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Miami Heat (Last Year: 43-39)
Depth Chart:
C: Jermaine O’Neal/Joel Anthony/Jamaal Magloire
PF: Udonis Haslem/Michael Beasley/Robert Dozier
SF: James Jones/Quentin Richardson/Yakhouba Diawara
SG: Dwyane Wade/Daequan Cook/Dorrell Wright
PG: Mario Chalmers/Chris Quinn/Carlos
Arroyo
Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra
(2nd year)
2009-2010 Team Salary: $74.2 million
Projected 2010-2011 Team
Salary: approximately $12.6 million
Off-Season Grade: Passed
The only real move Miami made
was trading the dead weight known as Mark Blount’s expiring contract
to Minnesota for Quentin Richardson. Richardson has a chance to start
alongside Dwyane Wade on the wing while Blount likely wouldn’t have
seen many minutes at all. Translation: win for Miami especially
since Richardson is in the final year of his contract.
The other reason Miami passes
this offseason is because they didn’t do anything stupid to mess
up their beautiful cap situation heading into next summer.
2009-2010 Outlook:
Once again it’s pretty simple:
The Heat will go as far as Dwyane Wade takes them. In order for
that to be past the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs,
someone is going to have to step up and be a true No. 2 option.
Guys like O’Neal, Haslem, and Richardson are all in contract years,
and should have more motivation this season.
Beasley had an up and down
rookie season as he tried to find his niche at the next level and then
spent part of the offseason in a rehabilitation hospital to address
possible substance abuse and psychological issues, so it’s unsure how
much of an impact he can make in his second season. Chalmers should
be more comfortable running the point and could become the running mate
Wade is looking for.
More than likely, Miami is
a postseason team. But they are a Dwyane Wade injury away from heading to the lottery.
Looking Ahead to the Summer of 2010:
As it stands, the Heat have
ZERO guaranteed contracts next summer. Michael Beasley, Mario
Chalmers, Daequan Cook and James Jones all have team options which
more than likely will be exercised, but won’t take more than $12.6
million in cap space. What next summer really comes down to is
Dwyane Wade.
Wade has a player option on the final year of his contract that would net him a little more than $17 million. Odds are Wade hits the free-agent market next offseason to see what other teams like the Knicks, Nets or Bulls are willing to throw his way. In my opinion, I don’t see how Wade leaves South Beach. He runs the town and with the cap space Miami has available next season, he could easily convince one of the big-named free agents (i.e. Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire) to join him in Miami. If Wade does bolt, the Heat will have A LOT of money to throw at free agents to begin the reloading process. And let’s be honest, South Beach is one of the ideal destinations in the NBA, so I doubt Pat Riley would have a hard time convincing good players to come to Miami.
2009-10 NBA Power Ranking: 14th
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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