True... and yall will be sitting at home watching the second round of the playoffs with us this year too, if you make it...
Um as is they would see the Cavs in the first round and they don't seem to be a problem.
~Miami Heat 2014-2015 Official Thread - Reload not Rebuild~
- Thread starter Mask
- Start date
Um as is they would see the Cavs in the first round and they don't seem to be a problem.
If they see the Cavs they get swept... LeBron and crew cruising, them reg season games are the Heats championships B. Swept, maybe steal one at home...
Cavs play them niggas bored...
Is that what Miami is hoping for? to play the Cavs in round 1..
I hope not for fucks sake...
I hope they are not that delusional
I hope not for fucks sake...
I hope they are not that delusional
LeBron Was First To Broach Idea Of Forming Big 3 In 2010
JUN 1, 2015 1:33 PM
LeBron James was the first party to broach the subject of forming a Big 3 with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat in 2010.
James met with Wade and Bosh in a secret meeting in Cleveland.
Up until that point, Wade had been relaying to Miami management there was no way James would be interested in joining them with the Heat.
Wade went to James with the idea of taking less money to include Haslem, but James refused. Wade volunteered to take a salary hit alone to accommodate Haslem.
The Heat also would not have been in a position to sign all three players if Lamar Odom had taken Pat Riley's 2009 offer to Lamar Odom.
JUN 1, 2015 1:33 PM
LeBron James was the first party to broach the subject of forming a Big 3 with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat in 2010.
James met with Wade and Bosh in a secret meeting in Cleveland.
Up until that point, Wade had been relaying to Miami management there was no way James would be interested in joining them with the Heat.
Wade went to James with the idea of taking less money to include Haslem, but James refused. Wade volunteered to take a salary hit alone to accommodate Haslem.
The Heat also would not have been in a position to sign all three players if Lamar Odom had taken Pat Riley's 2009 offer to Lamar Odom.
Did Dwyane Wade Accidentally Confirm That He's Leaving Miami?
Jack Moore
Photo: Sun Sentinel
The corpse that is the 2014-2015 NBA is still warm. But with the Golden State Warriors' win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the off-season has officially begun, and it started with a little intrigue. During the NBA Finals pre-game show, Dwyane Wade, who was sitting in with ESPN/ABC's typical crew, began an anecdote with an interesting choice of words.
"When I was in Miami, we had this saying..."
"When I was in Miami..."
"When I was..."
"was..."
With rumors circulating that Wade plans to opt out and the Heat don't want to offer him the money that Wade thinks he's worth, was the 3-time NBA champion tipping his hand? Why not just say, "In Miami we have this saying"? At this point, who knows if this means anything, but we'll know soon enough. Unfortunately we now also know that Dwyane Wade liked Red Tails, which was a pretty disappointing movie all things considered.
Jack Moore
Photo: Sun Sentinel
The corpse that is the 2014-2015 NBA is still warm. But with the Golden State Warriors' win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the off-season has officially begun, and it started with a little intrigue. During the NBA Finals pre-game show, Dwyane Wade, who was sitting in with ESPN/ABC's typical crew, began an anecdote with an interesting choice of words.
"When I was in Miami, we had this saying..."
"When I was in Miami..."
"When I was..."
"was..."
With rumors circulating that Wade plans to opt out and the Heat don't want to offer him the money that Wade thinks he's worth, was the 3-time NBA champion tipping his hand? Why not just say, "In Miami we have this saying"? At this point, who knows if this means anything, but we'll know soon enough. Unfortunately we now also know that Dwyane Wade liked Red Tails, which was a pretty disappointing movie all things considered.
Heat CHATTER
### One more reason why the Heat needs to try to work this out with Dwyane Wade:
With the Pelicans’ Eric Gordon and Hornets’ Gerald Henderson opting in last week, there are only four other above-average starting shooting guards eligible for unrestricted free agency besides Wade: Wes Matthews, Danny Green, Arron Afflalo (reportedly will exercise opt-out; Miami likes him) and Monta Ellis (has an opt out, which Dirk Nowitzki predicts he will exercise).
As we've noted, simply losing Wade (and nothing more) would not create the cap space to sign any of those four.
Other unrestricted free agent shooting guards available: Lou Williams (ace sixth man), Mike Dunleavy, Gerald Green, J.R. Smith, Jason Terry, Rodney Stuckey, Marcus Thornton, Marco Bellinelli, Landry Fields, Wayne Ellington and Manu Ginobili (presumably a Spur for life).
Both Wade and the Heat hope to work this out, and there will be more discussions, but it remains to be seen how it will play out.
### The Heat can pay impending free agent Goran Dragic as much as $116 million over five years, while other teams can pay him no more than $86 million over four. But ESPN's Marc Stein reported tonight that the Heat's initial offer to Dragic will be five years "in excess of $80 million."
Wade's decision could impact Dragic's, considering how much he enjoyed playing with Wade.
### One more reason why the Heat needs to try to work this out with Dwyane Wade:
With the Pelicans’ Eric Gordon and Hornets’ Gerald Henderson opting in last week, there are only four other above-average starting shooting guards eligible for unrestricted free agency besides Wade: Wes Matthews, Danny Green, Arron Afflalo (reportedly will exercise opt-out; Miami likes him) and Monta Ellis (has an opt out, which Dirk Nowitzki predicts he will exercise).
As we've noted, simply losing Wade (and nothing more) would not create the cap space to sign any of those four.
Other unrestricted free agent shooting guards available: Lou Williams (ace sixth man), Mike Dunleavy, Gerald Green, J.R. Smith, Jason Terry, Rodney Stuckey, Marcus Thornton, Marco Bellinelli, Landry Fields, Wayne Ellington and Manu Ginobili (presumably a Spur for life).
Both Wade and the Heat hope to work this out, and there will be more discussions, but it remains to be seen how it will play out.
### The Heat can pay impending free agent Goran Dragic as much as $116 million over five years, while other teams can pay him no more than $86 million over four. But ESPN's Marc Stein reported tonight that the Heat's initial offer to Dragic will be five years "in excess of $80 million."
Wade's decision could impact Dragic's, considering how much he enjoyed playing with Wade.
Fam you deleted this thread for the entire playoffs and then has it brought back after the season is over?! Smart move, didn't want to eat shit during the playoffs huh?
Linda Robertson: It’s crunch time for Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade
After four consecutive years of exhilarating, exhausting NBA drama in Miami, the past two months have been entirely too dull. Heat fans have been suffering from basketball-addiction withdrawal symptoms.
It was to be a quiet summer, too. Retain the talents of Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside. Keep Chris Bosh on track to recovery. Thank Dwyane Wade for sticking with the remainder of his contract. Settle in for a better record and return to the playoffs next year. Take vacation. Brace for the summer of 2016 and Pat Riley’s entreaties to Kevin Durant. Dream about NBA Finals 2017.
But the Heat doesn’t do dull. The Heat thrives on tension. The Heat is a magnet for flux.
And so it is time to knead foreheads. It is time to worry. Another “Decision” is at hand.
Dwyane Wade might leave Miami.
Won’t happen, at least not until the court at AmericanAirlines Arena becomes a swimming pool. That’s the consensus. The Heat based its post-LeBron James Era promotional campaign on the idea of Wade as a “Heat Lifer.” He has every reason to finish his career where he started it 12 years and three championships ago.
But Wade, 33, actually has millions of reasons to leave. He wants to get paid. He has always been the guy taking less to build a better team. He has never had the highest salary on the roster. He’s tired of sacrificing for the good of the franchise. Since 2010 he has earned about $20 million less than he could have with maximum contracts.
James and Bosh got their max deals. So will Dragic and Whiteside. Why should Wade continue to be a bargain?
Here we are, at the crux of everything that happens in sports. Make no mistake: It’s always about the money.
Loyalty is for Hollywood endings. Money talks, sentiment walks.
Could get ugly, like any other divorce. Heat fans are already taking sides, arguing that Wade’s unreliable knees aren’t worth the risk, that no other team will give him what he wants, that the concept of compensating him for his 12 years of service is hogwash. Their favorite cliché: This is a business.
Wade supporters say he’s still among the top shooting guards in the league, even at 33, even though he has played only two-thirds of the games the past couple of years. He averaged 21.5 points and 4.8 assists with 47 percent accuracy from the field this past season. If he goes, Dragic might go, too. Wade is the soul of a team that desperately needs one.
Wade is likely to opt out of his current deal, become a free agent and seek a three-year, $60 million contract. The Heat would like him to opt in before the July 1 deadline for $16 million next year, then take $10 million for each of the following two years and give the team flexibility to make a big acquisition next summer and trust that he will be taken care of in the long run.
Right now, there’s lots of posturing and innuendo and messages being sent via the media. The NBA players’ union supports Wade’s effort to earn his full value. Wade expects to meet with Heat management before Thursday’s NBA Draft to clear the air.
The pressure is on Riley. He can’t win. If the Heat gives Wade close to what he wants, the team removes itself from the free agent race in 2016 and loses its chance at getting a new star. Keep Wade and gamble that his knees won’t deteriorate further, and that the combination of Wade, Whiteside, Bosh and Dragic will be successful, even though Bosh and Dragic have not yet played a minute together and Whiteside remains a work in progress.
Keep Wade and keep most of the fan base happy. He can still, at times, cause the jaw to drop. He is beloved.
Let Wade go — to the Knicks, Lakers, or worst of all the Cavaliers (they probably can’t afford him) — and pursue Durant and a new championship blueprint. Figure that the wrath of fans will fade once the victories pile up.
Riley enjoys being portrayed as the wily mastermind. But he is in a tough spot. Bad blood is leaking and must be staunched. Nor does Riley want to be the Heat leader who lost James and Wade in successive summers.
Wade has leverage. It would be difficult to replace him with any comparable talent given the Heat’s salary-cap situation. There is no guarantee that jettisoning Wade would land a great free agent in 2016. It seems doubtful that Durant would feel any compulsion to come to Miami — even with Riley offering rings for him to try on. After Durant, the dip in the market is steep. Joakim Noah? Chandler Parsons?
Say goodbye to Wade and say goodbye to the best, most accomplished player in Heat history. For what, exactly?
One idea making the rounds is for Heat owner Micky Arison to pay Wade the max $23.5 million now, eat the luxury-tax penalty of $55 million to $70 million and develop a compromise later.
As for Wade’s health, that’s always an unknown. James left in part for a healthier team and his two top henchmen got injured in the postseason.
No easy solutions. No quiet summer.
But one thing is clear: If Wade wants to stay, Riley and the Heat need to find a way to keep him. Bad knees or not, his is the face of the franchise. On a team in a city in constant flux, he should be a Heat Lifer.
After four consecutive years of exhilarating, exhausting NBA drama in Miami, the past two months have been entirely too dull. Heat fans have been suffering from basketball-addiction withdrawal symptoms.
It was to be a quiet summer, too. Retain the talents of Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside. Keep Chris Bosh on track to recovery. Thank Dwyane Wade for sticking with the remainder of his contract. Settle in for a better record and return to the playoffs next year. Take vacation. Brace for the summer of 2016 and Pat Riley’s entreaties to Kevin Durant. Dream about NBA Finals 2017.
But the Heat doesn’t do dull. The Heat thrives on tension. The Heat is a magnet for flux.
And so it is time to knead foreheads. It is time to worry. Another “Decision” is at hand.
Dwyane Wade might leave Miami.
Won’t happen, at least not until the court at AmericanAirlines Arena becomes a swimming pool. That’s the consensus. The Heat based its post-LeBron James Era promotional campaign on the idea of Wade as a “Heat Lifer.” He has every reason to finish his career where he started it 12 years and three championships ago.
But Wade, 33, actually has millions of reasons to leave. He wants to get paid. He has always been the guy taking less to build a better team. He has never had the highest salary on the roster. He’s tired of sacrificing for the good of the franchise. Since 2010 he has earned about $20 million less than he could have with maximum contracts.
James and Bosh got their max deals. So will Dragic and Whiteside. Why should Wade continue to be a bargain?
Here we are, at the crux of everything that happens in sports. Make no mistake: It’s always about the money.
Loyalty is for Hollywood endings. Money talks, sentiment walks.
Could get ugly, like any other divorce. Heat fans are already taking sides, arguing that Wade’s unreliable knees aren’t worth the risk, that no other team will give him what he wants, that the concept of compensating him for his 12 years of service is hogwash. Their favorite cliché: This is a business.
Wade supporters say he’s still among the top shooting guards in the league, even at 33, even though he has played only two-thirds of the games the past couple of years. He averaged 21.5 points and 4.8 assists with 47 percent accuracy from the field this past season. If he goes, Dragic might go, too. Wade is the soul of a team that desperately needs one.
Wade is likely to opt out of his current deal, become a free agent and seek a three-year, $60 million contract. The Heat would like him to opt in before the July 1 deadline for $16 million next year, then take $10 million for each of the following two years and give the team flexibility to make a big acquisition next summer and trust that he will be taken care of in the long run.
Right now, there’s lots of posturing and innuendo and messages being sent via the media. The NBA players’ union supports Wade’s effort to earn his full value. Wade expects to meet with Heat management before Thursday’s NBA Draft to clear the air.
The pressure is on Riley. He can’t win. If the Heat gives Wade close to what he wants, the team removes itself from the free agent race in 2016 and loses its chance at getting a new star. Keep Wade and gamble that his knees won’t deteriorate further, and that the combination of Wade, Whiteside, Bosh and Dragic will be successful, even though Bosh and Dragic have not yet played a minute together and Whiteside remains a work in progress.
Keep Wade and keep most of the fan base happy. He can still, at times, cause the jaw to drop. He is beloved.
Let Wade go — to the Knicks, Lakers, or worst of all the Cavaliers (they probably can’t afford him) — and pursue Durant and a new championship blueprint. Figure that the wrath of fans will fade once the victories pile up.
Riley enjoys being portrayed as the wily mastermind. But he is in a tough spot. Bad blood is leaking and must be staunched. Nor does Riley want to be the Heat leader who lost James and Wade in successive summers.
Wade has leverage. It would be difficult to replace him with any comparable talent given the Heat’s salary-cap situation. There is no guarantee that jettisoning Wade would land a great free agent in 2016. It seems doubtful that Durant would feel any compulsion to come to Miami — even with Riley offering rings for him to try on. After Durant, the dip in the market is steep. Joakim Noah? Chandler Parsons?
Say goodbye to Wade and say goodbye to the best, most accomplished player in Heat history. For what, exactly?
One idea making the rounds is for Heat owner Micky Arison to pay Wade the max $23.5 million now, eat the luxury-tax penalty of $55 million to $70 million and develop a compromise later.
As for Wade’s health, that’s always an unknown. James left in part for a healthier team and his two top henchmen got injured in the postseason.
No easy solutions. No quiet summer.
But one thing is clear: If Wade wants to stay, Riley and the Heat need to find a way to keep him. Bad knees or not, his is the face of the franchise. On a team in a city in constant flux, he should be a Heat Lifer.
ooohhhhhhhhh
The Miami Heat will reportedly offer Goran Dragic 5years/$80million????
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13122962/miami-heat-plan-offer-goran-dragic-5-year-80-million-deal
The Miami Heat will reportedly offer Goran Dragic 5years/$80million????
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13122962/miami-heat-plan-offer-goran-dragic-5-year-80-million-deal
ooohhhhhhhhh
The Miami Heat will reportedly offer Goran Dragic 5years/$80million????
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13122962/miami-heat-plan-offer-goran-dragic-5-year-80-million-deal
It's not a bad offer. Dragic is a quality guard. $60 million would probably be a more reasonable offer though.
Shit you trying to resign him or force him out?
They about to give Dragic Wade's money... Could be they are subtly telling Wade they are in the process of moving on... 
You ain't see him auditioning for a spot on the sports panel during the finals?
from who sara lee???
Your moms ass you fag
your mom has all the yeast
Dam.
What they trying to say?
LeBron James leaving Dwyane Wade behind in more ways than one --
Bud Shaw's Spinoffs
CLEVELAND, Ohio – So Dwyane Wade isn't going to give up millions upon millions to leave South Beach to join LeBron James?
Even though we saw Wade's father wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers T-shirt?
Some rumors are reasonable and some are so far-fetched The Onion wouldn't even consider them good satire material.
Guess which one Wade and LeBron reuniting was? Yes, even despite Wade and James being seen in the Bahamas together.
Imagine.
Wade and the Heat are in an uncomfortable place in their relationship where they still need each other just not the way they once did.
The market wasn't there for Wade, who is 33 and has missed 48 games the past two seasons. The Heat was there for him, just not in a happily-ever-after way.
That leaves Wade trying to put a smiley face on the fact he didn't get the multi-year deal he sought.
Instead, Wade signed for one year and $20 million and massaged the transaction the best he could.
"I think I did the best I could for myself and my family," Wade said. "I also had the Heat in mind. It crossed my mind to say, "If I'm going to handicap this organization by this contract maybe the best situation is not to be here."
In other words, the Heat wasn't willing to get too invested.
"I think we're a good team," Wade said. "I like our chances."
To do what, he did not specify.
• Wade met with the Arison family and said he came away feeling the organization still coveted him.
"A one-year deal for $20 million, I could never look at that and roll my eyes," Wade said.
Leaving others hearing his justification of a one-year deal to do it for him.
LeBron James leaving Dwyane Wade behind in more ways than one --
Bud Shaw's Spinoffs
CLEVELAND, Ohio – So Dwyane Wade isn't going to give up millions upon millions to leave South Beach to join LeBron James?
Even though we saw Wade's father wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers T-shirt?
Some rumors are reasonable and some are so far-fetched The Onion wouldn't even consider them good satire material.
Guess which one Wade and LeBron reuniting was? Yes, even despite Wade and James being seen in the Bahamas together.
Imagine.
Wade and the Heat are in an uncomfortable place in their relationship where they still need each other just not the way they once did.
The market wasn't there for Wade, who is 33 and has missed 48 games the past two seasons. The Heat was there for him, just not in a happily-ever-after way.
That leaves Wade trying to put a smiley face on the fact he didn't get the multi-year deal he sought.
Instead, Wade signed for one year and $20 million and massaged the transaction the best he could.
"I think I did the best I could for myself and my family," Wade said. "I also had the Heat in mind. It crossed my mind to say, "If I'm going to handicap this organization by this contract maybe the best situation is not to be here."
In other words, the Heat wasn't willing to get too invested.
"I think we're a good team," Wade said. "I like our chances."
To do what, he did not specify.
• Wade met with the Arison family and said he came away feeling the organization still coveted him.
"A one-year deal for $20 million, I could never look at that and roll my eyes," Wade said.
Leaving others hearing his justification of a one-year deal to do it for him.
Hassan Whiteside ignores lure of free agency riches — for now
Hassan Whiteside is not paying a ton of attention to NBA free agency, even as his name gets tossed around in rumors about potential deals to make room for new signings.
“I haven’t heard anything,” he said this morning. “All I hear is basketballs dribbling.”
Coming off his breakout performance last year, Whiteside has spent the summer in Miami working with the Heat’s staff. He will be part of their summer league team for practices, but will not play in games.
Whiteside will hit free agency next summer with the chance to make an unbelievable amount of money. He has never collected more than $1 million in a season and will make $982,000 in 2015-16.
When he hears about players signing enormous contracts — DeAndre Jordan, for example, agreed to a four-year deal with Dallas today worth more than $80 million — he does not allow his mind to wander toward the potential payday he has coming.
“No, nothing’s guaranteed,” he said. “I’m really just looking toward this season and not looking toward the summer yet.”
Hassan Whiteside is not paying a ton of attention to NBA free agency, even as his name gets tossed around in rumors about potential deals to make room for new signings.
“I haven’t heard anything,” he said this morning. “All I hear is basketballs dribbling.”
Coming off his breakout performance last year, Whiteside has spent the summer in Miami working with the Heat’s staff. He will be part of their summer league team for practices, but will not play in games.
Whiteside will hit free agency next summer with the chance to make an unbelievable amount of money. He has never collected more than $1 million in a season and will make $982,000 in 2015-16.
When he hears about players signing enormous contracts — DeAndre Jordan, for example, agreed to a four-year deal with Dallas today worth more than $80 million — he does not allow his mind to wander toward the potential payday he has coming.
“No, nothing’s guaranteed,” he said. “I’m really just looking toward this season and not looking toward the summer yet.”
yeah if has another good year then $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Heat loaded with storylines entering summer league
For a team built around veterans, often superstar veterans, summer league in recent years had been a reserved, almost inconsequential part of the Miami Heat's personnel process.
Then LeBron James left last July. Then the lottery produced a potential gem in the draft with Justise Winslow. Then the Heat moved perilously close to the dreaded "repeater" luxury tax with Thursday's agreement with Dwyane Wade.
And well, what do you know, summer league matters again for the Heat.
"The main thing is to try to fast-track these guys as much as possible," coach Erik Spoelstra said as the team concluded their summer camp Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "The level of competition, that's always important to us."
It starts Saturday at 9 a.m. on the practice court at the Amway Center against the Indiana Pacers, the first of five games for the Heat at the Orlando summer league, before the cast moves on to Las Vegas for at least five more summer-league games there.
"We're always open to finding somebody," said Spoelstra, who will give way to assistant Dan Craig as the Heat's summer-league coach.
In addition to those on the summer roster, center Hassan Whiteside will continue to work with the team throughout the summer, although not play in the summer games.
"This has been great for him, to get five-on-five competition," Spoelstra said, with the Heat to hold practices and shootarounds over the summer in addition to the games.
While the games in Orlando are closed to the public, they will be televised on NBA TV.
Among the storylines in this ever-evolving offseason will be whether cost-effective talent can be mined to the degree that costlier veterans could be excised, perhaps the likes of Mario Chalmers or Chris Andersen.
This time, there are summer storylines in abundance for the Heat.
Justise Winslow: Teams tend to reserve judgment with first-round picks during summer league, with more of a priority of developing a book on what to work on the balance of the offseason. With the Duke forward so versatile, expect several different assignments for the No. 10 pick in the draft, as the coaching staff experiment with his possibilities. With Winslow, summer league offers the ultimate laboratory. He said Friday his summer concentration will be at small forward and shooting guard.
Shabazz Napier: By contrast, when it comes to the second bite at the summer-league apple for former first-round picks, the expectations are elevated. Napier struggled during summer league last year, especially with his shot, and then had an uneven rookie season. These next three weeks could determine whether there will be confidence going into the regular season, and whether there will be a place in the rotation. Spoelstra said he is not sure whether Napier will play in the summer opener, as Napier works back from late-season hernia surgery.
Zoran Dragic: He is the ultimate plus-one, practically locked into the roster because of the presence of his brother, star point guard Goran Dragic. Now the question is whether the Heat can get something out of Zoran while they absorb the $1.7 million salary-cap hit with his guaranteed contract. He could emerge as a needed 3-point specialist, but, more significantly, this is when he has to show he can defend and mesh with the offense.
James Ennis: Even with Luol Deng and Wade back, and even with the arrival of Winslow, the Heat wing rotation is relatively thin. Ennis proved to be a dynamic athlete and capable 3-point shooter during his rookie season. Now he has to show he has the handle to operate as an NBA wing. He likely will be put in several such ballhandling situations over the next three weeks.
Tyler Johnson: Another returning veteran who has to show there is more than flash and sizzle. Can he be an option at point guard, an option that might make it easier offload Chalmers' salary? He had his moments last season, particularly in attack mode, but consistency was an issue. Summer league at least offers the opportunity for consistent minutes.
Henry Walker: This is a somewhat odd summer invitation. Walker briefly was a 3-point answer last season, especially in that miracle comeback in Orlando. But there seems to be only so much a tenured veteran can get out of summer league. Or is there?
Josh Richardson: The second-round pick out of Tennessee sets up as the type of 3-and-D prospect the Heat were hoping to add this offseason. While he is raw, a strong summer could create a challenge to Ennis and Johnson, and perhaps even Chalmers.
Travis Trice: While an undersized point guard, he displayed and ability to shoot and score at Michigan State and could pose a challenge to Napier, perhaps even in their head-to-head practices that also are an essential component of the Heat's summer program. This could be your summer sleeper.
For a team built around veterans, often superstar veterans, summer league in recent years had been a reserved, almost inconsequential part of the Miami Heat's personnel process.
Then LeBron James left last July. Then the lottery produced a potential gem in the draft with Justise Winslow. Then the Heat moved perilously close to the dreaded "repeater" luxury tax with Thursday's agreement with Dwyane Wade.
And well, what do you know, summer league matters again for the Heat.
"The main thing is to try to fast-track these guys as much as possible," coach Erik Spoelstra said as the team concluded their summer camp Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "The level of competition, that's always important to us."
It starts Saturday at 9 a.m. on the practice court at the Amway Center against the Indiana Pacers, the first of five games for the Heat at the Orlando summer league, before the cast moves on to Las Vegas for at least five more summer-league games there.
"We're always open to finding somebody," said Spoelstra, who will give way to assistant Dan Craig as the Heat's summer-league coach.
In addition to those on the summer roster, center Hassan Whiteside will continue to work with the team throughout the summer, although not play in the summer games.
"This has been great for him, to get five-on-five competition," Spoelstra said, with the Heat to hold practices and shootarounds over the summer in addition to the games.
While the games in Orlando are closed to the public, they will be televised on NBA TV.
Among the storylines in this ever-evolving offseason will be whether cost-effective talent can be mined to the degree that costlier veterans could be excised, perhaps the likes of Mario Chalmers or Chris Andersen.
This time, there are summer storylines in abundance for the Heat.
Justise Winslow: Teams tend to reserve judgment with first-round picks during summer league, with more of a priority of developing a book on what to work on the balance of the offseason. With the Duke forward so versatile, expect several different assignments for the No. 10 pick in the draft, as the coaching staff experiment with his possibilities. With Winslow, summer league offers the ultimate laboratory. He said Friday his summer concentration will be at small forward and shooting guard.
Shabazz Napier: By contrast, when it comes to the second bite at the summer-league apple for former first-round picks, the expectations are elevated. Napier struggled during summer league last year, especially with his shot, and then had an uneven rookie season. These next three weeks could determine whether there will be confidence going into the regular season, and whether there will be a place in the rotation. Spoelstra said he is not sure whether Napier will play in the summer opener, as Napier works back from late-season hernia surgery.
Zoran Dragic: He is the ultimate plus-one, practically locked into the roster because of the presence of his brother, star point guard Goran Dragic. Now the question is whether the Heat can get something out of Zoran while they absorb the $1.7 million salary-cap hit with his guaranteed contract. He could emerge as a needed 3-point specialist, but, more significantly, this is when he has to show he can defend and mesh with the offense.
James Ennis: Even with Luol Deng and Wade back, and even with the arrival of Winslow, the Heat wing rotation is relatively thin. Ennis proved to be a dynamic athlete and capable 3-point shooter during his rookie season. Now he has to show he has the handle to operate as an NBA wing. He likely will be put in several such ballhandling situations over the next three weeks.
Tyler Johnson: Another returning veteran who has to show there is more than flash and sizzle. Can he be an option at point guard, an option that might make it easier offload Chalmers' salary? He had his moments last season, particularly in attack mode, but consistency was an issue. Summer league at least offers the opportunity for consistent minutes.
Henry Walker: This is a somewhat odd summer invitation. Walker briefly was a 3-point answer last season, especially in that miracle comeback in Orlando. But there seems to be only so much a tenured veteran can get out of summer league. Or is there?
Josh Richardson: The second-round pick out of Tennessee sets up as the type of 3-and-D prospect the Heat were hoping to add this offseason. While he is raw, a strong summer could create a challenge to Ennis and Johnson, and perhaps even Chalmers.
Travis Trice: While an undersized point guard, he displayed and ability to shoot and score at Michigan State and could pose a challenge to Napier, perhaps even in their head-to-head practices that also are an essential component of the Heat's summer program. This could be your summer sleeper.
I haven't been in this thread since Bosh went down. Feels good to be back.
Yea man that was a rough time....but well see what gonna happen from here...
Winslow been the topic, I gotta find some film on him...
Even though I normally follow Duke, outside of a few Kentucky games I didn't watch any NCAA bball this year.
Heat announce complete preseason schedule
Though the Heat announced in May it would host preseason games against Charlotte, San Antonio and Washington and face Orlando in a neutral-side game in Louisville, on Thursday, fans got an idea of what the rest of Miami’s exhibition schedule will look like.
After opening the preseason on Oct. 4 at home against Charlotte and taking on Orlando on Oct. 7 at the KFC Yum Center, the Heat will return to the AmericanAirlines Arena on Oct. 12 to take on the Spurs. They’ll then travel to Orlando to face the Magic on Oct. 13, before back-to-back games in Houston and Atlanta on Oct. 17th and 18th, respectively.
The Heat will then return home to face Washington on Oct. 21 before closing out the preseason with a game at New Orleans on the 23rd.
With the scheduling, the Heat will play every team in the Southeast Division during the preseason, along with four regular-season matchups.
Tickets for the three home preseason games start at $10 and are already on sale. They can be purchased at Heat.com, Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, or 1-800-4NBA-TIX. Tickets can also be purchased at the AmericanAirlines Arena ticket office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Complete Heat preseason schedule
Oct. 4, Charlotte at Miami, 6 p.m.
Oct. 7, Orlando vs. Miami, KFC Yum Center, Louisville, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12, San Antonio at Miami, 7:30
Oct. 13, Miami at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17, Miami at Houston, 8 p.m.
Oct. 18, Miami at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21, Washington at Miami, 7:30
Oct. 23, Miami at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Staff writer Ira Winderman contributed to this report.
Though the Heat announced in May it would host preseason games against Charlotte, San Antonio and Washington and face Orlando in a neutral-side game in Louisville, on Thursday, fans got an idea of what the rest of Miami’s exhibition schedule will look like.
After opening the preseason on Oct. 4 at home against Charlotte and taking on Orlando on Oct. 7 at the KFC Yum Center, the Heat will return to the AmericanAirlines Arena on Oct. 12 to take on the Spurs. They’ll then travel to Orlando to face the Magic on Oct. 13, before back-to-back games in Houston and Atlanta on Oct. 17th and 18th, respectively.
The Heat will then return home to face Washington on Oct. 21 before closing out the preseason with a game at New Orleans on the 23rd.
With the scheduling, the Heat will play every team in the Southeast Division during the preseason, along with four regular-season matchups.
Tickets for the three home preseason games start at $10 and are already on sale. They can be purchased at Heat.com, Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, or 1-800-4NBA-TIX. Tickets can also be purchased at the AmericanAirlines Arena ticket office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Complete Heat preseason schedule
Oct. 4, Charlotte at Miami, 6 p.m.
Oct. 7, Orlando vs. Miami, KFC Yum Center, Louisville, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12, San Antonio at Miami, 7:30
Oct. 13, Miami at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17, Miami at Houston, 8 p.m.
Oct. 18, Miami at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21, Washington at Miami, 7:30
Oct. 23, Miami at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Staff writer Ira Winderman contributed to this report.
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