Miami Heat: Their Method of Building a Contender Is as Valid as Any

There has been a lot of talk, primarily from fans of a certain team in Los Angeles (as a bonus clue, it's not the Clippers' fans), that the Miami Heat has built its team the wrong way.

They argue that assembling a lineup of free agents who wish to play together is somehow less valid than building a team through the draft or trades.

Since when?

NBA franchises have many tools at their disposal to build a quality team. Losing teams (with a little luck in the lottery) can turn their fortunes around in the Draft.

Teams with surplus assets can use the trade market to bolster their rosters.

And finally, teams that clear sufficient cap room can add talent through free agency.

Each strategy has aspects of planning, player evaluation, timing, and luck.

Fans of that L.A. team now assert that what Miami did is somehow a shortcut.

Really?

Were they paying attention when Miami suffered through years of mediocrity while clearing out the contracts of the veterans who helped the team win the 2006 Championship?

Were they napping when their one star, Dwyane Wade, carried the team on his back with minimal help while the team patiently waited for the 2010 free agent market?

Miami took a calculated risk, and won. Other teams, such as the Knicks, the Nets, and to some extent, the Bulls, tried and failed to employ the same strategy.

It was not an easy path, and now, before the payout has even begun, the anti-Heat brigade wants to devalue what has been accomplished by Pat Riley and the rest of the organization in putting together a great new lineup.

What makes it even worse, though, is that it's all a lie.

Take a look at how the Heat and the Lakers built current starting lineups.

Heat

PG Mario Chalmers—Draft (Round Two)

SG Dwyane Wade—Draft (Round One)

SF LeBron James—Free Agency (sign and trade)

PF Chris Bosh—Free Agency (sign and trade)

C Joel Anthony—Undrafted Free Agent

Lakers

PG Derek Fisher—Free Agent*

SG Kobe Bryant—Trade

SF Ron Artest—Free Agent

PF Pau Gasol—Trade

C Andrew Bynum—Draft (Round One)

*Fisher was originally drafted by the Lakers, but left the team and returned as a free agent.

Imagine that…the Lakers have just as many free agents in their starting lineup as the Heat (do the same analysis with the Celtics—the result is the same). The only difference is that the Heat’s free agents (Bosh and James) are more important players than the Lakers’ free agents (Fisher and Artest).

Also, let us not forget that the Lakers won three titles in the 2000s with the help of a high-profile free agent named Shaq-something-or-other.

If the Lakers end up defeating the Heat next June to win the NBA title, it will be because they earned the win.

If Miami wins it all, the same must be said.

There are no shortcuts, easy ways, or cowardly paths to a championship.

Miami has embarked on an entirely legitimate path, and if they win it all, they will have earned their way to a title.