Biggest Red Flags That Could Disrupt Budding Miami Heat Dynasty

Winning two NBA championships in succession qualifies as an historic run.

Winning three in as many seasons, however, is a dynasty.

If the Miami Heat are to achieve that next level of NBA greatness, they will need to avoid the red flags in 2013-14 that could disrupt their budding dynasty.

Those issues include the ability to re-tool their roster within salary cap restraints along with improving the collective effort on the glass. 

The Heat must also hope for a rejuvenated Dwyane Wade next season, a more productive Chris Bosh and the mental fortitude to avoid the impending distractions next summer will bring.

No. 5: Re-Tooling Roster Within Salary Cap Restraints

The Miami Heat, according to Hoopsworld.com, currently owe $85.7 million in guaranteed salaries next season. The salary cap in 2013-14 has been projected at $58.5 million according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

If this holds true—which we'll know after the NBA completes its season audit later this month—the luxury tax threshold, based on a percentage of the cap, is expected to sit around $71 million. 

Assuming those projections, the Heat are nearly $15 million over the luxury tax at the moment. They also still need pieces to upgrade their bench without having much room to maneuver.

One salary-trimming possibility is to use the amnesty clause on the $6.2 million owed to Mike Miller. But even if he is amnestied, that will only go so far. The Heat would also lose depth off their bench along with Miller's ability to hit big shots.

Shane Battier, meanwhile, turns 35 in September, and Chris Andersen is still a free agent. 

All of which simply means that Pat Riley and company will need to hit on minimally-priced players who can come in and make similar impacts to the ones Battier and Andersen did down the stretch.

If the Heat are not able to accomplish this, however, it could be cause for concern come playoff time.

No. 4: Improving the Collective Effort on the Glass

The Miami Heat went on to win an NBA championship in 2013 while averaging a league-worst 38.6 rebounds per game during the regular season. 

In the playoffs, the Heat's rebounding average dipped to 38.1.

Despite this, the Heat bucked traditional basketball logic by dominating even while being out-rebounded on a nightly basis. Next season, however, this has to be an area of improvement collectively for Miami. 

While I'm not suggesting the Heat will need to lead the league in rebounding, or even finish in the top 15, something like 24th or 25th overall would be an encouraging sign.  

In order to do so, finding a way to bring back Chris Andersen for a full season would be a good place to start. But beyond that, the rest of the roster will all need to collect a rebound or two more than they're used to grabbing on a nightly basis. 

This is especially true for center Chris Bosh, who averaged a career-low 6.8 rebounds per game in 2012-13, a number that is simply unacceptable for a player of his size and athletic ability. 

No. 3: Health of Dwyane Wade's Knees

Dwyane Wade poured champagne on his injured knees following the Miami Heat's Game 7 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

He was celebrating the fact that they carried him as far as they did down the stretch, despite the pain that limited him at times during the postseason. 

Hopefully for Wade and the Heat, a summer of rest is all he'll need heading into 2013-14. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, that much is at least the plan for the Heat superstar.

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"There will be a few treatments, but it won’t be surgery,” Wade said. “A lot of rest is going to be key for them. I’m going to treat my knees very well this summer."

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If Wade's knees are not able to hold for the duration of the season, however, the Heat's plans for a third straight championship could be in jeopardy.

Regardless of how well LeBron James, Chris Bosh or anyone else is able to perform around him, the Heat need the impact a healthy Wade is capable of making. 

No. 2: Chris Bosh's Declining Production

Besides averaging a career-low 6.8 rebounds in 2012-13, Chris Bosh also scored 16.6 points per night during the regular season.

Despite shooting 53.5 percent from the floor, Bosh asserted himself only enough to post the second-lowest scoring average of his career. His rookie average of 11.5 points in 2003-04 is the only other time he scored less.

Since averaging 24.0 points and 10.8 rebounds as a member of the Toronto Raptors in 2009-10, Bosh's production has declined in each category on an annual basis. 

While his scoring numbers were expected to dip as he sacrifices shots alongside Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, the rebounding decline remains puzzling. 

Regardless, if Bosh's production does not increase even slightly next season as compared to his most recent effort, the Heat could find themselves in a vulnerable position.

No. 1: Impending Distractions of the Summer of 2014

LeBron James can exercise an early termination option and become a free agent at the end of the 2013-14 season.

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, James says he's not thinking about that option while also offering the following:

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"I've been in this position before," James said. "I've heard it before. It can't get any worse than my season before I became a free agent in 2010."

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Even if that speculation isn't as loud as it was during James' final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, it can still become a significant distraction for the Miami Heat. 

From the possibility of returning to Cleveland to filling a starring role for the Los Angeles Lakers and everything else in between, the speculation surrounding James' next decision will be loud and repetitive. 

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, meanwhile, will be faced with the same early-termination option as James which will only increase the rampant questions in Miami.

It will be a difficult challenge for the Heat and one that will require the mental focus of a champion to overcome.