Miami Heat: 3 Goals for president Pat Riley in 2018-19

Spend Cautiously

Perhaps on one of the best contracts in the league, Richardson signed a four-year, $42 million extension in 2017.

On 2018-19 figures alone, Richardson is making less than Dwight Powell, Terrence Ross, Iman Shumpert, Austin Rivers, Ian Mahinmi, and Jordan Clarkson, to name a few.

I can deal with the Waiters and Olynyk contracts.

But here comes another extension on the way: Winslow.

Now I’ve been pretty lenient on Winslow and had some pretty entertaining arguments, with me typically being one of only people protecting and defending him.

I’ve used arguments like ‘He got unfair hype after those Boston Celtics trade rumours leaked’ or ‘He’s been thrust into so many different lineups playing so many different roles, and he’s still young.’

But it’s that time now.

Riley either has to trade him or open the check book. The real goal for Mr. Riley is to make sure he doesn’t overpay on the 31 percent 3-point shooter, winger turned point guard.

We’ve all seen how he is when handing out money recently.

And the last thing the Miami franchise needs is to be strapped to young guy who can’t shoot for an obscene amount of money. They’re not the Charlotte Hornets.

(Yes, I’m looking at you, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.)

If Riley can pay Winslow something very similar to Richardson, or even let Winslow test out the restricted free agent market to see the low-ball offers the market will bring and therefore bring his price even further down, I’ll be happy with it.

If there’s a goal I want him to achieve, it’s this one. If there’s any move that forges the future of the Miami Heat, it’s this one.

Here’s to a successful year for Pat Riley.