****The Official 2013-14 NBA Thread****

This is true hahahahahah

 

Here's an article that further illustrates my point about the unique power that the big 3 are wielding:

http://www.chatsports.com/miami-hea...e-Power-to-Shape-Franchises-Future-1-10033578

"They've again positioned themselves to do something that their notable predecessors generally did not: dictating rather than deferring, when it comes to where, and with whom, they play. Sure, Magic Johnson forced a coaching switch—to Riley, as it happens. Yes, Shaquille O'Neal exercised his 1996 free-agent status to set up the star pairing with Kobe Bryant, the same summer that Michael Jordan flirted with the Knicks. But, for all of the dynasties and mini-dynasties that Riley mentioned in his aforementioned riff, there was a greater dependence on management to compose the roster and initiate significant change."

 

Windbag actually made a decent point for once in his life.

Tony Parker just had his salary guaranteed today for $12.5 million, so don't be shocked when Wade signs for $13 or so.

I imagine that's about where it's going to be. Wade is a far superior player to Parker over the course of their careers but you could make the argument they're equals now.

 

Heat fans have these ideas of Isaiah Thomas running around for us...but one more time...do we NEED his skill set?

We need a PG that stops the ball. You drafted offense at PG with Napier....The best fit remains...Chalmers.

 

Or Lowry. May not be possible, but he's a great fit.

 

If we're doing the offense/defense thing isn't Norris Cole already a better defender than Rio at the pg position for less cheddar?

 

but he lacks size and is an inferior team defender.

 

Chalmers has very quick hands, but I would not call him a ball stopper. The best case scenario at PG defensively is Lowry. Also, don't sleep on Napier's defense. He's not a great athlete, but I think he'll be a solid defender. Like Chalmers, he gets his share of steals.

 

Lu-ol Deng! Lu-ol Deng! Lu-ol Deng!

 

Give me Deng and we can fill out the roster with high schoolers for all I care.

 

If the Heat bring back the big 3 and land Lowry or Deng along with Napier, and round the roster out with Marion/Carter/Blake types, that would be a very nice offseason.

 

Hope he's healthy now. He could barely jump after that trade to the Cavs.

 

Mario Chalmers was the #1 P&R on the ball defender in the entire NBA. #1 is pretty good...no?

and then there is this from Synergy:

According to Synergy Sports, Chalmers was the NBA's number one defender of pick-and-rolls that resulted in a ball-handler turning it over, attempting a field goal or getting to the free-throw line, holding them to 30.1 percent shooting (0.51 points per possession) and forcing a turnover over a third of the time.


He is undervalued. Precisely the type of guy you want for a modest price. I dump Cole and keep RIO to go with Shabazz Napier.

 

If we get Lowry then Chalmers will be gone or no?

 

as gone as Rony Seikaly is.

 

Seemed to me like Cole would make the better PG to pair with Shabazz, but I'm no expert here.

 

Pretty good, but I still wouldn't exactly call him a stopper. He struggles at times guarding some of the quicker PGs in the NBA. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not against bringing him back on a modest deal. He had a horrid playoffs, but I still think he's a very solid player that can be very good at times. If they can't land Lowry, I would be happy with bringing Rio back for cheap.

 

need size to cross match. I know what they list these guys at...but if you ever met Chalmers..he is BIG. He is every bit and a bit more of 6'-2" 200lbs

 

Broussard tweeting that Deng will not take "significantly less" than market value to join Heat.

Putting all Broussard caveats aside, that to me is good news. First, he's willing to take less, how "significant" it is is semantics.

Second, he would probably like to come here.

 

My favorite target among those that I've heard mentioned is Eric Bledsoe. I doubt he's likely though, just b/c he will probably get paid the max, but as a 4th year guy I believe his max is about $15. That still may be too much for us. He is friends with Lebron.

After that I'd probably wish for a Deng or Lowry and Jordan Hill and Vince Carter. Though I don't think I'd consider Deng or Lowry as likely either.

If we missed out on Bledsoe, Deng and Lowry, I don't know that I'd feel we had a big upgrade. Assuming we had the big 3, Haslem, Napier, Hill and Carter, brought back Chalmers and Coles, also Oden and say Ennis and Matrix we'd certainly be good and the favorite in the East and it may even be the smartest move, but I wouldn't classify it as something that topped 2010.

 

Chalmers is definitely a lot bigger than Cole and Shabazz, you can see that on the court.

 

~$30M of that was profit from the Beats sale.

 

Bledsoe is very good...but he is also expensive and had his meniscus removed....pass.

 

Am I crazy that I actually like Jameer Nelson better than Kyle Lowry for the Heat?

Lowry is the more complete package, but Nelson is actually a better shooter, especially from the 3, and that is SO important to this team's play.

And Lowry is likely to cost, even with the Godfather Discount, whereas Nelson might be had from near the minimum up to about the $3M mark. Think about how the season ended, sans PGs on the floor, and tell me Nelson wouldn't be worth having around that price.

The interest in Trevor Booker surprises me; he's a guy who has only taken about 5 shots per game in four years—although at a very nice 53% rate. Spriley must see a player there with much more production than he's brought so far.

Deng would be a GET. Period.

 

Some Oregon radio host, who may or may not be a nut, is reporting Bosh will sign 5 years starting at $11 million, Wade 4 years starting at $12 million, LBJ 2 years at max starting at $20, with an opt out possibly after next year. His twitter is @johncanzanobft if anyone is interested.

Let's say this guy managed to outscoop Woj and Sec, that would leave us $20 million under the cap. More than enough for "Melo, or for Deng and Lowry.

If this is true, Wade and Bosh get their statutes next year, and jesus LeBron, commit.

 

Eric Bledsoe strikes me as just a guy; doesn't do any one thing especially well, particularly passing. And a 75% career FT shooter is just a straight-up liability late in games.

 

Nelson is no longer a better shooter than Lowry. Nelson is in steep decline, although playing on a bad team can hurt your numbers sometimes.

 

Disagree vehemently. Bledsoe is a budding star...but he has an injury history, and will be VERY expensive.

 

I saw that...and I will say this...

I was given some numbers and they look NOTHING like that.

LBJ's deal is very likely to have a opt out for the 2017 season due to the CBA opt out or possible lockout that year.

 

Could you elaborate? What do you think the deals will look like? Would Wade and Bosh take major discounts like that? I'm going crazy waiting for some news to break. I've been refreshing this page all day in hope of some inside info.

 

The Oregon radio host knowing the numbers where nobody else does thing doesn't quite pass the sniff test, obviously.

 

Can't do that..and the numbers i was given were 100% hypothetical from the heat side.

The big 3 is what matters.

 

So I don't really get this thinking...if things don't turn out well you up and bounce....it reeks of using the organization for his own self-fulfillment and then when they aren't able to make a bonafide run at a ring, he cuts bait.....Why wouldn't if he loves it there so much trust Riley to make the right decisions and end his career there?

 

Can't blame him. It's the smart thing to do.

 

What? Oregon is totally plugged in to Miami sports franchises. Dion Jordan is feeding his college town all the hot Miami scoops.

 

I don't know if theoretically say Milwaukee at that time has some pieces and LBJ is the difference maker you really leave Miami for that?

In the NBA there are only a very few amount of teams you don't leave unless you get traded or cut so to speak.....Miami is one IMO....

 

All right, potentially huge news.

Per Windy/Marc Stein, Heat telling free agents they have $12 million to spend, meaning Bosh and Wade are taking huge cuts. Windy also saying that the Oregon radio guy is probably nearly correct.

Lowry is Heat's top target, also want to meet with Gortat.

But assuming this is true, and LeBron will come down a little (not even a ton) we can probably get two big time guys

 

I mean, come on LeBron, take $17 million per.

If he did we might be able to get Lowry AND Deng.

 

Lebron is simply giving himself flexibility in exchange for the millions of dollars he's foregone to chase championships with other high-caliber players.

I'm certain of one thing: that he trusts Riley (and, by extension, the Arisons) to do right by him. But life is uncertain and Riley is not a young man; what if his health failed him? What if something happened like that, and the Heat really have no one of his caliber (because, how many guys like Riley are there, really?) to step in? Sure, something would take place and life would go on; but it's not wrong for Lebron to want to have the flexibility to make the move that's best for him in any situation.

In my humble view, it's that simple.