What will Miami do?

[MBunge]

Only Cole and Birdman are under contract for next season, but if Haslem and the Not-so-Big-3 exercise their player options, Miami will be at 69 million dollars and over the salary cap.  The luxury tax starts at 77 million.  No one is going to trade for Bosh at $20 mil and no one will probably trade for Wade at any price.  Haslem will also almost certainly exercise his option.

What are/can they going to do?

1.  I can't imagine Bron, Bosh and Wade taking 50% pay cuts.
2.  I can't imagine the Heat just bringing back the same supporting cast.
3.  The only players with any real trade value are Bosh and Bron and, as mentioned, Bosh would have to opt out and then agree to a sign-n-trade for less money.

Can they actually resign Ray, Beasley, Chalmers, etc. and then trade them for anything worthwhile?

Mike

[Rondo9]

I think Battier and Ray will retire after this season.

[Fafnir]

I think all three opt out, I think Bosh and LBJ certainly will.

I think Wade wants another mega-deal and I'm not sure how Miami will handle that. If they won't give it to him he might just opt-in and hit FA next year.

As for the supporting cast, I'm not sure what they'll do. They'll target a "Battier-type" veteran FA, but I don't see any perfect fits for them like he and Ray were.

I think Ray plays another year.

[Donoghus]

I think all three opt out, I think Bosh and LBJ certainly will.

I think Wade wants another mega-deal and I'm not sure how Miami will handle that. If they won't give it to him he might just opt-in and hit FA next year.

As for the supporting cast, I'm not sure what they'll do. They'll target a "Battier-type" veteran FA, but I don't see any perfect fits for them like he and Ray were.

I think Ray plays another year.

If Wade wants a mega-deal, then I'm letting him walk if I'm Miami.  However, you're right that he may just opt-in if he thinks he won't get it.

[Sketch5]

Hopefully fall into a sinkhole. 

I hope these Melo rumors are false, not just for us, but the NBA. I think Melo should think about what it would do for him if he would jump on board the Cheat Train. Yeah, he'd have a shot at a title, but the fans, you know the real ones, the current pros, and former ones, would look down on him. I think his image couldn't take that kind of hit like Lebron did.

It's all going to depend on Lebron, then Wade. Lebron stays,but Wade wants a big contract, they don't get any better. Lebron leaves, I think they all head out. Wade can't carry the team, and Bosh will follow Lebron  if he can.

I could see Lebron and Bosh in LA. Wade maybe in OKC, or Chicago, team up with Melo if he doesn't come to Boston. Boston is hard because of how much they have to move to make space with out hurting the supporting cast.

[fairweatherfan]

First, they'll lose another game. 

After that, I don't care much what they do.

[j804]

Not get better crumble

Stick a fork in them 

[More Banners]

Best bet will be to keep Lebron, of course, no matter what.  Then I try to keep Bosh with him for less than max, but then Wade opts in and that means try to run it back. 

I probably look to get younger shooters out there, and perhaps have to S&T Chalmers, and try to do the same with Beasley.

If I were them, I'd be looking to buy picks like crazy in this draft as well.

Look for minimum-contract 3-and-D guys, I guess.

[Moranis]

If they opt in doesn't that automatically trigger a second year i.e. they can opt out this summer, but if they opt in they are locked into the contract through the 15-16 season.  At least that is how I always understood it.  So I think they all either opt in or they all opt out and either re-sign to free up some money or go their separate ways. 

I personally think all three opt in and give a go for another 2 years at which time James goes back to Cleveland, Bosh goes back home to Dallas (or perhaps San An or Houston), and Wade re-signs to finish out his career in Miami.

[RJ87]

It's already confirmed Battier will retire, I think Ray does too. The Big 3 will likely return, I don't think Melo will happen (Houston or Chicago - he can still paid and join other stars). They really need to address their PG situation and their interior defense. I think if they can get better in those areas, they can get back to the Finals.

[Who]

I think everyone stays. Pat Riley has worked very hard to make Miami a "family-like organization" both on and off the court. This has been a major selling point along with their Championship pedigree for several years. Maintaining that will have large value.

So I think there will be a lot of loyalty there from the organization to their players.

[Eddie20]

I would love to trade Bogans and say a future 2nd rd pick for Haslem and their #1 pick this year (#26). Heat will be looking to shed cap, like the Joel Anthony deal, and would be a good way to add an international player for stash. Or we could package the #17 and #26 picks to move up a few spots.

[jambr380]

Hopefully fall into a sinkhole. 

I hope these Melo rumors are false, not just for us, but the NBA. I think Melo should think about what it would do for him if he would jump on board the Cheat Train. Yeah, he'd have a shot at a title, but the fans, you know the real ones, the current pros, and former ones, would look down on him. I think his image couldn't take that kind of hit like Lebron did.

It's all going to depend on Lebron, then Wade. Lebron stays,but Wade wants a big contract, they don't get any better. Lebron leaves, I think they all head out. Wade can't carry the team, and Bosh will follow Lebron  if he can.

I could see Lebron and Bosh in LA. Wade maybe in OKC, or Chicago, team up with Melo if he doesn't come to Boston. Boston is hard because of how much they have to move to make space with out hurting the supporting cast.

If Melo joins up with Miami, it could be Barkley to the Rockets all over again. Olajuwon and Drexler were tearing it up and Barkely joining up with them was a can't miss, but then it didn't work out afterall. It was made worse because it was finally an admission that he couldn't do it on his own...and afterwards, it showed he couldn't even do it with a super-team.

See LAL with Shaq, Kobe, Malone, and Payton as well...

[Celtics4ever]

Sink under the Atlantic?