Move over Demarcus Cousins, Hasan Whiteside need a seat in the hate wagon...

[D.o.s.]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

The management probably wants them to tank but Wade is trying his best to carry them. Probably trying to show LBJ that he can still play and carry a team. Hopefully the ego will cause them to just miss out and they lose their pick.

[kozlodoev]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

There are multiple ways to protect a pick. It can be conveyed in a latter year, it can be replaced with other picks, or the obligation may simply be extinguished if the pick doesn't qualify.

[D.o.s.]

That's entirely true and entirely irrelevant.

[tazzmaniac]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

There are multiple ways to protect a pick. It can be conveyed in a latter year, it can be replaced with other picks, or the obligation may simply be extinguished if the pick doesn't qualify.

The Miami pick that Philly has is top 10 protected in 2015 and 2016 and unprotected in 2017.  There is no guarantee that they'll be better in 2016.  Wade, Deng and Dragic all have player options so the Heat are going to have to go well over the luxury tax line to keep them all. 

[Finkelskyhook]

Was really rich to see the ultimate active cheap-shot artist...Duhwane Wade...Talking down publicly about Whiteside.

[Eddie20]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

[celticsclay]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

[Eddie20]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

No, I'm very serious. The Heat, regardless of whether Bosh is there or not, have too much talent to fall that far. More than likely, they make the playoffs finishing in the 7th or 8th seed and it's the 15th or 16th pick that's conveyed to Philly.

Riley isn't going to tank. I think that whole premise that he would is pretty absurd.

[celticsclay]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

No, I'm very serious. The Heat, regardless of whether Bosh is there or not, have too much talent to fall that far. More than likely, they make the playoffs finishing in the 7th or 8th seed and it's the 15th or 16th pick that's conveyed to Philly.

Riley isn't going to tank. I think that whole premise that he would is pretty absurd.

we can call it tanking or just call it not having enough horses... the fact is they are 1 game out of the 10th spot and will be underdogs in the next 4 games. Wade, Dragic, Deng and Chalmers have all been in and out of the lineup and Whiteside has been getting ejected and suspended left and right. Are you thinking this is like November and they still have bosh?

[Eddie20]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

No, I'm very serious. The Heat, regardless of whether Bosh is there or not, have too much talent to fall that far. More than likely, they make the playoffs finishing in the 7th or 8th seed and it's the 15th or 16th pick that's conveyed to Philly.

Riley isn't going to tank. I think that whole premise that he would is pretty absurd.

we can call it tanking or just call it not having enough horses... the fact is they are 1 game out of the 10th spot and will be underdogs in the next 4 games. Wade, Dragic, Deng and Chalmers have all been in and out of the lineup and Whiteside has been getting ejected and suspended left and right. Are you thinking this is like November and they still have bosh?

No, read my second sentence. They still have Wade, Dragic, Deng, and Whiteside. I'll take their team over Charlotte or Indiana and it's not really that close.

[celticsclay]

If it is not even close why are they behind those teams 60 games into the season?

[D.o.s.]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

No, I'm very serious. The Heat, regardless of whether Bosh is there or not, have too much talent to fall that far. More than likely, they make the playoffs finishing in the 7th or 8th seed and it's the 15th or 16th pick that's conveyed to Philly.

Riley isn't going to tank. I think that whole premise that he would is pretty absurd.

This is the same guy who completely gutted his team in order to have the opportunity to sign two other max players... a move that wasn't nearly as much of a done deal as you might want to believe.

[Eddie20]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

No, I'm very serious. The Heat, regardless of whether Bosh is there or not, have too much talent to fall that far. More than likely, they make the playoffs finishing in the 7th or 8th seed and it's the 15th or 16th pick that's conveyed to Philly.

Riley isn't going to tank. I think that whole premise that he would is pretty absurd.

This is the same guy who completely gutted his team in order to have the opportunity to sign two other max players... a move that wasn't nearly as much of a done deal as you might want to believe.

Gutted his entire team? Quick, name the 3 best players of all those "casualties"? Regardless, they were a 5th seed the year before the James and Bosh signings. Not exactly tanking.

[guava_wrench]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

No, I'm very serious. The Heat, regardless of whether Bosh is there or not, have too much talent to fall that far. More than likely, they make the playoffs finishing in the 7th or 8th seed and it's the 15th or 16th pick that's conveyed to Philly.

Riley isn't going to tank. I think that whole premise that he would is pretty absurd.

This is the same guy who completely gutted his team in order to have the opportunity to sign two other max players... a move that wasn't nearly as much of a done deal as you might want to believe.

While you make a good point, there are 2 things I would consider:

1 - Riley doesn't care about rookies or drafting
2 - The Heat need to make Dragic want to stay

Being in the playoffs might contribute a lot to number 2.