Team Name: Miami Heat
This Year’s Predicted Record: 64-18
Last Year’s Record: 47-35
Key Losses: Quentin Richardson, Jermaine O’Neal, Michael Beasley, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook
Key Additions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, Mike Miller, Eddie House

1. What significant moves were made during the off-season?

The real question is, what significant moves were NOT made during this past year’s off-season? This summer was hyped up for the past three years, with several teams completely clearing all players from their roster in an attempt to land one of the big three available (Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade). The Heat cleared their roster of every player except one, Mario Chalmers, and succeeded in landing not just one of the big three, but all three. In addition to bringing in LeBron James and Chris Bosh and retaining Dwyane Wade, the Heat were able to bring back Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony, James Jones, Carlos Arroyo, and Jamal Magloire. Much to every other team’s chagrin, the mastermind behind the whole operation, Pat Riley, was able to find a way to fill the rest of the roster and turn the Heat’s bench into one of the best benches in the NBA. The remaining roster includes Mike Miller, Eddie House, Juwan Howard, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and draft picks Da’Sean Butler and Dexter Pittman. Pat Riley and the Miami Heat have succeeded in putting together one of the most feared teams ever assembled in the NBA.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

With this team, the answer is always going to be the Big Three, especially on the offensive side. In the past 6 years, each of the Big Three have demanded double teams when handling the ball. The strength isn’t necessarily just the ability for these three to score, but the ability for them to open the floor for spot up shooters in the corners, which is something the Heat, for the first time since Jason Kapono, is not lacking with Mike Miller, James Jones, and Eddie House on the outside. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are going to demand double teams on the perimeter, and many times Chris Bosh is going to demand a double team down low. With Wade and James’ ability to penetrate and dish, the corners are going to be wide open. A man-to-man defense with back-side help is not going to work against this team. This year’s Miami Heat may cause the zone defense to make a major comeback in the NBA, as it may be the only way to put multiple defenders on the Big Three while not taking defenders out of position.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?

The Heat’s biggest weaknesses are point guard and center play, but this weakness has been blown out of proportion in recent weeks. Most likely Mario Chalmers will starting at point guard, and while he is not a pure point guard, he is a serviceable guard who can spot up from the outside. His main job is going to be to bring the ball past half court, hand it off to Wade or James, and spot up from the outside, something he can do very well. Also, even though he is a starter, he is going to play role player minutes, as this team is not really in need of a primary ball-handler other than Wade and James. Chalmers is going to share a significant amount of minutes with Mike Miller and Eddie House. The same goes for Joel Anthony as the starting center. He is most likely going to be playing role player minutes as well, with Big Z being the first center off the bench, and Chris Bosh playing significant minutes at center with the warrior, Udonis Haslem, at the power forward position. The one thing that Joel Anthony does provide is great backside help. The Heat do lack overbearing skill at both of these positions, but this weakness is not going to cause the team to lose games. Most likely the Heat’s end of game line-up and the lineup that will play significant minutes throughout the game will be Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, and Chris Bosh, which, as can be seen, does not include a pure point guard or center.

4. What are the goals for this team?

There is only one goal with a team like the Miami Heat…championship or bust! This team is already being labeled as one of the greatest to ever be put together, and it was put together to win championships. Plain and simple…the Heat need to win multiple championships with this team, or they will face a different kind of heat from all angles.

5. Will Eric Spoelstra make it through the entire season?

This is one question that has been on everybody’s mind since the Big Three came together. We all remember 2006, the last time the Heat won the NBA Championship…Stan Van Gundy started the year as the Heat’s head coach, and about a quarter of the way through the season, he “voluntarily” resigned as head coach. With this season approaching, there are speculations as to whether Spoelstra will make it through the entire season. Riley has been quoted saying he will do anything to make sure that this team wins, but does that mean he is returning to the bench? Most likely Spo will finish this season as the head coach of the Miami Heat, but if he does not deliver a championship, do not discount the idea of him returning back to Assistant Coach status, with possibly Doc Rivers at the helm.

The 2010/11 Miami Heat Preview – Championship Or Bust from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Okay, so now that I have your attention…

Team Name: Miami Heat
Last Year’s Record: 43-39
Key Losses: Jamario Moon, Mark Blount
Key Additions: Carlos Arroyo, Shavlik Randolph, John Lucas, Quentin Richardson

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?

Unfortunately for the Heat, the biggest move was acquiring Quentin Richardson from the Minnesota for salary hound center, Mark Blount. This summer, the Heat missed out on acquiring swing-man forward, Lamar Odom from the defending champion Lakers, and the bruising Carlos Boozer from the Jazz. The good news for Richardson and the Heat is that he brings the long ball threat that Miami loves to utilize, and he is also a long time friend of Dwyane Wade, who the Heat hope to sign an extension with this year. The Heat’s addition of Carlos Arroyo to their roster adds a veteran guard to the backcourt.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

The Miami Heat’s biggest strength is…Dwyane Wade, surprised?  After a strong comeback season where he finished top 3 in MVP votes, “Flash” is back and better than ever. If second year forward Michael Beasley can get past his offseason woes, Pat Riley’s dream of a great tag-team can come full circle. The development of Mario Chalmers allows the Heat to run a fast paced offense, and by this season’s end, Chalmers will most likely be a top tier guard in the league.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?

Since the departure of Shaq and the retiring of Alonzo Mourning, the Heat’s biggest hole is the center position. Year after year the Heat try to develop a young center, but the products have been Earl Barron and Joel Anthony…enough said. With the mid-season acquisition of Jermaine O’Neal, the soft spot of the defense was hopefully going to be filled, but it seems only temporary. Perhaps with a Magloire, Anthony, and O’Neal frontcourt, the Heat can contend with the size the East has to offer.

4. What are the goals for this team?

Every so often, a summer like the one upcoming brings such great free agents that a team wants all of them. The Heat are looking to sign the likes of Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudamire, and/or put a bid in for LeBron James. The main goal is to sign Dwyane Wade to a multi-year deal in order to keep him from testing the free agent waters. The Heat are looking to add another big name to play along side Wade to not only keep him happy, but to keep the people of Miami interested.

5. Don’t count out Daequan Cook.

The third year guard out of Ohio State has shown significant improvement after each summer, including winning the 3-point shooting contest last All-Star break.  The 6-5 guard gives the Heat different looks at the guard position, and Cook has proved to be a good defender, and will only get better with experience. Look for big things from him this year.

Predicted Record: 44- 38. Due to the lack of free agent signings, the Miami Heat will improve only slightly this season and will enter the playoffs at a 4-6 seed.

The Heat Is On: 2009-10 Miami Heat Preview from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Since Brandon Jennings (the Arizona recruit) signed with Roma of Italy, decided to pass up college and play professionally in Europe, many have followed in his shoes.  Jennings was setting an example for many others to skip college and play overseas.  The NBA’s one and done rule would then be avoided and the athletes would be able to play in the NBA after one year.

While we have not seen any athletes other than Jennings skip college to play overseas, Arroyo is one of the many athletes continuing the trend of NBA players leaving America to play more serious roles and earn more money elsewhere.  The big international clubs are the ones who have the money and the connections to land these talented players and grant high paying contracts. It looks like the flood gates have opened this summer, as we have now witnessed a multitude of players leave the NBA and head overseas.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv is one of those big clubs with many foreign contacts. The Israeli league is well-respected around the world. Maccabi reached the Euro league title game last season and has won the European title five times since 1977.  They were also one of the teams to beat an NBA team on North American soil with a 105-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors during the 2005-06-exhibition season.  This gave them international exposure and attracted great American players and others to the Israeli league.

Maccabi is coming off a good season, but had an unfortunate ending, in which it inexplicably lost the Israeli championship to the lesser known Hapoel Holon team. Maccabi was looking to make some moves and some high priced signings this summer to forget about their disappointing performance in the finals.  The club was also talking to Miami Heat star Jason Williams before they acquired Arroyo from the Magic.

Jennings might be the first and only one from High School that is headed overseas for now, but I believe that many more will follow. Here is a list of the other players who have decided to leave America and sign with European teams.  Serbia’s Nenad Krstic, Spain’s Juan Carlos Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa, Argentina’s Carlos Delfino and Slovenia’s Bostjan Nachbar and Primoz Brezec. All these individuals have decided to throw away their current NBA contracts and sign with European teams.  Their agents did negotiate a most important opt out clause in their contracts, which will allow them to reevaluate their decision and permit them to head back to the NBA after the season if they wish.

Arroyo Joins Others Overseas from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules