Off-Season Game Plan: Heat
6/28/2006 11:19:26 PM
Winning the NBA Championship gives the Miami Heat a bit of a grace period, and it's a good thing because the roster isn't in terrific shape to support Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal in their quest for more titles.
The aging Heat roster needs an injection of youth, but with no draft picks and only cap exceptions for free agents, the Heat will need to be creative.
Shaquille O'Neal is clearly slowing down, which is fine, since he's 34, but it's a bigger problem if Alonzo Mourning cashes in on unrestricted free agency. 'Zo has his ring now and can seek one last big ticket deal from a team not located in New Jersey or Toronto (because those two have reason to doubt Mourning's commitment). He did prove that he could be a valuable reserve in Miami and there are probably a few contending teams that will check him out.
Forward isn't especially a strength for Miami, but they can put together a serviceable group if James Posey elects to stay (he has a player option for $6.4M). Udonis Haslem and Posey are both solid defenders and Antoine Walker can score off the bench -- even if his compensation for the next three seasons figures to outweigh his productivity. If Wayne Simien or Dorell Wright could find a spot in the rotation, that might add some of the energy the Heat need. Wright has also been mentioned as possible trade bait but, considering how little he's played, it's hard to figure just what kind of value he still has.
Dwyane Wade is an out of this world talent at shooting guard and his playoff performance catapulted him to the league's highest level; a truly great player around which to build a franchise. His backcourt mate, Jason Williams, can be a pretty effective player when he stays focused and that happens more readily when there is someone at the ready to challenge Williams for minutes. With Gary Payton a free agent, the Heat might need to find a backup point guard who can provide depth behind White Chocolate.
Defending the title won't be easy for the Heat, especially if they do lose veterans like Mourning and Payton, so they'll have to get active either on the trade market or in free agency. Some players that could interest Miami as replacements on the free agent market? Sam Cassell, Marcus Banks, Jarron Collins and Scot Pollard.
As long as Shaq and Flash are on target the Heat can harbour title hopes, but there has to be more work done on the supporting cast or it won't matter how superhuman Wade's effort is, the Heat just won't be able to defend their crown by maintaining the status quo.
GM/COACH Randy Pfund/Pat Riley
CENTERS
Returning: Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Doleac, Earl Barron. Free Agents: Alonzo Mourning (UFA)
FORWARDS
Returning: Udonis Haslem, James Posey (PO), Wayne Simien, Antoine Walker, Jason Kapono, Dorell Wright. Free Agents: None
GUARDS
Returning: Jason Williams, Dwyane Wade, Derek Anderson (PO). Free Agents: Gary Payton (UFA), Shandon Anderson (UFA)
DRAFT
No picks
FREE AGENCY
Payroll: $62M
TRADE MARKET
Wright (one year, $1.1M), Posey (one year, $6.4M), Doleac (two years, $6M)
