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Miami Heat (Last Year: 47-35)
Live 2010 NBA Draft Grades:
Heat Overall Team Grade
With their four second-round picks, the Heat were probably just hoping to land a couple players who could potentially become role players. Varnado and Butler each bring a special specific talent, but I think 32 was a little high to take Pittman with a lot of other skilled players still on the board. Williams is a bit of a sleeper at 48. (Grade: B+)
32. Dexter Pittman, C, Texas
The Heat need a center, so that makes sense. But Dexter Pittman is limited to five feet around the basket and couldn’t stay on the floor for more than 4-minute spurts in college due to stamina issues. Why not take someone like Alabi or Whiteside, or even Ryan Richards who have more upside? (Pick Grade: HUH?)
41. Jarvis Varnado, PF, Mississippi State
The Heat needed to get some size in the draft, and now they have with Pittman and Varnado. While Pittman is a load inside, Varnado is known for his athleticism and shot blocking prowess. He should be a nice role player in the NBA. (Pick Grade: Makes Sense)
42. Da’Sean Butler, G/F, West Virginia
All along, I thought Butler would be a great fit in Miami. I think he is a NBA-ready role player which is exactly what the Heat will need in filling out their roster after free agency. He is a winner, has great basketball IQ and will give Miami a shooter to put alongside Dwyane Wade (of course if Wade is back.) (Pick Grade: LOVE IT)
48. Latavious Williams, F, NBDL
A bit of an unknown commodity coming out of the D-League, Williams is worth the gamble for Miami with their fourth pick of the 2010 NBA Draft. After playing it somewhat safe with their first three picks, this will be more of a wait-and-see pick. I would have liked to see Miami grab a point guard prospect instead. (Pick Grade: Meh)
2009-10 Season Summary:
It was a one man show this past season for the Miami Dwyane Wades, er, I mean, Heat. Wade didn’t come near putting up the ridiculous numbers like he did in 2008-09, but still proved he can carry an average team on his back and into the playoffs.
This past season, the Heat were in a holding pattern trying to accumulate as many expiring contracts as possible while still putting a solid product on the floor. While Miami could have dealt the expiring contracts of veterans Jermaine O’Neal, Udonis Haslem and Quentin Richardson to add some talent in hopes of making a postseason push, but the franchise was set on clearing as much cap space as possible in hopes of making a run at some of the marquee free agents this offseason. Mission accomplished. Miami only has two players definitely under contract for next season and has the potential to make a major splash in free agency.
2010-11 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Udonis Haslem/Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Joel Anthony/Dexter Pittman/Jamaal Magloire
PF: Chris Bosh/Juwan Howard/Shavlik Randolph/Jarvis Varnado
SF: LeBron James/James Jones
SG: Dwyane Wade/Mike Miller/Eddie House/De’Sean Butler
PG: Carlos Arroyo/Mario Chalmers
NBA Free Agents:
PG Rafer Alston (UFA)
SF Yakhouba Diawara (UFA)
2010-11 Team Salary: Approximately $65.3 million
2010-11 League Salary Cap: $58 million
Offseason Moves:
NBA Offseason Needs:
1a. Convince Wade to Stay- Unless they can somehow land LeBron James instead, the Heat need to do everything they can to convince Wade to stay. Even when they had Shaq and won the NBA Championship in 2006, it was Wade who carried the team to the title. He is the face of their franchise and undoubtedly one of the top players in the league.
1b. Get Wade Some Freaking Help- Wade will be the first piece to fall into place before the Heat can find a real running mate for him. If they sign Wade, Miami will still have about $30-plus million in cap space to bring in a Robin to Wade’s Batman as well as some better complementary players. Whether it’s Bosh, Dirk, Amare or Boozer, the Heat need to bring someone in who can take some of the load off Wade’s shoulders. Of course, 1a and 1b go together and might possibly be figured out at this expected “NBA free agent summit” that is reportedly being set up.
2. A Point Guard- For the third straight season, the Heat had no real answer at the point guard position, putting a lot of pressure on Wade to be the main ball-handler in the offense. Mario Chalmers, Carlos Arroyo and Rafer Alston were all juggled into the starting lineup at various times during the season and none of them were able to seize the opportunity. With Arroyo and Alston both unrestricted free agents and Miami owning a team option on Chalmers, they will have to address their point guard situation this summer.
3. A Big Man- Jermaine O’Neal’s carcass ended up being the Heat’s main option at center last season. He is a free agent, as are Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem, both of whom spent minutes playing down low, so Miami must find a true big man. If they can sign one of the marquee free agent power forwards, that will help the cause. However, none of them fit the mold of a real center so with the remaining cap space, somebody must be brought in.
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