince87]

IDK man..I really have this gut feeling, Riley has a major deal up his sleeve, I really do. We have two MAJOR assets. The number 2 pick, which is Beasly or Rose, which most NBA teams are DYING for, and if Marions doesnt opt out, you're not only talking about 17 million expiring contract, but a guy that is still a very solid starter in the NBA, so a team would be getting 2 plus's in a trade with us. I mean, LA got Gasol for Kwames contract, and he sucks, and his deal was what like 12 million? So, that being said, I think we really do have the assets to pull of a great trade or 2, not to mention Haslem is very desirable, young and decent contract and Wright. I am just saying, the only player a lock to be ina Heat uni next season, is Wade. My gut tells me a big trade or trades will be going down with us...

[dflash3]

^Its going to be difficult for the Heat to get a solid player like Gasol when not many teams would give up a player of that caliber for just expiring contracts. Memphis didn't even trade Mike Miller to the Heat for Ricky or Jwill's expiring.

The trade was absolutely brilliant for the Lakers with them giving up a horrible player in Kwame, a decent player in Crittenton, and picks that will end up in the late 20s. And the Lakers didn't even have to take on bad contracts like most teams do when an AllStar caliber player is traded. It can't get any better than that unless the picks weren't included.

And while Haslem is a desirable player he doesn't have the potential or impact that Al Jefferson does, so he won't be able to net a player like KG.

That is all of course not taking the second pick into account , but I sure wish the Heat were able to pull a Lakeresque trade.

Maybe Riley can smooth talk his way into pulling such a trade like he did with Kerr.

[HeatInOhio]

I hope Riles can pull of some magic but I don't see a big resemblence as it stands right now. Boston and LA were pretty bad for a few seasons and used draft selections to build up a good base.

LA Lakers:
2004: SG Sasha Vujacic
2005: C Andrew Bynum, PF Ronny Turiaf
2006: PG Jordan Farmar
2007: PG Javaris Crittenton, C Marc Gasol

Celtics:
2004: PF Al Jefferson, PG Delonte West, SG Tony Allen
2005: SG Gerald Green
2006: PG Rajon Rondo
2007: PF Jeff Green, PF Glenn Davis

They then turned some of those selections into star players by virtue of a no vaseline makeover. I still don't understand how the GM of Memphis could deal Gasol for pennies on the dollar. At any rate, Kupcake out in LA has had some outstanding drafts over the past several years and Boston hasn't been to shabby either. We'll have to see how Wright (not looking good so far) and Cook (had some good moments early, jury is still out) turn out but we certainly haven't been building a base like those teams were doing...

Heat:
2004: SF Dorell Wright, PF Pape Sow, SF Matt Freije
2005: PF Wayne Simien
2006: No selections
2007: SG Daequan Cook

Fact is since we took Wade, our drafts have been pretty bad overall. And that's certainly a big deal as I doubt some GM throws an all-star post man like KG or Gasol into our laps for peanuts (to be fair, Boston did give up Jefferson so it wasn't as lopsided as the Gasol deal). Things are starting to look up but we still need to start having better drafts and stop throwing away first round picks. Wade, Beasley/Rose and Marion or a player we get for Marion is a good start but we still need a supporting cast. And we should have been building that supporting case through the draft imo.

[Lane1974]

what HIO's breakdown shows is lotto picks don't lead to instant success... it's the lotto picks + 6-8-10 years experience in Kobe, Pau, Odom or KG/Pierce/Ray Ray

they beat two veteran teams in the Pistons and Spurs in the conference finals...

what teams are on the verge of making the next step? You'd think a more mature Hornets and Jazz have a shot, with maturing recent lotto picks in Paul & Williams leading the way, but #2s who were late first or 2nd rounders (West/Boozer) and veteran supporting casts.. perhaps the Magic in the east and the Cavs are perpetually dangerous because they have a top 2 in the league player..

maybe Riles DOES trade #2 easier than we thought

[HeatInOhio]

maybe Riles DOES trade #2 easier than we thought

Well but by comparison sake... here's the top two from the same time period:

2004: C Dwight Howard, PF Emeka Okafor
2005: C Andrew Bogut, SF Marvin Williams (shoulda been PG Chris Paul)
2006: C Andrea Bargnani, LeMarcus Aldridge
2007: C Greg Oden, SF Kevin Durant

That's some serious talent. lotto picks almost never lead to instant success because the players are typically going to bad teams. And this is especially true for top two picks.

BUT, the most recent example of completely bucking this trend was Tim Duncan's rookie year. Robinson was hurt and out for the season (pretty much Shaq for us), Sean Elliott missed half the season (Wade missed a lot and wasn't himself)... next thing you know, the Spurs are almost the worst team in the league in 96-97. Then next season Robinson comes back, Elliott comes back... add Duncan and two seasons later... NBA champs. Now would Beasley or Rose make us NBA champs in two years even with a healthy Wade and Marion or return on Marion trade? Most likely not... but still. It's hard to justify trading a top two in this draft considering who's sitting there. This isn't a Kwame Brown or Andrea Bargnani type draft.

[Heat11114]

I actually thought of it a different way. This really is the death of the low post player. Gasol was completely dominated by Duncan in the low post both offensively and defensively but guard play carried the Lakers (and killed the Spurs). KG is a mid-post player and with the help of perimeter players took the C's to the finals...

Look at the final 8 teams this year

Dominated by guards or mid-post players
Lakers
Boston
Detroit
Cleveland
NO

Could be argued either way
Utah

Relied heavily on low post play
Orlando (they could be placed in the middle)
San Antonio

[HeatFanSince87]

"It's hard to justify trading a top two in this draft considering who's sitting there. This isn't a Kwame Brown or Andrea Bargnani type draft."


That's my point. Everyone knows the impact this pick will have, so there isnt much guess work, and I think teams are going to be more willing to trade a proven all-star. IDK, im just thinking out loud, but I do see us having a shot at a Boston type turn around.

In one trade
our number 2 pick for a proven all-star

In another trade
Shaw Marion and his 17 million expiring deal
and a very attractive Haslem as a player and contract
future first rounders

I would not be shocked one bit if something like this happened. Like I said, Marion's situation is unique, because he is not some scrub, that after his deal is up no one would want(Kwame, Juwan Howard to an extent), but still young and good enough for a team to have the option to keep them if they want. So, that gives any team that trades for him, options.

You got teams, that have basically hit a wall, and NEED change. Mavs(Dirk, Howard), Pistons(Sheed, Chauncy, etc), and to a lesser extent Utah(Boozer?)

I am just throwing that out there, nobody at this time last year though the Celtics even were looking at Ray Allen, and KG said he DID NOT want to go to Boston.. something big is going to happen, I can feel it fellas!

[Flash3]

^Keep it in your pants.

[HeatFanSince87]

; )