****The Official 2016-2017 NBA Thread****

This isn't surprising. Dealing with superstar players at the end of their career has always been a challenge for successful organizations. Not only the monetary aspect, but players want control as well. Sucks to see him go but can't have your cake and eat it too.

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I like Miami going back to Tyler Johnson and smoothing over some of that deal. 12.5 is really nice in years 3 and 4 when the cap goes up again. Its time to build around Hassan and the rest of the youngsters, I know Pat will keep his eyes open for activity. We have a history of pulling in disgruntled stars and finding success thereafter. We now have some cap room, Miami is a sought-after destination for free agents.

 

Triple-stamped, no take-backs.

Spoiler

 

3.5 for the next two years, but you also have to consider the future. In two years, Chicago will likely be the team more likely to overpay him. At this point in his career he wants financial assurance more than anything.

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I have to say I am genuinely surprised Wade left. I always thought someone would have to peal the Heat jersey off that guy. Riley must have really pissed in his Cheerios. Over a measly (by nba standards) 7.5m??? Wow.

 

I'm excited to see what Dragic can do with the ball in his hands more. It wasn't working out with him and Wade on the same team.

 

Well i cant sleep and i have to work early tmr...

 

I still don't think I'd match Tyler Johnson's deal. Rounding the cap hits to be evenly distributed helps, but I just don't think he's worth that kind of money. I'd rather have it to spend elsewhere. I feel like keeping him now would just be a knee-jerk reaction to Wade leaving.

 

This was my thinking too but then I look at the scale of the contracts being signed with some other players and all of the sudden 4/50 doesn't seem as outrageous.

 

I think Tylers contract is movable but he has to show us a lot more... He needs to be a whole lot more productive..

 

Him and Richardson will certainly have their opportunities now.

 

Hard to believe Wade left. At this point its fair to ask why the front office of the Heat turned off Lebron and now Wade? I mean with Lebron he had a history with the Cavs and it made some sense for him to leave to go back there but Wade has been a certified Miami Heat lifer from day 1, this did seem very personal on some level. People talk about the money but really Wade is wealthy enough that if he really had a very personal connection with a team he would give up 10 million over 2-3 years to stay. I guess we will hear more about what really happened over time.

 

Sooo....did Riley want Wade to leave? Was this his way of clearing the books?

 

Part of me has wondered this very thing.

I mean if you really want to make something big from the foundation up and your concern is not loyalty at this point you need to clear Wade and Bosh right?

The only big name I see as even being somewhat achievable at the moment is Westbrook. Hard to see a grand plan here, but you do have to wonder.

 

Right. As Skolnik said - he had time to write that thing for LeBatard but not reach out to Wade?

 

Lebatard says that Miami's final offer was $41.5m and when Wade lwft Riley's response was “SADDDDDDD!!!! SO saddddddd!"
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/dan-le-batard/article88135197.html

 

So let's take an honest assessment of the Heat roster at this point. You have Whiteside, Dragic, and a couple of strong second year players. Then you have Bosh who may or may not ever play again.

Who would be available this or next year to take the max salary spot we have available from Wade?

Obviously there is Westbrook either through trade or FA although there is no indication if he is interested in Miami. Then next year there will almost certainly be someone from GSW that cuts loose when they have to negotiate salaries. I wonder if we could sign Durant next year to a mega contract when the salary cap increases?

Outside that who do you aim for? There is still a solid nucleus here...especially with two strong young guys. But we need that superstar.

I'm really curious if the Heat will ever give Bosh medical clearance to play at this point or would just prefer to cut his salary and free up more cash.

 

LeBatard just said on his local hour that Riley kept reaching out to Wade but was told every time to go through Wade's representatives.

 

Ah, ok - thanks. So we know Skolnik's source is the Wade camp haha.

 

LeBron did the same thing. If you want to continue playing for the Heat it's not a good idea to tell the old man to talk to your agent.

 

Haha. I mean, Dan could be wrong. I don't know. The way this all played out left me confused. No doubt that there was some animosity going on between Wade and the FO. I don't doubt that specifically Wade was beefing with Riley either.

 

I wish Wade well.

 

Cap estimate for next year went from $107mil to $102mil. That's probably going to hurt the Warriors pretty bad, right?

 

With the news that Riley kept trying to reach out to Wade and Wade's camp told him to go through representatives...I think Wade had this planned. Like it or not he and LeBron are friends, and he just watched LeBron go back to his home town of Cleveland and be a hero, winning them a championship. The allure of going back to his home Chicago and finishing what's left of his career there probably weighed on him. If Miami hadn't struck out on Kevin Durant then he may have changed his mind. But he knows he's not about to win a championship here in Miami anyway.

Based on the numbers, the money wasn't an issue. Based on the championship prospects of both teams, I don't think that was an issue either because neither team should expect to win a championship. And based on the news that Riley had been trying to contact Wade and was rebuffed, that wasn't an issue either I don't think. Wade wanted to leave and he manufactured a storyline to make it happen.

 

The more I think about it the more I feel like Durant signing with them is a one year thing with him looking for a bonanza payday next year.

 

That and he's basically guaranteeing he retires with at least one ring. Which I think any sensible player would want to do if presented the choice.

 

Here's more food for thought. With so little coming out about our meeting with Durant.

What are the chances we were still pitching ourselves for next year?

 

I know I need a tinfoil hat - but I also 100% think Wade made sure to make his choice right before his TV appearance. He's good on TV. It's a perfect post-NBA career job. He just maximized the eyeballs watching.

 

I know there will be more ring chasers like Zaza - but as the cap increases again, less guys are likely to take vet minimums. They are going to pretty much be Steph-Klay-Iggy-KD-Dray and they might lose Iggy next year having to give Steph and KD maxes.

Maybe they are 'light years' ahead of everyone and have this figured out - but man is it hard to see how they make this very sustainable.

(And please note I realize with those top 4 guys they are still title favorites every single year)

 

That's not tinfoil hat at all because it's a smart business plan and Wade is a smart business man.

Wade literally had to keep Riley from getting in a room with him or even talking to him on the phone to make this happen. There's too much history between them, too much emotion. If that doesn't strike people as a planned breakup...

 

Stephen A Smith is very close with Wade and he said Wade didn't want to leave Miami and that he knows the Bulls will suck. It was his disgust with Riley that drove him away according to SAS.

 

Gabrielle Union sounded really frustrated on Twitter, I don't think it was planned at all.

 

High. Especially if Riley had a sense of what Dwyane Wade was planning.

 

Good point. He really has been doing an amazing job at branding himself in the latter half of his career.

I'm personally bummed Wade left - it's the most gutted I've felt in relation to a professional franchise - and obviously wish he spent his entire career here. But it's his decision, and I understand wanting to play for the time you watched growing up as CK alluded to. I wish Wade the best (except if he faces us in the playoffs, of course) and will forever cherish getting to watch one of the greatest guards of all time lead us to 5 finals and 3 championships. I hope one day he returns to us in form of FO capacity and look forward to when that #3 hangs from the rafters.

 

That strikes me as manufactured.

 

Oh totally. Every move these elite NBA players make is calculated these days.

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How awful would it be for OKC fans if Russ and KD teamed back up in Miami.

 

I'm sure Bulls fans are thrilled to hear this news.

 

There was a lot of info at the time re: LeBron. We started to hear it prior to him leaving. He was upset at a few cost cutting measures the team took - amnestying Mike Miller and giving up a pick to dump Joel Anthonys contract. Then we heard that LeBron was not accepting anything less than the max. I think it is clear that money played a very big role in James' departure.

Re: Wade, we have heard that he felt disrespected because Durant and Whiteside were prioritized over him. He also was upset that there was no contact with UD since July 1. My guess is that he felt that if Miami wasn't going to land Durant then they should have been willing to make some moves to match his highest offer.

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