The East is there for the taking in the next few years

[rondohondo]

With Miami getting older, having no shot blocking or inside presence on the offensive end. Allen doesn't have much left, Wade is not the same, and Bosh is not a # 2 option . I really don't see how they get better , Wade and Bosh aren't going to opt out because if they do , there is a good chance Miami will just say goodbye and go after other free agents in 2015.

So with that being said, if the C's can land Love and Asik/Gortat next year , they could very well challenge Miami in the playoffs. Sure they probably need another big time scorer at the wing position , but they would be the 2nd or 3rd best team in the East immediately . 

PG: Rondo vs Chalmers
SG: Bradley vs Wade
SF: Green vs Lebron
PF: Love vs Lewis?
C: Gortat vs Bosh

I think that roster could beat up Miami down low . You have some athletic defenders for Wade and James with Bradley and Green.  Maybe PP comes off  the bench as a 6th man in the Ginobali role.

The point is , I don't see Miami being contenders for more than a year or 2 .

Now is the time to strike!

thoughts?

[playdream]

After watching the final series i want to trade Rondo more for his ball hogging
the Spurs ball movement is just a beauty and with Rondo pounding the ball you are never going to
do that
that said i want to get rid of AB and Green even more..

[Hawkeye199]

I like the Idea but I do not think that Jeff green should be there. Would rather have  T.j. Warren or someone more reliable

[Clench123]

After watching the final series i want to trade Rondo more for his ball hogging
the Spurs ball movement is just a beauty and with Rondo pounding the ball you are never going to
do that
that said i want to get rid of AB and Green even more..

To be honest, I thought about this when watching the Spurs even though I'm a big Rondo fan.  I love their ball movement and it's a big reason for them winning the series. 

[Celtics18]

Having one of the best passers in the game is a positive for creating a team based on ball movement, not the other way around.

I think some of you guys have got it fairly twisted.

[Waew]

Miami is getting Melo.

[Evantime34]

Miami is getting Melo.

After watch Dwayne Wade last night he would have to be an idiot to opt out. He is a shell of his former self and will never get a big contract again. I don't see all the Heat players exercising their early termination options in order to fit Melo in.

That being said, to me LeBron looks like he is playing hurt. Think to yourself, how many times this series have you seen his trademark explosiveness. I think the Heat add a rim protector and then are right back in the finals next year. However, the big 3 is getting older, and I believe their time to be waning. With the East as wide open as ever I think with the right additions we could be right back in the mix sooner rather than later.

[MISSERY]

Miami is getting Melo.

durant and howard will go to spurs

[sed522002]

After watching the final series i want to trade Rondo more for his ball hogging
the Spurs ball movement is just a beauty and with Rondo pounding the ball you are never going to
do that
that said i want to get rid of AB and Green even more..

To be honest, I thought about this when watching the Spurs even though I'm a big Rondo fan.  I love their ball movement and it's a big reason for them winning the series.

I think in order for that to happen, the C's need more people on the team that can facilitate.  In Game 2, when Parker was trying to do it himself instead of moving the ball, Miami was able to get back in the game. You really have to trust that your team is going to make the right plays. Plus it doesn't hurt that the Spurs are a GREAT passing team (with great awareness for the open man) and almost everyone on the floor can make plays....C's don't have those type of players right now.

[BballTim]

After watching the final series i want to trade Rondo more for his ball hogging
the Spurs ball movement is just a beauty and with Rondo pounding the ball you are never going to
do that
that said i want to get rid of AB and Green even more..

  Kind of like the awesome ball movement that we had after Rondo hurt his knee that so many people here were gushing about? Because watching that team in the playoffs against the Knicks was quite an experience. Point being you probably need a roster full of players with the right skill set, with a core that's played together for quite a while, to get to that level of ball movement. Getting rid of Rondo won't do the trick.

  In terms of point guards, when Parker has the ball he holds onto it (on average) as long as Rondo, and gets the ball (and passes the ball) less often than Rondo. I don't think we've ever seen evidence that Rondo can't function in a motion offense.

[pearljammer10]

Miami is getting Melo.

After watch Dwayne Wade last night he would have to be an idiot to opt out. He is a shell of his former self and will never get a big contract again. I don't see all the Heat players exercising their early termination options in order to fit Melo in.

That being said, to me LeBron looks like he is playing hurt. Think to yourself, how many times this series have you seen his trademark explosiveness. I think the Heat add a rim protector and then are right back in the finals next year. However, the big 3 is getting older, and I believe their time to be waning. With the East as wide open as ever I think with the right additions we could be right back in the mix sooner rather than later.

I don't see Wade opting out. He'll be a Heat for life and there's no way he gives up that contract.

Bosh and James however, I could see them moving on. Bosh doesn't get enough touches as the third banana in Miami and when they lose this year I could see him getting frustrated and moving on to a team where he can be the focal point again.

I can see James saying Wade and Bosh can't cut it so I'm going to go join a super squad elsewhere.

[Celtics18]

After watching the final series i want to trade Rondo more for his ball hogging
the Spurs ball movement is just a beauty and with Rondo pounding the ball you are never going to
do that
that said i want to get rid of AB and Green even more..

To be honest, I thought about this when watching the Spurs even though I'm a big Rondo fan.  I love their ball movement and it's a big reason for them winning the series.

I think in order for that to happen, the C's need more people on the team that can facilitate.  In Game 2, when Parker was trying to do it himself instead of moving the ball, Miami was able to get back in the game. You really have to trust that your team is going to make the right plays. Plus it doesn't hurt that the Spurs are a GREAT passing team (with great awareness for the open man) and almost everyone on the floor can make plays....C's don't have those type of players right now.

Well, they have Rondo and Olynyk, but I agree, there aren't a lot of other players on the team that have the same kind of offensive versatility. 

[LooseCannon]

Miami is getting Melo.

After watch Dwayne Wade last night he would have to be an idiot to opt out. He is a shell of his former self and will never get a big contract again. I don't see all the Heat players exercising their early termination options in order to fit Melo in.

That being said, to me LeBron looks like he is playing hurt. Think to yourself, how many times this series have you seen his trademark explosiveness. I think the Heat add a rim protector and then are right back in the finals next year. However, the big 3 is getting older, and I believe their time to be waning. With the East as wide open as ever I think with the right additions we could be right back in the mix sooner rather than later.

There is some speculation that they will all opt out and James will use the threat of leaving to make sure that his buddies get paid, with him being willing to take less money.

[Celtics4ever]

Miami is getting Melo.

I doubt it , I could see it blowing up after this year's performance in the finals.   Wade is getting old fast.   James is back to Cleveland Queen James who wilts under pressure.  Bosh is inviso boy.  They might win one more game but I do not see them winning the series.   It will be nigh impossible for them to win three in a row.   It could happen but I doubt it will.

Once, they lose, I do not see these guys soul searching, I see them cutting loose on one another and blaming this and that.   We are already hearing about James ' ankle.  Spoelstra could be fired, which I think would be a good thing for the HEAT.  Pat Riley isn't going to like loosing with a loaded team.   Riles will take some action.

I could see LeBron going to NYC.   Wade will stay most likely.   Bosh if he opts out could go anywhere.   He'd be interesting on the Lakers.  Gasol could still guard centers.   I think it could blow up and another team form.

Teams with Cap Space

Utah Jazz: Up to $29.6 million ? subtract $8.6 million for Gordon Hayward?s cap hold
Philadelphia 76ers: Up to $29.0 million, but the Sixers aren?t expected to be big spenders on the free agent market.
Phoenix Suns: Up to $28.4 million, less $6.6 million for Eric Bledsoe?s cap hold.  Making P.J. Tucker a restricted free agent would drop that number by $2.9 million.
Los Angeles Lakers: Up to $28.2 million or closer to $22.3 million if they don?t stretch out Steve Nash.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Up to $23.4 million, but that would include cutting loose Anderson Varejao?s partially guaranteed deal and letting Luol Deng and Spencer Hawes leave in free agency.
Orlando Magic: Up to $22.2 million, assuming the team cuts Jameer Nelson, whose $8 million is only guaranteed for $2 million.
Detroit Pistons: Up to $22.0 million ? $8.0 million less for Greg Monroe?s cap hold.
Charlotte Bobcats: Up to $19.5 million ? a chance to improve a team that already made significant strides this past season.
Atlanta Hawks: Up to $13.9 million, but more likely to be in the $12.0 million range, while keeping non-guaranteed players Pero Antic and Mike Muscala.
Milwaukee Bucks: Up to $13.0 million.

Read more at http://www.basketballinsiders.com/full-2014-15-nba-cap-space-projections/#lEDwkCCI4DV3rdmq.99

Teams that could have CAP space.

Miami HEAT: Up to $55.1 million, if a long list of players opt out including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, etc.  It would appear far more likely that the HEAT do not go under the cap.
Dallas Mavericks: Up to $32.4 million.  The Mavericks can be one of the summer?s biggest spender but how much of that goes to free agent Dirk Nowitzki?  Do they look to retain Shawn Marion, Samuel Dalembert and Vince Carter?
New York Knicks: Up to $29.7 million, but quite unrealistic that players like Andrea Bargnani and Amar?e Stoudemire will opt out.  Regardless, a re-signed Carmelo Anthony would eat up most of the theoretical space.
San Antonio Spurs: Up to $26.9 million if Tim Duncan opts out and/or the team cuts Tony Parker.  It?s unlikely San Antonio is a cap team, although they could get to about 8.2 million while keeping Duncan and Parker.
Toronto Raptors: Up to $20.1 million if they part ways with key players that helped the franchise return to the playoffs (Kyle Lowry, Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez and John Salmons).
Washington Wizards: Up to $16.6 million but at cost of Marcin Gortat and Trevor Ariza.
Sacramento Kings: Up to $12.7 million, but only if Rudy Gay opts out of his final year at $19.3 million.  The Kings also have a $2.9 million cap hold for Isaiah Thomas, assuming they make him restricted.
Memphis Grizzlies: Up to $12.0 million, if Zach Randolph opts out of his final year at $17.0 million.
Chicago Bulls: Up to $11.3 million if the team uses their one-time amnesty on Carlos Boozer.
Boston Celtics: Up to $9.3 million if the Celtics don?t give Avery Bradley a qualify offer.

Read more at http://www.basketballinsiders.com/full-2014-15-nba-cap-space-projections/#lEDwkCCI4DV3rdmq.99

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/full-2014-15-nba-cap-space-projections/

[HomerSapien]

The only guy I see realistically leaving MIA this offseason is Bosh.  I could see him wanting to get one more big contract somewhere where he has a bigger role.  Wade will retire as the greatest player in MIA history, and I think there are tax advantages to playing in FL for LBJ.  He may opt out, but my guess is he stays in MIA.

In the end I expect the Heat will reflect on this season and decide to reload with the same core to try for a 5th consecutive NBA final.  They've gotten nothing from 2 of their 5 starting spots, and their bench doesn't have enough.  One or two upgrades, run it back and try again is what I think will ultimately happen.