So what pieces/players are the Miami Heat dumping/chasing for next year?

[BCelts]

That I would ... although I would immediately try to move Chris Bosh for better supporting pieces. I don't like how he fits with a Dwight Howard type of player (low post scorer / limited offensive range).

I think like minds can disagree here.  I see Bosh as a high post and Howard as a low post.  My opinion is that they would work well together so long as someone could teach Howard how to make an entry pass.

[Who]

That I would ... although I would immediately try to move Chris Bosh for better supporting pieces. I don't like how he fits with a Dwight Howard type of player (low post scorer / limited offensive range).

I think like minds can disagree here.  I see Bosh as a high post and Howard as a low post.  My opinion is that they would work well together so long as someone could teach Howard how to make an entry pass.

I like Bosh alongside a big man like Carlos Boozer who can work inside and outside.

I don't like him alongside a big who is strictly a post player and incapable of stepping away from the painted area because it keeps Bosh too far from the rim + limits spacing on his face up game.

Bosh is a face up big who's main assets scoring wise are (1) ability to beat his man with an explosive first step and drive to the rim for an interior shot (2) ability to beat his man with the first step, draw the foul and make some free throws (3) hit the face up jumper.

When you put a guy like Dwight Howard in the middle of the paint and all the defensive attention that comes along with him ... you effectively neutralize parts (1) and (2) of Bosh's main scoring attributes and turn into a stand still shooter.

Miami can get that same stand still shooting from Udonis Haslem or some other role player big man. They don't need to pay $14 million for it. Especially when their other areas of their roster that they could upgrade by trading Chris Bosh.

Anyway, that is why I don't like a player with Bosh's skill-set alongside a player with Dwight Howard's skill-set. I think they are a very poor fit offensively.

[nickagneta]

Can't take full credit for this but a trade I would do is one Jason Whitlock suggested over at FaxSports: Lebron James to Orlando for Dwight Howard.

Then you get a coach in there that can set up a system to utilize the defensive AND offensive strengths a Wade/Bosh/Howard trio brings and now you can have your one alpha male with the ball in his hands all the time with a stretch 4 and a beast down low.

No matter how much sense it might make for both teams, there's no way for that deal to happen.

First, it would require Riley to publicly admit that he was wrong.
Second, doing the trade would publicly humiliate LeBron worse than any all-time great player has ever been humiliated by a GM.
Third, Howard would have to agree to take less money than he could otherwise get.

Mike

First, I agree Riley would never admit he was wrong publicly but he would state chemistry issues and say things like he was doing what was necessary to make the team better.

Second, I don't think Riley would give a rat's ass about humiliating a major star if it meant making his team better and getting a championship. Especially a superstar that's becoming as unlikeable and arrogant and universally assailed for choking in the big time as LeBron.

Third, this isn't true. Both teams are over the cap and could be trade for each other and then Howard could sign a three year extension at 10.5% pay raises maxing out what he could get.

[BCelts]

That I would ... although I would immediately try to move Chris Bosh for better supporting pieces. I don't like how he fits with a Dwight Howard type of player (low post scorer / limited offensive range).

I think like minds can disagree here.  I see Bosh as a high post and Howard as a low post.  My opinion is that they would work well together so long as someone could teach Howard how to make an entry pass.

I like Bosh alongside a big man like Carlos Boozer who can work inside and outside.

I don't like him alongside a big who is strictly a post player and incapable of stepping away from the painted area because it keeps Bosh too far from the rim + limits spacing on his face up game.

Bosh is a face up big who's main assets scoring wise are (1) ability to beat his man with an explosive first step and drive to the rim for an interior shot (2) ability to beat his man with the first step, draw the foul and make some free throws (3) hit the face up jumper.

When you put a guy like Dwight Howard in the middle of the paint and all the defensive attention that comes along with him ... you effectively neutralize parts (1) and (2) of Bosh's main scoring attributes and turn into a stand still shooter.

Miami can get that same stand still shooting from Udonis Haslem or some other role player big man. They don't need to pay $14 million for it. Especially when their other areas of their roster that they could upgrade by trading Chris Bosh.

Anyway, that is why I don't like a player with Bosh's skill-set alongside a player with Dwight Howard's skill-set. I think they are a very poor fit offensively.

I agree with your analysis of Bosh.  Disagree that a proper coach could not use these guys together in an Alonzo Mouring/ PJ Brown type fashion.  For example, I think Bosh could catch up high in "Nowitski land", face-up, and benefit from a pick out of the post from Howard to take advantage of (1) and (2).  I also think that iso plays for Bosh get better if Howard is near the other block.  If Howard's man comes over to help, no wing can draft down and prevent the high pass to Howard.  Not sure if this will read right, so again: Howard works with Bosh offensivly two ways.  First, setting a pick from the low post with a roll to the rim.  Second, on the other block to prevent a double team when Bosh has a foul-line iso play and beats his defender with a first step.

Again, I appreciate your anaysis and think highly of it, but see a different angle.

[Who]

That I would ... although I would immediately try to move Chris Bosh for better supporting pieces. I don't like how he fits with a Dwight Howard type of player (low post scorer / limited offensive range).

I think like minds can disagree here.  I see Bosh as a high post and Howard as a low post.  My opinion is that they would work well together so long as someone could teach Howard how to make an entry pass.

I like Bosh alongside a big man like Carlos Boozer who can work inside and outside.

I don't like him alongside a big who is strictly a post player and incapable of stepping away from the painted area because it keeps Bosh too far from the rim + limits spacing on his face up game.

Bosh is a face up big who's main assets scoring wise are (1) ability to beat his man with an explosive first step and drive to the rim for an interior shot (2) ability to beat his man with the first step, draw the foul and make some free throws (3) hit the face up jumper.

When you put a guy like Dwight Howard in the middle of the paint and all the defensive attention that comes along with him ... you effectively neutralize parts (1) and (2) of Bosh's main scoring attributes and turn into a stand still shooter.

Miami can get that same stand still shooting from Udonis Haslem or some other role player big man. They don't need to pay $14 million for it. Especially when their other areas of their roster that they could upgrade by trading Chris Bosh.

Anyway, that is why I don't like a player with Bosh's skill-set alongside a player with Dwight Howard's skill-set. I think they are a very poor fit offensively.

I agree with your analysis of Bosh.  Disagree that a proper coach could not use these guys together in an Alonzo Mouring/ PJ Brown type fashion.  For example, I think Bosh could catch up high in "Nowitski land", face-up, and benefit from a pick out of the post from Howard to take advantage of (1) and (2).  I also think that iso plays for Bosh get better if Howard is near the other block.  If Howard's man comes over to help, no wing can draft down and prevent the high pass to Howard.  Not sure if this will read right, so again: Howard works with Bosh offensivly two ways.  First, setting a pick from the low post with a roll to the rim.  Second, on the other block to prevent a double team when Bosh has a foul-line iso play and beats his defender with a first step.

Again, I appreciate your anaysis and think highly of it, but see a different angle.

Likewise

[MBunge]

Second, I don't think Riley would give a rat's ass about humiliating a major star if it meant making his team better and getting a championship. Especially a superstar that's becoming as unlikeable and arrogant and universally assailed for choking in the big time as LeBron.

Third, this isn't true. Both teams are over the cap and could be trade for each other and then Howard could sign a three year extension at 10.5% pay raises maxing out what he could get.

1.  Humiliating LeBron in that way is definintely something that would both seriously damage Riley's reputation and cripple the Heat's ability to attract free agents as long as Riley is there.  Wait and see the sort of whining that will ensue if Miller and his below-market-value contract is shipped out and then multiply that by about a billion.

2.  I would guess that teams over the cap will still have to match salaries under whatever the new labor deal is.  That means Howard would have to sign a deal equal to LeBron's, which means giving up millions that he could either get just signing with Orlando or in a sign-n-trade with another team.  If LeBron is signed to a lower-than-max salary, he can't be traded for a max salary if Miami is over the cap.

Mike