Is letting Bosh go to Hou part of a plan to get Melo to Mia?

[Left Side Drive]

How is Melo any better for the Heat? Bosh was known to be the perfect fit for LeBron on the team. I don't see why this would make sense.

[choppermagic]

Its funny how everyone assumes Allen is going to follow Lebron like a puppy dog. It's probably true but a team like the Spurs should just make a vet min offer to him to mess with lebron's plans. The Spurs have a much more solid team then MIA, even with the big three back and Allen could probably fit right in there easy.

[contract]

Before James took action and effectively caused both Wade and Bosh to opt out, it would have been impossible for Melo to come to Miami without taking a paycut that even guys that Lowry/Stephenson wouldn't be willing to take, no less Melo. Now, if James remains stagnant which results in Bosh going to Houston, does this open the door for Melo to go to Miami and for it perhaps to not look as "planned?" It can be spun as, well Chris left, and Melo was still undecided, and the stars just kind of aligned.

Judging by the elaborate and premeditated planning that went on in 2010, I don't think this is too farfetched.

Why would we need some scheme? If we wanted Melo instead of Bosh, we'd have made Melo an offer.

We want Bosh back. This is a championship team, and Bosh has shown that he's willing to sacrifice for the success of the team. Melo ... not so much.

At the end of the day, if Lebron James doesn't agree with you then it doesn't matter. Riley has to do whatever James wants him to do in order to keep him.

No.

[BimboColes]

Why would we need some scheme? If we wanted Melo instead of Bosh, we'd have made Melo an offer.

We want Bosh back. This is a championship team, and Bosh has shown that he's willing to sacrifice for the success of the team. Melo ... not so much.

At the end of the day, if Lebron James doesn't agree with you then it doesn't matter. Riley has to do whatever James wants him to do in order to keep him.

No.

So you're arguing that Riley should sign Bosh even if it will result in LeBron leaving.

Good contribution.

[contract]

At the end of the day, if Lebron James doesn't agree with you then it doesn't matter. Riley has to do whatever James wants him to do in order to keep him.

No.

So you're arguing that Riley should sign Bosh even if it will result in LeBron leaving.

Good contribution.

Lebron is not the be all end all. If he leaves, we'll have to adapt and move on toward our goal of winning more NBA championships. Plenty of teams have managed to do just that without Lebron.

[richboy]

Does fit literally not matter to people anymore? Bosh was the Heat's best PnR defender, and you want to replace him with Melo? The Heat wouldn't get blown out by 20 in 3 straight Finals games, they'd get blown out by 30.

Technically McRoberts is replacing Bosh. In terms of your undersized 5 who is really a 4. McRoberts loses you some shotblocking, and rebounding, but he's a better 3 point shooter.

Melo would be replacing Rashard Lewis or Battier as your undersized 4.

So your closing lineup is probably:
Ray Allen
Dwade
Lebron
Melo
McRoberts(or Birdman)

Which fits fine. It's just a question of how Spoelstra will implement them defensively to counteract a team like San Antonio.

Though I mean if they met the Thunder instead in the finals, they'd obliterate the Thunder.

FWIW I don't think Bosh is going anywhere.

That team is not obliterating the Thunder.

[will]

If LeBron is really waiting for Bosg to sign with another team so the Heat can sign Melo, that's cold as ice.

[MrSparkle]

I feel like replacing Bosh with Melo would make Miami a little worse...

Adding him to Lebron/Bosh would make them over-the-top champs...

Wade/Lebron/Melo would be a very good team BUT they'd have to work really hard on defense. By having 1 of those 2 guys covering PFs for 82 games a season (and then the post-season), you really increase the possibility of injury/fatigue. They'd need some really bargain big men to do the dirty work (Birdman, but who else?), and a backup SG might not be a bad idea give Ray's age and Wade's decline.

I feel like Bosh really improved in Miami -- toughened up on D and the glass. Plus he added that 3P range that was pretty deadly to a lot of teams until SAS crushed them.

[The Penguin]

If LeBron is really waiting for Bosg to sign with another team so the Heat can sign Melo, that's cold as ice.

Well Riley is the same guy who retired and promoted Stan Van Gundy to head coach, only to decide to replace him as soon as Shaq came in and Stan got the team competitive. If replacing Bosh with Melo is what it takes to keep Lebron, he'd do it without thinking twice.

[will]

Riley that dude pulling the strangs.

[will]

Actually feel a bit sorry for Bosg - as a person. All money set aside, Riley and the Heat doing Bosg dirty.

[JB2]

If LeBron is really waiting for Bosg to sign with another team so the Heat can sign Melo, that's cold as ice.

Can't imagine LeBron is just some soulless ass who would do that to Bosh after 4 straight finals.

People act as though the 4 finals were nothing and IMO that's shortsighted. Factor in all the hate they encountered and it'd be hard to imagine they don't have extreme love and respect for one another. If they can continue to re-tool the Heat, they've got a very good chance to be right back in the Finals... as a player, particularly a legendary one, that should be all you need. Champs show up in championship moments. If Bron/Bosh/Wade are champions at heart then they should feel pretty good about what they are still capable of.

The moves they've made are not earth shattering but they are solid. Napier, Granger, McRoberts. The only way Miami (Big 3 intact) doesn't come out of the east is if Melo ends up in Chicago.

[mopper8]

Its funny how everyone assumes Allen is going to follow Lebron like a puppy dog. It's probably true but a team like the Spurs should just make a vet min offer to him to mess with lebron's plans. The Spurs have a much more solid team then MIA, even with the big three back and Allen could probably fit right in there easy.

Heat beat writers have said Allen told them he basically only wants to play with Lebron next season, or otherwise not at all. There could be some complications with that family-wise if Lebron leaves Miami, but he's basically said that.

[Rockice_24]

You guys are crazy. Replacing Bosh with Melo doesn't make the Heat worse, it makes them better. Melo and LBJ are hands down the best duo in the NBA, they compliment each other perfectly. What they lack in rim protection they easily make up for in scoring. Melo's D is much improved and he can handle the PF spot as can James. He does almost everything better on the basketball court then Bosh outside of Bosh's length helps him with his contesting of shots.

Give Wade 10M, give Lebron and Melo 17-18M, give Birdman/Allen/Battier the min again and do whatever you can to bring in Center who can contest shots and rebound (like another Birdman) with the little money you have left (MMLE or whatever) and you have a guaranteed ring. That team is a center away from a return trip to the finals.

Napier/Cole
Wade/Allen
LBJ/Granger
Melo/Battier
Birdman/Center

I hope Melo doesn't go there for the sake of the East. That team is way better than last years squad.

[Rockice_24]

Lebron isn't forcing Bosh to go to Philly here, he's going to his home state for 20M a season to play with a contender.

[RaptorNews]

I just don't see this happening. Bosh isn't signing anywhere unless he knows where Lebron is going. If it's Cleveland, I can see him going to either Houston or Miami but otherwise he's staying put.

Do you really think he's going to get impatient and head off to Houston because there are rumblings that they want Melo in his place? He's not going to let that happen unless Riley says "we don't want you" and he won't unless he truly is an A-hole

If this little Love triangle is true, Lebron has to make his decision first.

[Rockice_24]

I just don't see this happening. Bosh isn't signing anywhere unless he knows where Lebron is going. If it's Cleveland, I can see him going to either Houston or Miami but otherwise he's staying put.

Do you really think he's going to get impatient and head off to Houston because there are rumblings that they want Melo in his place? He's not going to let that happen unless Riley says "we don't want you" and he won't unless he truly is an A-hole

If this little Love triangle is true, Lebron has to make his decision first.

I agree with that 100%.

I still think Melo makes them better though.

[porcerel]

You guys are crazy. Replacing Bosh with Melo doesn't make the Heat worse, it makes them better. Melo and LBJ are hands down the best duo in the NBA, they compliment each other perfectly. What they lack in rim protection they easily make up for in scoring. Melo's D is much improved and he can handle the PF spot as can James. He does almost everything better on the basketball court then Bosh outside of Bosh's length helps him with his contesting of shots.

Give Wade 10M, give Lebron and Melo 17-18M, give Birdman/Allen/Battier the min again and do whatever you can to bring in Center who can contest shots and rebound (like another Birdman) with the little money you have left (MMLE or whatever) and you have a guaranteed ring. That team is a center away from a return trip to the finals.

Napier/Cole
Wade/Allen
LBJ/Granger
Melo/Battier
Birdman/Center

I hope Melo doesn't go there for the sake of the East. That team is way better than last years squad.

Battier called it a career after the finals. Another year and regular rotation minutes would have been ugly regardless. His body was breaking down on him.

[BimboColes]

No.

So you're arguing that Riley should sign Bosh even if it will result in LeBron leaving.

Good contribution.

Lebron is not the be all end all. If he leaves, we'll have to adapt and move on toward our goal of winning more NBA championships. Plenty of teams have managed to do just that without Lebron.

Having LeBron is not a prerequisite to winning an NBA championship. Not building a team around a borderline top 15 player at max salary, 30% of Dwyane Wade, 20% of Danny Granger, and Josh McRoberts, is.

[MaxRider]

it will be very funny to see cleveland can't clear enough cap to offer lebron max
then lebron is heading back to miami
but bosh already joined houston and melo going back to new york
and lebron is stuck with a max contact with wade, mcroberts, and granger