So Miami really just rebuilt their squad in 1 offseason without assets and over the cap?

[Froob]

I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow end up in the mix for AD come this summer.

[Firespo]

The Heat are one player away from joining the top tier of the East. I hate the Heat because they've largely owned my Hornets since both were expansion teams in the late 80's, but I respect the hell out of that organization. They're what I wish the Hornets could become.

Well you guys massacred us in the playoffs my very first year watching nba ball back in 01 (I was 10) but thanks for the compliment! Hornets are on the right track though!

[cjx]

Nunn is for real, don't hate, you know who he is, folks.

[Chandan]

this is such a genius meme usage.

[EAS Law]

Herro is nice. MIA did well to get him and I recall enough about his draft interview to like his attitude. I believe he’s going to be a big part of that team.

[DBurks2818]

I agree with Dupp. They’ve had one of the worst collection of contracts in the league for the past 3-4 years. They had a contender payroll while fighting for the 8th seed - you never want to do that. People give them a pass cause it’s Riley, but if that were one of the less popular FOs they’d be a joke.

You play to get to the playoffs and win an NBA championship. Hard to do that with blood clots to the guy you gave a 100+ mil/5 year contract to.

Getting lucky on an undrafted guy (which was exactly what happened w/ Whiteside and look how that ended up for them eventually) and a low lottery pick just doesn’t negate all that to me.

First off Whiteside wasn't undrafted, he was just on the scrap heap. Also, why did you ignore the second-rounder, Richardson, after I'd brought him up as a success story? And getting lucky? McGruder and Tyler Johnson in the recent past, Haslem and Joel Anthony before that. Robinson has been solid so far this season... But non-fans like you don't really know about the organization's undrafted success stories and development program though, so I don't blame you for thinking its luck. So please don't take offense to this, I think it's just ignorance on your part which is understandable.

And so far their wins have been Grizzles, Bucks and Atlanta w/o Trae Young twice. They lost to the Wolves. Not exactly a convincing sample size - yet.

Yeah this is still failing to acknowledge the fact that they were nearly 3-0 without their top-15 player and one win came on the road without their starting PG also. Or is it only the other teams that get excuses?

[EAS Law]

Jesus man—so Heat fans aren’t allowed to be excited because of rebuilding for the past few seasons?

I’m seeing so much venom and I don’t really get it. Good for MIA. Their franchise isn’t ever afraid to play to win and take risks. I wish my Magic were more about that than they are.

Ball out Miami. Maybe see your team in the POs

[DreamTeam09]

was nunn not drafted or a 2nd round pick??

For a turnaround to happen, you have to hit on a undrafted player or a 2nd round pick, and your picks that you get, you better hit on those too.

Miami hit on Bam n Herro
Nunn was he 2nd round or not drafted at all.

Look at my raps, we hit on FVV (not drafted)

Pascal 27th
OG 20th
Norm 2nd round

[matt6715]

Well-run organization with stellar coaching. Organizations like the Heat don't stay down for long

[sfernald]

Miami fans color me intrigued... how the **** did you manage to draft or “not draft” such amazing players?

What is the story with Nunn? How did you guys find him? I don’t think he was on anyone’s radar was he? Is he the real deal? From the stats as least looks like a superstar in the making?

[bulliedog8]

Do the Heat have a top 2-3 future (next 3-4 years) in the east? I say easy yes. 76ers number 1 obviously. But heat right after them. Winslow on a great contract, hit on 2 rookies in Herro and undrafted Nunn. Butler the star who knows how to win and as he ages, can get smaller roles as others are propped up. Cap space in a couple years. Heat will make the ECFs in the next 2 years if healthy.

[Warriorfan]

was nunn not drafted or a 2nd round pick??

For a turnaround to happen, you have to hit on a undrafted player or a 2nd round pick, and your picks that you get, you better hit on those too.

Miami hit on Bam n Herro
Nunn was he 2nd round or not drafted at all.

Look at my raps, we hit on FVV (not drafted)

Pascal 27th
OG 20th
Norm 2nd round

Nunn went undrafted and starred for Santa Cruz Warriors.

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

the Miami process is much quicker than the philly process

1. show pictures of women on Miami beach to free agent
2. sign the player

3. Pictures of the godfather
&
4. the enforcer


But seriously speaking.. That's why all the cries about small market's having problems is just that. Bogus excuses for the FO ineptitude and slacking. Big Markets like NY and LA have suffered due to bad FOs and extreme mismanagement over the last decade.

Miami had a short rebuild and did it without tanking forever and even without too many star players. A lot of the blame needs needs to be assigned to FOs for their failure to build a good team around star players when they leave.

[G35]

I'll always hate Riley but the man knows what he's doing. He's always had a knack for identifying players that are going to work hard enough to overcome their physical limitations. Years ago, he found John Starks and Anthony Mason essentially on the scrap heap for New York. Two starters for those hard nosed, contending 90s Knicks squads.

Pat Riley and Jerry West know how to build teams.

Lebron should have never left......

[igorbianch]

was nunn not drafted or a 2nd round pick??

For a turnaround to happen, you have to hit on a undrafted player or a 2nd round pick, and your picks that you get, you better hit on those too.

Miami hit on Bam n Herro
Nunn was he 2nd round or not drafted at all.

Look at my raps, we hit on FVV (not drafted)

Pascal 27th
OG 20th
Norm 2nd round

That’s a good point. Both Raptors and Miami are extremely well run and their top players being late picks prove thatz.

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow end up in the mix for AD come this summer.

Think Lakers will win and AD will stay.
We got a shot at KAT or maybe Giannis

[Capn'O]

I'll always hate Riley but the man knows what he's doing. He's always had a knack for identifying players that are going to work hard enough to overcome their physical limitations. Years ago, he found John Starks and Anthony Mason essentially on the scrap heap for New York. Two starters for those hard nosed, contending 90s Knicks squads.

Pat Riley and Jerry West know how to build teams.

Lebron should have never left......

Yup, when the Heat were making questionable moves last year I hesitated to pile on as, like any rat, he is always most dangerous when cornered.

Knicks should have offered him the boat

[LakersSoul]

8-)

Miami acquired Butler(bonafide star), Herro(future star) and Nunn(on path to become a star) using 2 decent but not great assets(JRich and 14#).

And they’re were way over the cap.

Props to my bro Riley!

Miami has a **** squad now.

Riley did extremely well to add Butler, Herro, Nunn and get rid of that center.

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

I'll always hate Riley but the man knows what he's doing. He's always had a knack for identifying players that are going to work hard enough to overcome their physical limitations. Years ago, he found John Starks and Anthony Mason essentially on the scrap heap for New York. Two starters for those hard nosed, contending 90s Knicks squads.

Pat Riley and Jerry West know how to build teams.

Lebron should have never left......

Lebron can hop to LA or wherever and do whatever he wants now because he won one for Cleveland, and that too against the 73 win GSW after coming back from being down 3-1. I'm no fan of him but that's the most valuable title in Basketball for as far as I can remember (I'm 30+).

He wouldn't have been able to redeem himself in Miami and Miami's rebuild would've been slow if he never left. It was a good run but what happened was for the best of all parties involved. I'm still sour on how he left and how he pulled D-Wade out of Miami for a few years, but it's time to move on from that.

[dantas]

Spoelstra so underrated