Miami Heat 2010-2011 preview
What an off-season the Heat had. Not only did they sign Lebron James, they managed to bring in Chris Bosh and re-sign Dwyane Wade.
Surely, then, that means they will improve on their 47-wins they managed last season when they were lead by just D-Wade. LeBron has made it clear on many occasions that he doesn’t need to be the main guy on a team and that he’s willing to take a back seat.
If that is the case then expect Wade and Bosh to reap the rewards as Lebron has shown he’s one of the best ball handlers in the league despite being built like a power forward. There’s no doubt the Heat, on paper have the best team – well at least three of the top 15 best players in the NBA – and not making the Finals will be considered failure.
Not winning the Finals will also be considered failure but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt here and give them one season to gel – and ignore what the Celtics did in 2008.
Off-season moves
Traded 2013 and 2015 first-rounders, 2012 second-rounder from New Orleans, rights to future second-rounder from Oklahoma City and right to exchange first-round picks in 2012 to Cleveland in the six-year, $110 million sign-and-trade for LeBron James the Heat made this summer. To keep it brief, provided LeBron doesn’t suffer a career threatening injury this deal will be worth every penny/draft pick. He rebounds, assists, scores points, steals and blocks shots, what more do you want?
Traded 2011 first round pick and returned Toronto's 2011 first round pick in another six-year, $110 million sign-and-trade for Chris Bosh. Bosh will provide the Heat with a rebounder and low-post scorer but not much on the defensive side. He has his critics, especially for his inability to lead the Raptors to the play-offs as a franchise player, but combined with LeBron and Wade his flaws should be somewhat hidden.
They re-signed Dwyane Wade to a six-year, $108 million deal, which is some $2 million less than the other two. I’m sure he won’t be picking up the dinner tab anytime soon.
To make the LeBron and Bosh deal work general manager Pat Riley traded Daequan Cook and the No. 18 pick to Oklahoma City for a second-round pick, making enough cap space available and ensuring the Cleveland Cavaliers accepted the sign-and-trade.
Michael Beasley had to be traded to Minnesota for a 2011 second-round pick and a 2014 second-round pick in another salary dump. Not the worst dump considering Beasley had a tonne of personal problems.
The Heat needed an outside shooter and got one in the form of Mike Miller. Five-years and $30 million is a lot of money, especially for a 30-year-old, but Miller was pretty much brought in to stand in the open and drain three’s. His .480% three-point percentage was a career high and with the ‘Miami Thrice’ set to attract all the defensive attention Miller should provide good value.
Other moves: signed Zydrunas Ilgauskas for two years for the veteran's minimum; signed Joel Anthony for five years and $18 million; re-signed Carlos Arroyo for one year for the veteran's minimum; signed Eddie House for two years for the veteran's minimum; signed Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire for one year, veteran's minimum; re-signed Udonis Haslem for five years at $20 million.
Prediction
No doubt that the Heat will end up with the Eastern Conference’s best record, winning over 60 games but a seven-game play-off against a team like the Celtics might just be too much for the Heat to overcome given the defensive flaws in the low-post. That said, a trip to the Finals isn’t out of the question.
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