Breaking Down Offseason Priorities for Miami Heat

MIAMI — The 2015-16 Miami Heat didn't have the season they wanted or the one they expected.

But given the body blows they were dealt along the way—namely, the loss of both Chris Bosh (at the All-Star break) and Hassan Whiteside (early in the second round)—they're proud of the year they delivered.

Forty-eight wins and a pair of seven-game playoff battles highlighted the franchise's fight.

"With the team we had when the season ended and the situation we were in with Game 7 on the road, we maximized the season," Dwyane Wade said at the team's exit interviews Tuesday. "We all had visions of it being better, but we all had visions of our whole team playing at the same time and giving us that opportunity."

As their NBA calendar shifts to the offseason, it's too early to tell if that opportunity will surface next year. The Heat haven't publicly revealed anything about Bosh's health going forward, after the All-Star was shut down by blood clots in each of the past two seasons. And the roster is far from settled with several significant pieces heading into free agency.

Whether Miami chases a big free-agent fish or focuses on retaining its current cast, it promises to be a busy summer for Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and Co.

5. Use Player Development to Offset Lack of Picks

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While it typically takes a few years for draft grades to fully formalize, Miami's 2015 rookie crop already looks like an A-plus. The Heat entered last summer's talent grab with the No. 10 and No. 40 picks. The players selected—Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, respectively—promptly delivered the freshman class' sixth- and seventh-most win shares.

Winslow found his footing as a do-it-all defender and shined offensively as a rebounder, fast-break finisher and playmaking point forward. Richardson, originally seen as a developmental project, was pressed into duty by injuries and instantly clicked. He had a torrid shooting run after the All-Star break (53.3 percent from deep) and used his athleticism to pester opposing ball-handlers and punish would-be rim protectors.

But the Heat need these youngsters to keep progressing, because, as of now, they won't have any part of the upcoming draft. Their first-round pick, originally part of the 2010 LeBron James sign-and-trade, belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers. Miami's second-round selection goes to the Boston Celtics as part of the 2014 three-team trade that shipped out Joel Anthony.

Spoelstra unsurprisingly stressed the importance of player development on Tuesday and stated both rookies would be involved in Miami's Summer League, though unlikely to play every game. The goal, the head coach said, is to help the players improve in two or three specific areas.

While he declined to identify those areas, the rookies filled in the blanks. Richardson, more of a natural wing than a point, said ball-handling and playmaking top his list. Winslow, who shot just 27.6 percent from three, foreshadowed some lengthy shooting sessions ahead.

"The biggest thing is just putting the work in, getting all the repetitions so it becomes muscle memory," Winslow said. "And then, just going out there and just shooting it—not thinking about it too much. A lot of it is mental. ... That's one of the biggest things is just getting over that mental hump."

4. Construct Supporting Cast Through Free Agency

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The Heat started seven different players in the postseason. Only two are under contract for 2016-17: Winslow and Goran Dragic. That highlights how much work Miami must do at the top of its roster (which we'll get to in a minute). But it also underscores how many moving pieces there could be.

Versatile forward Luol Deng, who paced the Heat in total minutes during the regular season and playoffs, found new life in the pace-and-space attack they unleashed after the All-Star break. Recast as a small-ball power forward, the 31-year-old used his speed and three-point shooting to exploit bigger, slower defenders. And his own defensive assignments ranged from perimeter scorers to low-post players.

Deng earned $10.1 million this season, and that number could rise on the open market based on his strong finish. He's still ultimately a complementary piece, so any suitor must set its offer accordingly. But he's an experienced, reliable vet who said he "would love" to stay in South Beach.

Scoring swingman Joe Johnson is also slated for unrestricted free agency, along with Udonis Haslem, Gerald Green and Amar'e Stoudemire. Sophomore combo guard Tyler Johnson will be a restricted free agent.

There are a slew of replaceable parts in that group, as neither Green nor Stoudemire had the impact or roles some had imagined. Haslem's value likely rests in toughness, leadership and sentimentality, so his fate could depend on how much the Heat have left to spend.

Tyler Johnson is worth keeping around, if for no other reason than his best basketball should be in front of him. Deng and Joe Johnson make sense in a win-now veteran locker room, but only if the price is right. If there's money for external shopping, Miami should target bargain shooters: E'Twaun Moore, Mirza Teletovic, Anthony Morrow, Jared Dudley, etc.

3. Determine Offensive System

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Nothing helped Miami hold its injury-riddled season together more than the move to an uptempo attack.

Points were at a premium without Bosh—ultimately the Heat's leading scorer at 19.1 per game—so Spoelstra worked to maximize the impact of guys like Dragic and Deng. The switch obviously helped the Heat's offensive volume, but their efficiency soared right along with it.

Surely, the Heat will carry this same approach into next season, right?

"It's too early to tell," Spoelstra said.

And the head coach is right. When a team has Deng at the 4 and needs Dragic's scoring, it makes sense to run as fast as humanly possible. But who knows how this rotation will look in seven months? Miami can't build the best style for its players when it's unclear whom those players will be.

"We need to try to create a system that fits for everybody," Dragic said.

This roster won't begin to take shape before July. It could be even longer before Miami gets a grasp on Bosh's playing future. Spoelstra said there's "nothing new" as far as updates on the big man, and the lack of information has pulled this story in opposite directions.

Sources told ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst the Heat fear Bosh's condition "will prevent him from ever being cleared," while Windhorst's coworker, Dan Le Batard, heard from a team source that Bosh "should be able to play next season," via Slice Miami's Josh Baumgard.

Bosh's health trumps all basketball concerns, but the situation makes it tough for Miami to form its philosophy. Plug Wade, Bosh and Hassan Whiteside into the same starting lineup, and that would seemingly lead to a slow, methodical style. But if the Heat move forward without one or possibly any of those three, it could be off to the races again next season.

2. Find a Middle Ground with Wade

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Wade has become synonymous with the Heat over his 13-year career. Helping orchestrate three championships, five NBA Finals runs and setting a horde of franchise records has that effect.

But anyone who thinks that will make his free agency a formality needs only to look back at last summer to realize that's far from the truth. It took weeks for the two sides to finally settle on a one-year, $20 million pact, proving the unpredictability of these business decisions.

"I don't pay myself, so I can't anticipate anything being smooth," Wade said. "I hope it is. I hope everything for myself is quiet, and everything works out the way that I want it to, whatever that it is. But I have no control over that."

Wade's pay rate will be tricky to calculate, even if his history with the organization is set aside. He's put a lot of mileage on his 34-year-old body, had some frightening knee problems in the past and isn't far removed from needing a maintenance program to get through the 82-game grind.

But he made more appearances this season (74) than he had since 2010-11. He finished second on the team in points (19.0) and assists (4.6), and led them in steals (1.1). Come playoff time, he shifted seamlessly back into an alpha role, averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

He even cleared the 30-point mark in consecutive games, including this 30-point outburst in a critical Game 4 win.

The Heat could have close to $40 million in cap space, and Wade's play warrants a significant portion of that. But with roster holes to fill, would he consider making another financial sacrifice for the betterment of the organization? If Miami pushes him too hard in that direction, might he actually think about going elsewhere?

It's tough to envision a divorce at this point. There should be a middle ground where Wade is reasonably compensated without tying up too much of the available funds. But it would be foolish to pencil in this signing before it's actually agreed upon.

1. Paying Whiteside or Searching for Stars?

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Whether it's Riley's history or Miami's natural allure, there's something that makes the Heat seem like viable suitors for any superstar. And with a player like Kevin Durant both on the market and reportedly in their sights, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, it's natural if every Heat fan's offseason wish list starts with signing the four-time scoring champ.

But Miami could already have a budding star on its hand who needs to be paid: 26-year-old Hassan Whiteside. He finished the season first in blocks (3.7) and third in rebounds (11.8). And his post-All-Star surge (17.5 points and 13.3 boards) suggested this is only the beginning.

"To me, he's on the verge of being the No. 1 big man in the league," Haslem said.

At his best, Whiteside is an athletic, two-way anchor. He still needs heavy seasoning—his focus and energy waver more than they should—but the fact he's this productive as a work-in-progress speaks volumes about his potential. His first-ever playoff performance saw him tally 21 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in less than 27 minutes of action.

"I love playing with him," Dragic said of Whiteside. "Of course we want him back. ... [I'll] text him, call him 24/7, butter him [up] all the time. I need to make my Snapchat."

There's clearly a desire from Whiteside's teammates to have him back. And it's hard to imagine his season left many boxes unchecked on what the Heat wanted to see.

But he's not a Durant-level superstar, and no one would blame Miami for exploring that option first. It just needs to be careful with that pursuit, since there's almost no feasible way to have both.

The longer Durant is the priority, the more time Whiteside (who is an unrestricted free agent) has to be wooed by other suitors—and there will surely be many, all flush with cash. If Durant is no more than a pipe dream, Miami can't let that be the reason Whiteside walks. A summer without Durant or Whiteside could be catastrophic.

All quotes obtained firsthand, unless otherwise noted. Statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com. Contract information obtained via Basketball Insiders.

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