2012 NBA Offseason: Miami Heat

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Miami Heat (Last Year: 46-20)

2011-12 Season Summary:
Your 2012 NBA Champion: the Miami Heat. That’s really all that needs to be said. LeBron James got the monkey off his back and took the first step in fulfilling his promise to win several rings upon his joining powers with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach. In order for the Heat to repeat next year, the team still needs to make a few moves this offseason.





2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:


C: Chris Bosh/Joel Anthony/Dexter Pittman/#Ronny Turiaf

PF: Shane Battier/Udonis Haslem

SF: LeBron James/James Jones

SG: Dwyane Wade/Mike Miller/*Terrel Harris

PG: Mario Chalmers/Norris Cole



NBA Free Agents:


C-Eddy Curry (UFA)

PF-Juwan Howard (UFA)

#F/C-Ronny Turiaf (PO)

*SG-Terel Harris (RFA)




2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $78.5 million





NBA Offseason Needs:


1. Big Man: The Joel Anthony/Eddy Curry/Dexter Pittman/Ronny Turiaf quartet is certainly not the solution. Miami realized this in the Finals, using a small starting lineup with Chris Bosh at center and Udonis Haslem backing him up. That small lineup was obviously effective enough to win a ring, but adding a serviceable big man who can bring some physicality, rebounding, and a back-to-the-basket game will increase the team’s chances of repeating.

2. Shooter: Immediately after Miami won the NBA Championship, there were rumblings that Mike Miller was contemplating retirement due to nagging injuries. When he was on the floor, though in limited minutes, Miller was the Heat’s most dangerous outside shooter. If he is forced to retire, Miami must find another shooter who can stretch the floor and benefit from LeBron and Wade’s drive-and-kick ability.

3. Keep the Big 3 Healthy: With LeBron, Wade, and Bosh all likely playing for Team USA at the Summer Olympics, management will be praying that all three stay healthy. The only thing standing in the way of making another run at the NBA Title is one of the Big 3 getting injured. Wade and Bosh battled injuries during the season, so as long as they don’t overexert themselves in London and fully recover before next season, everything will be gravy.








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