Since I don't have a Heat post-game anymore, I'll surmise my end of the season thoughts here. First things first, while it's a disappointing way to go out(especially since Wade wasn't healthy the whole 7 games), 2008-2009 was a TERRIFIC season for the Miami Heat. Period. End of story. Obviously, repeating 15 games wasn't realistic, but most projections, even after seeing Wadeapalooza 2008 in Bejing, was 33-38 wins, and seeded anywhere from 7-10. So this team essentially won 5-10 more games than we thought, and 2-5 seeds higher than we thought. And that's with a major midseason trade, two rookies getting prominent minutes, and a rookie coach.
That said, this series hammered one major point home: There's still a LONG WAY to go before the Heat can be anointed a true championship contender. They never got a consistent No. 2 scorer behind Wade. There's still major questions at two of the five starting positions, and that's not including the Jermaine O'Neal health question. And a mediocre bench.
How much can Pat Riley reconfigure the roster? Not much, if the Heat stick to their longstanding plan of being a major 2010 spender. Miami(69 mil) will be right up against the projected luxury tax next season, which means room for veteran minimum guys, and a midlevel. But that's if no one gets dealt. And with Pat Riley, that's always a possibility. Especially when the number one goal of 2010 is keeping MV3 in South Florida, and he may want some changes immediately.
So who's staying and who's going? Here is our immediate analysis, in ascending order of importance.
C Mark Blount 7-0, 230, 33 yrs old
Contract Status: 1 year, 7.9 million left
This Season: Missed significant time with family/personal issues and was either wearing a suit or warm-up attire virtually the rest of the year.
Future: Was the salary throw-in for the Oct 2007 Ricky Davis trade. Heat have been trying to move him for the last 18 months. Maybe they get a taker since he's an expiring contract, but don't count on it.
SF/PF Dorrell Wright, 6-9, 210, 23 yrs old
Contract Status: 1 year, 2.8 mil left
This Season: Probably a long-shot to make rotation anyway, but played just 6 games due to a knee injury that may be career-impacting.
Future: Sure the Heat could use his athleticism, especially at a position where there's no clear answer. But he's had plenty of chances. Likely riding the bench for another year.
C Joel Anthony 6-9, 245, 26 yrs old in August
Contract Status: UFA(made 711K this year)
This Season: Despite his status as a long-term project, he started 28 games, and two in the playoffs. But there's still no discernible skills besides shot blocking.
Future: Since he and Jamaal Magloire are both free agents, I'm guessing only one is brought back. And I'm guessing its Magloire.
PG Chris Quinn 6-2, 175, 26 yrs old in September
Contract Status: Has a player option for 1.05 mil in 09-10
This Season: Despite being lauded by coach Erik Spoelstra numerous times as the consummate professional, was in and out of the rotation the whole year. Led team with 41 percent shooting from 3.
Future: Probably doesn't have one here beyond a No. 3 PG. I'm guessing he opts out and some team considers forking over a multi-year deal based on his long-range shooting ability. If not, then the Heat try to bring him back as a No. 3.
SF Yakhouba Diawara 6-7, 230, 27 yrs old in August
Contract Status: 1 year, 855 K left
This Season: Made 21 starts. But is a limited offensive presence(even tho he could get hot from 3). Defensively, he has his moments but came well short of the Bruce Bowen comparisons that were internally thrown around at the beginning of the year.
Future: Probably will reprise his role as 10th or 11th man, at best.
PG Luther Head 6-3, 185, 26 yrs old
Contract Status: UFA
This Season: 10 games as a late-season edition, getting an opportunity to seize considerable minutes from Quinn/Cook. Then broke his hand and missed the playoffs.
Future: Has shooting/defensive skills that could be valuable off bench. But his only chance of coming back is as a No. 3 PG, or if the Heat deal Cook.
C Jamaal Magloire 6-11, 265, 31 yrs old in May
Contract Status: UFA(made 1.1 mil this season)
This Season: Was the much needed "physical enforcer" and essentially kicked some ass in the post and setting screens along the perimeter. In other words, a great 10-15 minute per game role. Also a good locker room presence.
Future: I think the Heat would love to bring him back for the same role around the same money.
SF Jamario Moon 6-8, 200, 29 yrs old in June
Contract Status: RFA
This Season: 21 starts with the Heat after coming over in the Jermaine O'Neal trade. Is a better, more athletic version of Dorrell Wright, but with the same shortcomings.
Future: If the Heat can get him for minimum money, they will probably look to re-sign. And with an entire training camp of absorbing the Heat's defensive system, perhaps he can become a first-rate perimeter defender.
SG Daequan Cook 6-5, 210, 22 yrs old
Contract Status: 2 yrs left in his rookie deal(1.4 mil in 09-10)
This Season: At one point, seemed like the Heat's sixth man of the future. But after winning the 3-point shootout, shot just 35 percent from the floor in the second half and playoffs.
Future: Is a frustrating enigma. When he's on, he's as deadly of a 3-point shooter as there is in the NBA, and can be a solid defender. When he's off, the rest of his game takes a major nosedive. They want to keep him but could be a trade chip.
SF James Jones 6-8, 220, 29 Yrs old
Contract Status: 4.3 mil next year, then team options for 2010 thru 2013.
This Season: Missed the first three months of the season with a fractured wrist. Then shot 21 percent from 3 in January and Febuary. But came back to hit 42 percent of his treys the last two months, and had a very good playoff series.
Future: I was a huge fan since Day 1. Now, there's plenty of confidence that Jones is the deadly consistent 3-point shooter this team has been lacking since Jason Kapono. But he's not an ideal starter, and with one year left on his deal, could be an add-in to a trade.
PG Mario Chalmers 6-1, 190, 23 yrs old in May
Contract Status: 2 yrs left on rookie deal(773K next season)
This Season: Surprised everyone by snaring the starting PG spot at end of training camp, and starting 82 and all 7 playoff games. Results were mixed on both ends of the floor, even though Mario finished 4th in the NBA in steals.
Future: The Heat need their PG's to distribute well, hit 3's, play strong defense and not turn the ball over. Chalmers has the shooting ability at times, is efficient, but lacks great court vision, and is on-the-ball defense was awful at times. Look I think he will get better and can be an everyday NBA point guard. But this team at least needs to split his minutes with a Jason Williams-like veteran next year.
PF Udonis Haslem 6-8, 235, 29 yrs old in June
Contract Status: 1 year left at 7.1 mil.
This Season: On the court, a typical Udonis year(10.6 pts, 8.2 rbs, 52 FG, 300 charges taken). Off the court, inherited the Alonzo Mourning vocal locker room responsibilities and took some ridiculous criticism from fans screaming for Michael Beasley(see below) to play more.
Future: Some believe he will be the primary trade chip, and the PF spot will go to Beasley next year. My feelings differ, in large part because Dwyane Wade prefers to play alongside the co-captain. I don't know whether UD is part of the 2010 blueprint, but I think he's back next year.
C Jermaine O'Neal 6-11, 258, 30 yrs old
Contract Status: 1-year left at the infamous figure of 23 mil.
This Season: Averaged 13 points and 5.5 rebounds after he was acquired from Toronto. If you are realistic, then he met expectations and suffered from an offense without a post identity. If you aren't, then JO disappointed. It's a universal disappointment that he played 42 seconds in the last 2 games of the year.
Future: As you can tell, I am a Jermaine O'Neal fan and am intrigued by the possibilities of him being more of a force with a full offseason of rehab. I also think it takes a full offseason before the coaching staff can fully integrate how to use him in the offense. But he will have the best expiring contract in the league next year. That cannot be ignored.
SF/PF Michael Beasley 6-9, 230, 20 yrs old
Contract: 3 yrs left on rookie deal(4.3 mil next season)
This Season: Became the most polarizing player in Heat history after one year. Was he a major disappointment(14 points, 5.5 rebounds) or was he not playing enough. Backup power forward or starting small forward? Indifferent defender or overwhelmed? Locker room problem or just a goofball?
Future: I think Beasley's a huge offensive force who can go to a crappy team and average 22 points a game. So I totally approved of the way this team is trying to develop his all-around skills. I also think he tries to play on defense. But he is a polar opposite of what the Heat culture is all about. And his antics at time drew the ire of Spoelstra, Riley, and most importantly Dwyane Wade.
On one hand, it seems way too early to give up on Beasley. But he has a long way to go to become the right No. 2 player on a Dwyane Wade led team. And if it takes flipping him to get a Chris Bosh like player to ensure Wade stays here, then so be it.
SG Dwyane Wade 6-4, 216, 27 yrs old
Contract: You shouldn't have to ask.
This Season: LeBron James will win the MVP. But the best season in the league belonged to D-Wade. Led the league averaging 30.2 points. In the top 10 in assists(7.5). Number 2 in steals(2.2). Top 20 in blocks(1.3). Became absolutely unguardable with his lethal jump shot, which wasn't there early in his career.
Future: Wade is the franchise. The number one task for Pat Riley, regardless of what the Heat do next year, is make sure Wade is re-signed. I cannot envision that not happening. In fact, I've been of the belief that especially with an uncertain CBA and the current economic recession, that D-Wade will be re-signed this offseason. But that may come with concessions. Including trading a large piece of the future(Beasley) and others to build a contender in 2009. But Dwyane Wade will be a Miami Heatian past 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment