It's going to be a busy off-season for the Miami Heat, particularly this week with the upcoming draft.
Fans are beginning to ask questions. Are the Miami Heat going to build around Dwyane Wade or not? Which players are compatible with Wade? Can the Heat turn a league-low 15-67 record into a playoff run next season? Is a championship completely out of the question?
Yes. Read more. Yes. Yes. Here's why:
Are the Miami Heat going to build around Dwyane Wade or not?
Yes. Well, we have seen that Wade cannot carry the team on his shoulders. However, we have also learned that with the right pieces, Dwyane Wade can bring an NBA championship to your doorstep.
It’s been two years since the 2006 Finals MVP brought Miami a championship. Now the Heat have an off-season to look back at their embarrassing 2007-08 season. The Heat need to make a move now, or in two years, Wade could be gone for good—leaving the Heat right where they started but without his reassuring presence.
“The trade rumors circulating are simply rumors,” Wade said in a statement released by his publicist. “My focus this summer has been to rehab and train for the Olympics and the upcoming season,” said Wade. “Coach Riley and I spoke earlier this week to address the media reports and we are on the same page—rebuilding this team to once again become contenders.”
Which players are compatible with Dwyane Wade?
Starting this off-season, there are many free agents available for the Heat to choose from. They even have the No. 2 pick in the draft to help them rebuild.
There are many players in the NBA that would fit well with Wade. That’s not the problem. The problem is how to bring them into Miami.
The big-name free agent pool consists of Baron Davis, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Ron Artest, Gilbert Arenas, and Antawn Jamison. To bring in any one of these players would be an excellent choice. The best choices for the Heat are Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, or Gilbert Arenas.
Pat Riley doesn’t want attitude, so Ron Artest is out of the picture. Baron Davis, along with Antawn Jamison, will ask too much money for too little performance. So that leaves Maggette, Brand, or Arenas.
Because of Wade, the Heat will look for a PF/C. Brand fills this position perfectly. A healthy Brand brings roughly 20 PPG, 10 RPG, and 2 BPG to the table.
While taking some of the load off of Dwyane Wade, Brand also brings defense, something the Heat were lacking last season. The only problem with Brand is his health. Can he stay healthy? If he can, he could be a major contributor to the Heat next season.
Maggette would also be a good fit with Wade. He is a versatile SF that puts up 22 PPG and 5 RPG, while shooting 38.4 percent from three-point range and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Gilbert Arenas would be a popular choice to play in Miami. A guard combo of Arenas and Wade would be fatal for opposing teams—but would there be enough shots to go around?
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