Carlos Boozer is Needed By the Miami Heat

Original article at OnlineSportsFanatic.com.

The year 2010 is looming.  It will be an important offseason for the NBA, and that’s an understatement.  There are many notable players that will be on the market, which is also an understatement.

Arguably the two biggest names out there are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.  There have been many different “sources” that have claimed LeBron said this or LeBron said that, so I have decided to block out all the whispers involving “The King”.

In my opinion the top three “superstars” of the NBA go LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade, although not necessarily in that order.  So now that Kobe has signed an extension and LeBron rumors are being blocked out, that leaves us with Dwyane Wade.

Wade has said if the Heat are championship contenders he wants to stay, which means one thing.  The Miami Heat have to make a move during this offseason.  They need to show Wade that he is the centerpiece of their franchise, which he absolutely is, and that they are willing to do nearly anything to retain him. 

No one brings more intensity to the court than D-Wade.

The Jazz matched Portland’s offer sheet for forward Paul Millsap, meaning it is almost inevitable Carlos Boozer will be dealt sooner rather than later.  The Heat and Jazz have already begun talks of a possible deal, as they should. 

Obviously acquiring Boozer now would not be the equivalent of acquiring Shaq back in 2006 when they won the NBA Finals, but will they be championship contenders? 

Yes.

Forward Udonis Haslem would most likely be involved in a trade for Boozer, but they would still have an intriguing starting lineup.  Rookie second-round draft pick “Super” Mario Chalmers was a pleasant surprise for the Heat at point guard.  He would be followed by Wade at shooting guard, and possibly last year’s draft’s No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley at small forward.  Slide Boozer in at power forward and Jermaine O’Neal at center, and you have a championship caliber team.

Sure there are some things that could go awry, but the Heat would be improved and ready to compete with the East’s elite. More importantly they will be keeping Dwyane Wade happy in advance. 

If I’m Pat Riley, I don’t give D-Wade any extra time to change his mind.