Miami Heat: Pat Riley won’t retire until Heat win another championship
By Trey Flynn
Pat Riley said he’s staying with the Miami Heat until they win another championship. He has been with the Heat organization since 1995. Could you seriously see him with the Heat possibly past his 80th birthday?
Rahmeaun (@Boneman9000):
As team president, absolutely not. Maybe as a special advisor. No one seems to be able to overstay their welcome in Miami, but that remains to be seen with Pat Riley. Staying through his 80th birthday could see two possibly three different iterations of the roster. I’m sorry, but without proven success over those seven years, no owner can afford to have the same person in charge of the roster and basketball philosophy decisions. Hard pass. I’m going to stick to my guns and say he rides off into the sunset during the summer of 2021 when the Kelly Olynyk, James Johnson, and Dion Waiters contracts come off the books.
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Imran (@iebrahim81):
He’ll be around for sure. At this point, it somewhat feels that he’s completely synonymous with ‘Miami Heat,’ so it never feels like he’ll walk away. Yes, his last few years have been a roller coaster ride, especially with how relationships have gone with Wade and Bosh. But to have someone of Riley’s stature will always be an asset to a team. Just think about how you hear free agents speak in awe about him, even when they know the Heat can’t afford them. I believe LaMarcus Aldridge was asked about his experience meeting Pat Riley and he said something to the effect of saying that Riley was the best salesman he had ever met. Having that in the war chest is a priceless weapon. But as the years go by, I can easily see him moving more to an advisory role to MY future team president, Shane Battier.
Rohan (@theboyro):
Pat Riley is a very competitive and stubborn man. At 73, he still wants the Heat to be competing for championships. Awesome! Reality: There’s no real scenario where the Heat will be competitive for a championship this season and next season. Unless he has a medical scare, for some reason, I see him trying to stay till 80. Let me explain. I think Riley is still fuming at how LeBron left the Heat five years ago. He’s as determined as Dan Gilbert was when LeBron left Cleveland in 2010. The difference is Miami is closer to a title than the Cavs are currently, but that doesn’t say much. No matter how much younger the new crop of NBA talent and how they only remember Riley as being part of the Heat organization and not winning titles with the Lakers in the 80s, Pat still wants to win. Period. He still thinks he can drop rings on a table and for free agents to be in awe. Those tactics are getting old, and one day, he’s going to lose one as it falls off the table and rolls into the closet.