Dwyane Wade, Max Free Agents, and the Offseason Await for the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat showed some fight on Tuesday, but not enough to avoid elimination and yet another loss on the Boston Celtics home court.

With the series over in five games and nothing left to do but pack their bags and head home, Miami now enters the most critical offseason in franchise history. 

Now is the time for Pat Riley to prove he can build the dynasty he's promised fans in hopes of boosting season-ticket sales.

If he can't, the Heat will submerge back into obscurity and his Hall of Fame legacy will be tarnished by the memory of a franchise player lost.

At this point in his career, if Wade doesn't get the help he deserves, he has every right to walk away and start fresh someplace else. He's given everything to this city for his entire career and at 28 years old, he doesn't have any time left to waste on a mediocre ball club. 

That's exactly what this franchise has been for the last four years, though. Year after year they have delayed the rebuilding project with an eye toward the 2010 free agent class and reeling in the catch of a lifetime in the form of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, or Amar'e Stoudemire. 

That gamble could pay off in a huge way if it works out, or it could cost the team everything if they strike out. 

For as much hope Riley has in his ability to land a max free agent to play alongside Wade, the reality is he'll be bidding against not only the other seven to ten teams with cap space this summer, but with another half dozen franchises looking to pursue sign-and-trades as well. 

If the Lakers don't win a championship, they'll go after Bosh. And Miami doesn't have the pieces to outbid them in a trade. Houston will also be in the market, as will Dallas, Cleveland, Orlando, and every other contender out there. 

Sign-and-trades are difficult to pull off and don't happen often, but in a year with as many coveted free agents as this, expect at least one star to find a new home that way. 

None of that will matter much if the Heat are able to get their man. But who exactly is their man? Obviously they'll take LeBron over anyone, but that's a pipe dream. Chances are he isn't going anywhere and even if he does, it has been a long time since either he or Wade have discussed the possibility of teaming up.

The reality is that two competitors who demand as much attention and time with the ball would rather play against each other than with each other. It's better for the league and their egos. 

Would they form the best duo in NBA history?

Probably, but for now put the notion aside and focus on more realistic possibilities. If the Heat are going to land a big-time name, it's going to be Bosh, Stoudemire, or Boozer. 

With the way Stoudemire is playing right now, don't be surprised if the Suns make a serious effort to re-sign him. If they can't pull it off, he's said in the past he would love to play in Miami, and there's no reason that should change anytime soon. 

Between he and Bosh, Stoudemire might be the better talent, but Bosh is the better fit. That's probably the way Riley sees it as well, which is why the good money is on Bosh as Miami's No. 1 target this offseason. 

To put it simply, Boozer is the break in case of the emergency plan Miami is desperately hoping they don't have to utilize. He doesn't play defense and probably wouldn't take the team over the hump anyway. 

The Heat need Bosh or Stoudemire and they know it better than anyone. But with more teams rumored to have interest in Bosh, presumably because of his age, willingness to play a complimentary role, and absence of the diva label that's clung to Stoudemire, he may prove a much more difficult catch. 

The last thing Miami needs is to get caught up bidding for his services, lose out, and see Stoudemire sign with someone else in the meantime. That's a concern more serious than most would admit. 

Riley needs to target one of these guys, not both, go after them hard, and make sure that he seals the deal. 

Dwyane Wade wants to be in Miami, but only if the conditions are right. That's entirely up to his president and general manager. 

So as we begin the journey into this much-anticipated, angst-filled free agency, keep in mind that there is very little room for error. The Heat need to pick out their target, get them, and re-sign Wade. Everything else besides that will eventually fall into place; it isn't much of a concern. 

But as simple as the plan sounds, the reality couldn't be more complicated. 

It's going to be a bumpy ride in South Florida over the next couple months. Heat fans better hope their faith in Pat Riley is well placed. 

He'll either make or break the franchise this summer.