NBA Finals 2011: 8 Moves the Miami Heat Need to Make This Summer
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the entire Miami Heat team face a long summer after a disappointing end to their campaign.
For this team to compete for a championship, they're definitely going to have to make some alterations to the current roster.
While it certainly doesn't make any sense for the club to entertain the thought of dealing either LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, the lack of payroll flexibility makes any potential deal challenging.
Here are eight potential ways to improve the Heat in an effort to bring the biggest party of them all to South Beach.
8. Draft Jeremy Tyler
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Currently, the Miami Heat hold just one draft selection (No. 31) in the 2011 NBA draft, so they would be very wise to make it count in a big way.
Despite the fact that they've got reserve big men Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem signed for the long-term, drafting Tyler and his sky-high ceiling makes all of the sense in the world for the team moving forward.
He's going to need some work at the next level, but the Heat won't be in a rush to deplore him into the rotation and he could finally give the club a reasonable answer in the middle once he begins to hone his skills.
The sky is really the limit for Tyler, and his stock seems to be rising by the day.
7. Sign T.J. Ford
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Mario Chalmers is a restricted free agent, and it's crucial that the Heat don't overpay to retain his services.
Clearly still an area where the team desperately needs an upgrade, T.J. Ford has been a forgotten man for the Pacers, but that doesn't mean that he has nothing left in the tank.
Just 28 years old and a former lottery pick out of Texas, Ford is the type of point guard the Heat needs, as he could capably facilitate the offense without looking for his shot.
He'd certainly come cheap after barely seeing the court this season (career-low 41 games played), and the veteran would really do well to improve the Heat's offensive flow.
6. Trade for Jerryd Bayless
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Miami Acquires: PG Jerryd Bayless, $5 million Trade Exception
Toronto Acquires: SG Mike Miller, Two Future First-Round Picks
They can't all be blockbuster trades.
Jerryd Bayless isn't getting the burn that he deserves in Toronto, and a change of scenery could be of great benefit to his reaching the fullest of his potential.
Should Leandro Barbosa depart to Brazil, Mike Miller would make an excellent replacement for him off the bench, while Bayless would immediately become the starting point guard for Miami.
He's the type of player who fits the current construction of the team, and although Bayless hasn't always had a pass-first mentality, he's done an excellent job of acclimating his game over the last couple of seasons.
It's mind-boggling to think about how many assists he could compile dishing passes to LeBron, Wade & Bosh.
5. Sign Allen Iverson
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Now that Allen Iverson is fully healed from a calf injury that cut his time in Turkey short, he's already said that he'd like to resume his NBA career.
After alienating himself from the league over the last few seasons, Miami offers the grandest of stages for A.I. to make his valiant return to the big show.
The need for a point guard is clear on Miami, and while Iverson hasn't been the most prolific contributor over the last few seasons, he's certainly better than anyone they rostered during the year.
He represents another reason for Heat fans to fill the building, and it could be an awfully intriguing scenario should the team express legitimate interest.
4. Sign Michael Redd
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Miami isn't going to have a ton of leeway with the payroll to execute a ton of signings, so the team needs to shop in the bargain bin (to an extent) in order to find the best value.
Granted that there is going to be an enormous risk in signing Michael Redd—we're talking about a guy who averaged 20-plus points for six straight NBA seasons.
The veteran would serve to anchor the second unit, and he'd most likely be playing on a one-year "prove it" type of contract that would provide incentive for both sides.
He would allow the team to actually rest LeBron James for an extended period in the second half and wouldn't be asked to play more than 20 to 25 minutes per night.
3. Trade for Josh Smith
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Miami Acquires: PF Josh Smith, PG Kirk Hinrich
Atlanta Acquires: PF Chris Bosh, C Joel Anthony, C Dexter Pittman, Future First-Rounder & Future Second-Rounder
There have been some indications that both Josh Smith and Kirk Hinrich could be on the trade block for Atlanta, and if the Heat can swap Chris Bosh for both of them, that's a deal that they should not hesitate in making.
Hinrich only has one year remaining on his deal, so in addition to being an expiring contract, it instantly provides an upgrade to the point guard situation and that would slide him in as the starter.
Smith would take Bosh's spot in the starting five, and the picks sent to Atlanta wouldn't have much adverse impact on the long-term future of Miami.
2. Sign Samuel Dalembert
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There's no doubt that Samuel Dalembert would have to take a major pay decrease if he is going to join Miami next season, but the chance at playing for a championship could entice him to do exactly that.
After spending the majority of his entire career with the Sixers and some brief time with the Kings, Dalembert finally has the chance to join a legitimate contender.
His arrival to the team would bump Joel Anthony to a reserve role, but that shouldn't be a problem for the big man who is already familiar with that.
Dalembert, an excellent rebounder and a defensive presence in the middle, is exactly the type of center the Heat desperately need.
1. Trade for Andrew Bogut
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Miami Acquires: C Andrew Bogut, PF Drew Gooden
Orlando Acquires: PF Chris Bosh, SG Mike Miller
In an outside-the-box scenario, the Heat could plug their hole at center in an emphatic way by making the push for Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut.
Although he hasn't exactly been a harbinger of good health throughout his NBA career, Bogut when he's at his best is one of the most overpowering centers in the game.
He's offensively capable enough to replace what Bosh does for the team currently, and he brings a whole lot of defensive intensity to pair along with it.
Drew Gooden would be an excellent fit to pair with Udonis Haslem at the power forward spot moving forward, and despite a very different look, this Miami club could be even better than the 2010-11 version.
