Heat Dreams
By Josh Baumgard, with the assistance of NBA salary cap expert Preston Knowles
This is what my ideal 2010 Miami Heat squad would look like. Every move made fits under the salary cap guidelines and every move is feasible. Let’s play “build a team”.
1. You need two elite players or three great ones to win it all. Look at this year’s NBA Finals and go back and take a look at every champion of the last ten years.
- Signing Dwyane Wade remains the top priority. The star that would fit best with him is a big man that can defend and spread the floor with his jumper. Although Amare Stoudemire is the best offensive power forward in the game, Chris Bosh is the more complete player. He is a better rebounder and defender and has a great mid range jumper. I Sign Wade and Bosh to max deals (starting at around $16.5 million)
2. Now that you have your elite tandem there are still two critical needs; point guard and center.
- Let’s knock out both with one big swing, a big time trade. Unload the problematic yet still young Michael Beasley (the human headache) and his $5 million 2010 salary along with Mario Chalmers ($0.84 million), Daquan Cook ($2.17 million) and James Jones ($4.6 million, with $1.9 million buyout) and the Heat’s 1st rounder the next two years to the New Orleans Hornets for Darren Collison ($1.4 million) and Emeka Okafor ($11.5 million).
- Why Miami would do it...The Heat get their star point guard in the making in Collison, who played superb in Chris Pauls’s absence, and an above average but overpaid center in Okafor.
- Why New Orleans would do it…The Hornets unload a bad contract in Okafor in their effort to rebuild outside of Paul and acquire two big assets (two 1st rounders) and some good contracts. It’s a waste for the Hornets to hold onto two starting caliber point guards because they are too small to play together. They would find someone to take Stojakovic’s expiring deal off their hands during the year and can have a solid nucleus of Paul, Beasley, West and future cap room.
3. With four players under contract for roughly $46 million and the salary cap at $58 million. We’re going to have fun and assume that the predicted cap of $56 million from months ago actually goes up. Its fun playing GM and commissioner at the same time! The move now is to go after a starting small forward.
- In a perfect world we are able sign Joe Johnson to a reasonable 5-year deal worth $52 million deal with a starting salary for 2010 at $9 million per year. Wade then throws in one of his yachts and a choice of any three girls on his booty call list to make up for the pay cut.
- Note: If Johnson can get max anywhere he is likely going to take it, because who in their right mind would take $30 million less than they could potentially make. If that happens, it’s off to plan B, which will be discussed soon. This is the summer we will see if guys will really “take pay cuts” to win, which is what many have said.
Ray would be a killer off Miami's bench
4. The Heat could still use a sharp shooter off the bench and Ray Allen falls into their lap for the veteran minimum (About $1.4 million). Who wouldn’t want to finish their career as a sixth man on the best team since the ‘96 Bulls who went 72-10, the best record in NBA history.
5. Raja Bell is signed for the veteran minimum. He gives the team a veteran perimeter defender and a guy that can hit threes. Note: He has expressed strong interest in Miami, Click Here.
6. Carlos Arroyo is brought back for the veteran minimum to add a smart veteran point guard who would fit in perfectly as a backup.
7. Ben Wallace is brought in for the minimum for post defense.
8. Re-sign Jamaal Magloire for the minimum to fill his role of MVH, Most Valuable Hacker.
8. The Heat still have the #42 and #48 picks to fill out the roster along with a couple of overseas players in Robert Dozier and Patrick Beverley (Both from the Heat’s 2009 draft).
7. Your 2010 Miami Heat dream roster:
Starters
G – Darren Collison ($1.4 million)
G – Dwyane Wade ($16.5 million)
F – Joe Johnson ($9 million)
F – Chris Bosh ($16.5 million)
C – Emeka Okafor ($11.5 million)
Bench – Ray Allen ($1.4 million), Joel Anthony (800 k, but he has an opt out clause this summer), Carlos Arroyo ($1.4 million), Raja Bell ($1.4 million), Ben Wallace ($1.4 million), Jamaal Magloire (1.4 million), Robert Dozier (roughly 500 k), Patrick Beverley (roughly 500 k).
Salary – roughly $64 million - Check out NBA Salary Cap FAQ for more info as it’s terribly confusing, click here.
Analysis
This team has star power (Bosh,Wade, Johnson), veteran leadership, shooting, strong defenders, and depth. Although owner Mickey Arison would have to pay a slight luxury tax, I doubt he minds if it means bringing more championships to Miami.
Unfortunately in this scenario it means parting with Udonis Haslem, one of my all time favorite players. If they do lock down Johnson, Bosh, and Wade there is a slim chance they can get Haslem to sign for what would probably have to be the minimum. Sometimes you have to let a good thing go to achieve greatness.
Although there are a ton of different variables in play here making it difficult for all of these moves to happen, some of the above have a very good chance of coming to life.
Before any deals are made Pat Riley is going to have to make a big decision about Michael Beasley. Does he ride him and his reasonable $5 million salary out in hopes this is the year he breaks through, or does he ship the headache out?
It’s ton of fun playing NBA GM with no repercussions. If only it were this easy for Pat.
