The Miami Heat are under construction, but do not expect to see an all out rebuild.
From a distance the Miami Heat organization always operated like a secret society. The team refused to let information leak and players respected the vision enough not to violate that mission.
Somewhere around the summer of 2013, the code changed.
The amnesty of Mike Miller angered teammates to the point where there were little gripes would hit the media. A year later James made his exit, followed by Dwyane Wade’s summer of discontent, the trades of Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen and the tug of war between management and Chris Bosh over his health.
In just a few short seasons after being praised for acquiring the Big Three, Pat Riley’s Teflon armor is being subjected to subliminal–and not-so-veiled–shots from fans, former players and their basketball wives.
The recent scrutiny and challenges could have led Riley to remark on media day that “I’ve had thoughts of moving on, but I woke up this morning and I was just excited.”
Being criticized is also the reason why hearing Riley say that the team is not tweaking or re-tooling, but rebuilding, is as hilarious as the Houston Rockets announcing that James Harden will be their full-time point guard.
Harden has the ability to pass (7.5 assists) but the pressure of having the ball in his hands for 38 minutes is how he winds up with 4.6 turnovers a game. Riley is the front office equivalent.
He can rebuild, however the weight of losing is too much for him to find solace in any potential turnaround. His drive to win now conflicts with a rebuild. His desire to prove that he has not lost touch with what it takes to make the NBA’s most elite placate to the Heat way creates a bigger challenge.
Players with a collection of championship rings want the power to have their own say-so. That in part is why things went bad between Bosh, Wade, James and the Heat organization.
Building through free agency with Bosh’s presumed medical retirement cap space would be ideal if it were not for a few scenarios.
Chris Paul’s friendship with James and Wade will keep him away, Russell Westbrook went back to Oklahoma City and Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant are likely to stay put. The other problem is that according to the latest installment of Bosh’s Uninterrupted web series, the Heat will have an issue keeping his cap space:
"“There’s 29 other teams, it’s a whole league. One team does not make up the opinion of everything.” (Chris Bosh)"
In other words, Bosh is determined to get on the court with the backdrop being the 25 games–regular season and playoffs–that he needs to play in order for the Heat to suffer under the restraints of his contract.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel touched on a solution:
"“Because this all is predicated on Chris Bosh’s salary being removed from the Heat’s salary cap on Feb. 9, I’m not sure that I wouldn’t strike immediately, in the ensuing time before the late-February trading deadline. That way, even in the long shot chance of Bosh being reinstated with another team, the money still could be spent in the interim.”"
Next: Chris Bosh not ready to call it quits
Such a strategy enables the team to fill Bosh’s void with players who are unhappy in their current situations. Think Rudy Gay or perhaps a John Wall. Two players who could–for better or for worse–change the rebuilding process into an official re-tooling. Just the way Riley has preferred his entire career.