2009-10 NBA Season Preview: Miami Heat

Depth Chart:

C: Jermaine O’Neal/Joel Anthony/Jamaal Magloire

PF: Udonis Haslem/Michael Beasley/Robert Dozier

SF: James Jones/Quentin Richardson/Yakhouba Diawara

SG: Dwyane Wade/Daequan Cook/Dorrell Wright

PG: Mario Chalmers/Chris Quinn/Carlos Arroyo

Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra (2nd year)

2009-2010 Team Salary: $74.2 million

Projected 2010-2011 Team Salary: approximately $12.6 million

Off-Season Grade: Passed

The only real move Miami made was trading the dead weight known as Mark Blount’s expiring contract to Minnesota for Quentin Richardson. Richardson has a chance to start alongside Dwyane Wade on the wing while Blount likely wouldn’t have seen many minutes at all. Translation: win for Miami especially since Richardson is in the final year of his contract.

The other reason Miami passes this offseason is because they didn’t do anything stupid to mess up their beautiful cap situation heading into next summer.

2009-2010 Outlook:

Once again it’s pretty simple: The Heat will go as far as Dwyane Wade takes them. In order for that to be past the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, someone is going to have to step up and be a true No. 2 option. Guys like O’Neal, Haslem, and Richardson are all in contract years, and should have more motivation this season.

Beasley had an up and down rookie season as he tried to find his niche at the next level and then spent part of the offseason in a rehabilitation hospital to address possible substance abuse and psychological issues, so it’s unsure how much of an impact he can make in his second season. Chalmers should be more comfortable running the point and could become the running mate Wade is looking for.

More than likely, Miami is a postseason team. But they are a Dwyane Wade injury away from heading to the lottery.

Looking Ahead to the Summer of 2010:

As it stands, the Heat have ZERO guaranteed contracts next summer. Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Daequan Cook and James Jones all have team options which more than likely will be exercised, but won’t take more than $12.6 million in cap space. What next summer really comes down to is Dwyane Wade.

Wade has a player option on the final year of his contract that would net him a little more than $17 million. Odds are Wade hits the free-agent market next offseason to see what other teams like the Knicks, Nets or Bulls are willing to throw his way. In my opinion, I don’t see how Wade leaves South Beach. He runs the town and with the cap space Miami has available next season, he could easily convince one of the big-named free agents (i.e. Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire) to join him in Miami. If Wade does bolt, the Heat will have A LOT of money to throw at free agents to begin the reloading process. And let’s be honest, South Beach is one of the ideal destinations in the NBA, so I doubt Pat Riley would have a hard time convincing good players to come to Miami.

2009-10 NBA Power Ranking: 14th