The 2015 NBA Playoffs began this past weekend, and like many Miami Heat fans, president Pat Riley is still feeling the sting of missing the postseason.
“There’s not a person in the organization that doesn’t think we should have made the playoffs,” Riley told the Associated Press. And for good reason.
Despite the Heat’s turbulent season, stemming from LeBron James’ departure and spiraling out of control due to countless injuries, they were right there. At one point, Miami was even about to move up to the sixth seed. But as seemed to be the theme this year, in the blink of an eye, the Heat fell to the tenth seed, their dreams being cut short.
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Finishing 37-45, there was little to celebrate in South Beach this season. Alongside every positive stride, there was bad news lurking in the background. While Chris Bosh resigned with Miami, his year was cut short by a blood clot in his lung. Hassan Whiteside emerged as a superstar, but stunted his true potential with a bad attitude and a lacerated hand to boot. Dwyane Wade had a handful of breakthrough games resembling his “Flash” days, only for his future to be questioned by reoccurring ailments. However, the good news is the Heat can now leave this terrible season in the past and focus on the future.
"“I challenge myself more than anybody else to make sure that what happened this year won’t happen again,” commented Riley. “Failure will always drive you. I don’t want to hear any excuses about anything. And I always felt one of the greatest achievements on the part of anybody is through great adversity to win a championship or to win big or to do something above and beyond. Trying to be above and beyond, it’s a goal.”"
Riley may still be getting over the heartaches of 2014-2015, but soon he will have to zero in on new challenges. For instance, resigning Goran Dragic. Dragic will be opting out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent.
"“We feel very confident that we can [sign him]… but there has not been any indication, any discussion at all with he or his representatives about anything,” Riley said. “When I made the trade and gave up two picks for him, you roll the dice. But you also feel good about how we’re in a very good position to offer him more than anybody else.”"
For now, it does indeed appear as though Dragic would like to stick around, a fact that Miami fans are clinging onto for dear life. But as it goes in this league, nothing is ever certain. Take James’ decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, for example. And if anyone continues to play off of that grudge, it is Riley.
When asked about this summer’s free agency, Riley alluded to James, stating that there would be “no more smiling faces with hidden agendas.”
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There will be more than just free agency to deal with however. While the Heat will try to bring back the likes of Dragic and Luol Deng, they will also have a stake in this year’s draft.
Miami has a 91 percent chance of keeping their lottery pick and a 4 percent chance of a top-three pick. But if they fall below the top ten, they must give their pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, per a deal they orchestrated in order to acquire James in 2010.
"“Hopefully on May 19, we don’t have any more buzzards’ luck along the way,” Riley said. He also spoke on the type of player he would ideally be looking for. “I don’t want a one-dimensional guy. I’m not saying the perimeter is what needs to be filled. We’re going to take the best player that’s available unless there’s somebody there who we really like at a specific position.”"
It may take a while longer for Riley and the rest of the organization to stomach the loss of James, as well as falling short of the playoffs this season, but he is still confident in the team’s future.
“I think we’ll be right back competing, unlike a lot of people think we can.”