What will happen to the Heat?

[celticinorlando]

coaching change...they will try to change the bench getting rid of mike miller and some of those bums..

but i expect a new coach

if any player goes it will be wade. he is oft injured and doesn't fit with lebron.

[Brendan]

I agree with coaching change... but Riley holds some of the blame. Wade and Lebron don't fit well together, and while he's tried to surround them with low utilization, high % shooters - they have all been injured.

I really think the team would best be served trading Wade... something like Dwight, JJ, Turk for Wade, Bosh, and Miller. Doesn't that make sense for both teams?

Miami: Dwight, Haslem, Lebron, JJ, Chalmers + some spare part big men, Turk, Battier, and Cole. Seems like a much better put together team. They could run the old Orlando ball handler + 3 shooters + Dwight lineup too, except they'd have Lebron as ball handler instead of Turk or Nelson.

Orlando: They have two priority 1 problems right now: Dwight Howard wants out and is dragging the team down, and Turk has a terrible contract. Solve both, while getting a superstar wing and all star big man. I don't love that team as much as Miami, but they are much further away.

Too logical though, so probably won't happen.

[More Banners]

coaching change...they will try to change the bench getting rid of mike miller and some of those bums..

but i expect a new coach

if any player goes it will be wade. he is oft injured and doesn't fit with lebron.

Isn't Wade their guy, though?  He already has one title in Miami and was their "guy" right?

And isn't Lebron the choker on the court, and has proven how he ran the Cavs into an iceberg and then tastelessly abandoned ship?

So wouldn't Lebron be the best player to trade?  Teams would line up with offers, and surely they'd find a better fit. 

Straight up for DHoward?

[Brendan]

No Lebron is much more likely to provide 4 more years of great basketball than Wade. Additionally Lebron is a bigger draw than Wade (generally.) I guess the only question is do the Heat really want to have a "lifetime" guy and start that kind of tradition? So far they retired Michael Jordan's number (Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.?) and nothing else - so I'd guess not.

[More Banners]

No Lebron is much more likely to provide 4 more years of great basketball than Wade. Additionally Lebron is a bigger draw than Wade (generally.) I guess the only question is do the Heat really want to have a "lifetime" guy and start that kind of tradition? So far they retired Michael Jordan's number (****?) and nothing else - so I'd guess not.

I think you're right about Lebron v. Wade, but I suspect Riles thinks in terms of dynasty's, and would prefer a winning dynasty that can be rejuvenated and nourished over time (like the Lakers and few other teams have managed to succeed) to a marketing/hype machine that will eventually end.

Wade/Bosh works, and Lebron could bring back almost any other player(s) that could achieve the sort of blockbuster that Riles put together before the first Miami title.  He already has Battier and Miller to play SF, so he could target bigs or a top combo guard and perhaps get the best of both.

JNelson and Howard for Lebron?

Nelson
Wade
Battier
Bosh
Howard

Throw in a decent coach...Jerry Sloan?

[tyrone biggums]

If they lose tonight Phil Jackson will become the coach of the Heat...mark it down

[Brendan]

Riley won't bring in Jackson IMO. Why help Jackson further his argument as best coach of the modern era over Riley. Always felt there was some dislike between the two. Unless of course you think Riley is gone too?

[ACF]

[Celtics4ever]

If they lose tonight (and my fingers are crossed for us)  I could see Spoelstra being fired and Riles stepping in.   I could see them trading one of their guys for a guy who doesn't need the ball.  But Stoolstra has got to go!

[Brendan]

No Lebron is much more likely to provide 4 more years of great basketball than Wade. Additionally Lebron is a bigger draw than Wade (generally.) I guess the only question is do the Heat really want to have a "lifetime" guy and start that kind of tradition? So far they retired Michael Jordan's number (****?) and nothing else - so I'd guess not.

I think you're right about Lebron v. Wade, but I suspect Riles thinks in terms of dynasty's, and would prefer a winning dynasty that can be rejuvenated and nourished over time (like the Lakers and few other teams have managed to succeed) to a marketing/hype machine that will eventually end.

Wade/Bosh works, and Lebron could bring back almost any other player(s) that could achieve the sort of blockbuster that Riles put together before the first Miami title.  He already has Battier and Miller to play SF, so he could target bigs or a top combo guard and perhaps get the best of both.

JNelson and Howard for Lebron?

Nelson
Wade
Battier
Bosh
Howard

Throw in a decent coach...Jerry Sloan?

Ehhh.... dunno. Depends on how attached Riles is to Wade IMO. Laker and Heat style has been disposable parts - Wade is NOT a pantheon talent like Magic - so he is disposable, IMO.

If he's willing to trade Lebron straight up, that would make things easier, but where to send him? I don't think Lebron for Dwight is as good of a trade for ORL... they would have no size AND they would have a huge log jam at Wing/Guard. Can they amnesty Turk? I guess if they have the cash to eat his contract that helps. With JJ/Richardson at wings, and Nelson/Duhon at PG. Anderson/BBD at PF isn't bad, but no physical inside presence, I think Lebron needs that to get to next level.

ORL would do it, because it gets them out of Howard problem and the best player in the league, risk is that Lebron becomes a problem then (because he's back in the same CLE situation he was in and there is nothing that shows me he won't pout.)

[KCattheStripe]

They will lose to the THunder in 6 or 7 games and then definitely fire Spostra... then probably pursue Bosh trades.  Can't see them trading Wade, because he's the savior who brought them their only title... the heart and soul of Miami Heat Basketball.  And I can't see them trading LeBron, because he's the greatest basketball player alive.   ONly thing they can really do is try trading Bosh for depth or an upgrade (Dwight?)

You're predicting a Heat comeback in ECF?

Yeah.  We blew a 3-2 lead against Orlando in 2009 and a 3-2 lead against the lakers in 2010... so until Boston wins this series I'm assuming they will lose to the overwhelming favorite.  Hope I'm wrong.  No way we win the next one... can't see us beating the Heat 4 times in a row.  Game 7 will be in Miami and the NBA will want a Wade/Bron vs Westbrook/Durant Finals.

We blew a 3-2 lead against Orlando without KG. The following year when we had him, we closed in 6. In 2008 when everyone was healthy we closed the Lakers in 6, in 2010 Perk goes down in game 6. Are you predicting another major injury or just being a curmudgeon?

[slamtheking]

not to jinx the game tonight by getting ahead of ourselves here but if Heat lose this series, I'd expect Spoelstra gone at a minimum to be replaced by a coach with winning credentials. 

Bron, Wade and Bosh kill their financials so there's just so much they can do to bring in other players.  Unless a real talent is ok with accepting partial MLE or less, there won't be any significant additions to the roster even though they need a legit defensive center that can make a few buckets.

[Chelm]

Wade makes the most basketball sense to trade (he's great, but he's just no Lebron; plus, he brings in a more significant haul than Bosh), but he's the face of the franchise so it won't happen.

The only change that may happen is a coaching swap.

[tyrone biggums]

Riley won't bring in Jackson IMO. Why help Jackson further his argument as best coach of the modern era over Riley. Always felt there was some dislike between the two. Unless of course you think Riley is gone too?

Riley's ego might not allow it, but he might opt for that instead of being known as the guy who had 3 of the biggest stars in the NBA that couldn't win a title together.