Eliminated from Playoffs, Miami Heat Begin Search for Missing Pieces

Last year when I wrote the last article of the season, it was a win over the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks. This year, the last post of the season will be on a lost to those same Atlanta Hawks. But this time, it was on a Game Seven of the NBA Playoffs, a place no one believed Miami could be after only one year.

Miami was blown out by the Hawks in Game Seven, 91-78.

"I'm very encouraged by this season," Dwyane Wade said. "The team that won 15 games last year came back to win 43 games this year and took [No. 4 seeded] Atlanta to seven games in the playoffs. We've got something to build on.''

Heat fans should also be encouraged by this season. They lost in the first round, but as Pat Riley said last season, "We're not going into next season thinking we're going from 15 wins and go to 25 [wins]. No, next year we're shooting for the playoffs," and he delivered his promise.

He never said Miami would win the championship. All he said was Miami would make the playoffs, and they did. Now, there are many more pieces of the puzzle to be filled.

To begin, Miami needs help for Wade. No, Michael Beasley coming off the bench didn't help much in the playoffs, except for Game Six. Miami needs more firepower.

What does that mean? Easy, they need a reliable three-point specialist. They need a Jason Kapono-type of guy who can come in off the bench and drop a three from the corner with 10 seconds left. Miami was 4-for-19 from behind the arc during Game Seven.

Miami needs size in the center position. Yes, Jermaine O'Neal is great. I'm not saying he's not. But, we do need a reliable backup center who can come in and change the momentum of the game.

I hate to say it, but Miami needs an Alonzo Mourning-type of player. (Giving examples of players we had and let go makes me sad). But yes, Miami needs someone of that caliber. Jamaal Magloire is good, but not great.

What should Heat fans expect in the offseason? Should they expect a blockbuster trade? No and yes. I don't see Pat Riley pulling the trigger on many blockbuster trades.

Riley could pull the trigger on one blockbuster that would include shipping Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem to the Toronto Raptors for Chris Bosh. But that's yet to be seen. If it happens, we could see an immediate impact to the roster.

Spoelstra would have Beasley play small forward and Bosh play power forward. He would have O'Neal at center and Wade and Chalmers in their regular places. That alone would be a great trade. It would leave Miami to bring Jamario Moon, Daequan Cook, and James Jones to come off the bench. Those players are important to Miami, but the Heat need them to come off the bench, not start.

This is one of my favorite times of the basketball year. The offseason, where champions or losers are made. Miami was a loser in the 2007 offseason, a winner in the 2008 offseason, and what about 2009? Only time will tell...