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Miami Heat Round Table: Taking inventory of the win streak

By All U Can Heat Staff

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Feb 1, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Willie Reed (L) Heat guard Goran Dragic (C) Heat forward James Johnson (third from left) and Heat forward Okaro White (R) laugh on the bench during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat won 116-93. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Willie Reed (L) Heat guard Goran Dragic (C) Heat forward James Johnson (third from left) and Heat forward Okaro White (R) laugh on the bench during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat won 116-93. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Have you changed your mind about how the Heat should rebuild?

Tachauer: Nope. Like I’ve been saying all along, they should absolutely keep trying to win games, and rely on trades and free agency to work their way back up to the top. They should definitely also hang on to Dragic. Forever. Forever ever. Forever ever.

Urbina: No. The draft should have been the way to go. I just don’t believe long-term success can come from building around Whiteside, Dragic, and Waiters. Two of those guys already got massive deals, and it seems like Waiters will be next. Riley has been very successful in Miami (obviously), but I believe what he’s doing is short-sighted. Further, it would have been so much easier to take the tanking route when they were 11-30. Now, after nine wins in a row, if they do decide to move Dragic, Waiters, or Johnson (either one), in an attempt to get a higher draft pick, Heat fans would revolt. We are currently stuck in quite the pickle, and I’m genuinely excited to see what Riley does at the trade deadline.

Mora: Not at all. We always argue tanking versus free agency, but I always choose trades and free agency. With the draft, it’s never a sure thing. It can go both ways, so I have never been a fan to completely give up on a whole season and rely on tanking especially with the NBA lottery. I have endured two losing Miami seasons and it has been horrible. I never want to go through that again. Winning is the Miami way.

Smith: It doesn’t change the big picture in terms of acquiring a superstar calibre player. Therefore with no all-stars on the roster, the Heat will need to decide on who they wish to retain moving forward before exploring the trade market and free-agency.

Nurse: I still feel like the Heat should build through a combination of trades and the draft. Regardless of if their pick is at the top of the lottery or near the end, Pat Riley and his team have to find a player who can give a solid contribution next year. And since the new collective bargaining agreement will keep many free agents from changing addresses, Miami should look to trade Chris Bosh’s impending cap space (in the summer) for a star or pieces that can impact winning the following season.

Haynes: No. The Heat have always used the draft as a supplement to trades and free agency. This year is no different. Frankly, I’m not sure any single player in this year’s draft will change the destiny of a franchise. So, Riley will have to find a way to get an existing superstar to come to South Beach if he wants another championship run.

Next: 4 Blockbuster Trades the Heat Could Pull Off

Brock: Not really. Riley was always going to build through trades and free agency. It would have been nice to have a high pick in this year’s draft, but it’s not in Riley’s DNA to stay there for long. He will determine the assets to keep, and try and move some combination of the rest. The new CBA makes it harder to land a star through free agency or trades, but Riley has proven he can make moves in tight spaces.

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