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What Shane Battier’s hiring could mean to Pat Riley’s future

By Richard Nurse

May 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Miami Heat forward Shane Battier (31) drives past Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson (7) during the first quarter in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Miami Heat forward Shane Battier (31) drives past Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson (7) during the first quarter in game three of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Is Shane Battier’s hiring the beginning of Pat Riley’s chance to fade away from the Miami Heat spotlight?

In sports, as in life, thoughts of change are inevitable. Players grow old, coaches lose jobs and front office folks move on. Miami Heat fans have seen it happen with their legends (Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning) and their coaches (Stan Van Gundy and Pat Riley). Now they might be about to witness a transformation upstairs.

According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Riley could be on his last legs of day-to-day team president duty:

"“The Heat’s hiring of Battier in an analytics role is more likely the first step toward a ruling post-Riley front-office troika of Shane Battier, Andy Elisburg and Nick Arison. It would provide the Heat with the player insight of Battier, the business-of-basketball acumen of Elisburg and the financial direction of Nick Arison… And yet, for those who see this as the beginning of an end game with Riley, I’m not so sure that he would ever want to fully step away from the game. But I could see Pat moving into more of a Jerry West-type role…“"

The notion of Riley solely as a recruiter works because of the mystique he has built around his ability to get the ears of the NBA’s biggest stars, even if he does not have the funds to acquire them. Swinging and missing from an executive chair does not work though. Making this offseason a big one for Riley and the Heat.

By no means will Miami force him out, but if he comes up empty this summer, does he really want to deal with the stress of more failures at the age of 72?

Dec 22, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley honors former center Shaquille O Neal Jersey number (32) retirement banner is raised into the rafters at the American Airlines Arena during a half time ceremony against the Los Angeles Lakers. O Neal has become the third Heat player to have his jersey retired with former Heat players Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley honors former center Shaquille O Neal Jersey number (32) retirement banner is raised into the rafters at the American Airlines Arena during a half time ceremony against the Los Angeles Lakers. O Neal has become the third Heat player to have his jersey retired with former Heat players Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Riley has had a rough three years: losing Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh (to health reasons), in ways that came off very contentious to the public. He also missed out on top free agents like LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant, despite managing to get a seat at the table. Which brought questions of whether he was losing his touch with players.

Wade intimated as much–as a whole–when it comes to the organization’s controlling ways. Ways that also allegedly contributed to James’ 2014 departure. So when Winderman points out one of Battier’s qualities as being able to provide player insight, it feels like the natural front office transition.

An eventual change is all the more reason why Riley should look at this summer as crucial. A quick rebuild could buy him more time to enjoy success. A disaster could fast track his desire to bow out of the constant spotlight.

Either way, the Heat are in store for a few months of big decisions.

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