The Miami Heat off-season could have been tremendously disastrous with them losing their best player LeBron James. After LeBron’s decision, the team could have opted to not re-sign Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in order to re-build, but they did not follow that path.
Once they lost LeBron James, the Heat quickly turned their attention to other costless agents. Right away, they signed Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger.
McRoberts had a fantastic season with Charlotte. He is a great floor spacer and passer at the four spot. His I.Q. for the game will greatly help the team. As for Granger, if he could stay healthy, he will be a wonderful addition to their bench as he could provide perimeter defense and shooting.
Once those two costless agents were locked in, the Heat re-signed Chris Bosh. Miami went all out to keep Bosh, but it will be worth it. With James gone, Bosh will have to carry more responsibilities, but he should be able to handle it. During the Big 3 era, there have been several times where James sat out with an injury, and Bosh was able to carry the team to victory. Bosh will fly under the radar this season with his incredible play.
The Heat also re-signed Dwyane Wade. Although Wade has been slowed down by injuries over the past few years, he could still help the team with some scoring needs, play making, and leadership. Wade has been hiding under the shadows of LeBron the past couple of years. He should be able to cash in a much better year this upcoming season, even if he is bothered by mild injuries.
The Heat retained Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, and Udonis Haslem as well. Chalmers is coming off a poor finals performance. He is looking to bounce back this season and will most likely continue to supply Miami with defensive energy and some three-point shooting. Haslem, the longtime Miami Heat, will bring experience, leadership, and knowledge to the team like he has in the past. As for the Birdman, he is expected to bring the same energy, hustle, and shot blocking.
The most impressive move made this summer by the Heat was the costless agent signing of Luol Deng. He is not LeBron James, but Deng will deliver exceptional perimeter defense, size, and three-point shooting for Miami. He will be an excellent fit for this team, and he was, after all, the next best costless agent forward on the market after James.
Reggie Williams, Shannon Brown, and Shawne Williams were the next few moves made by the Heat. Reggie Williams will serve as a ball handler off the bench. Meanwhile, Brown gives the Heat more shooting guard depth, and we will see if he can revive his career in Miami. Brown has always been known for his off the charts athleticism. He could also provide some three-point shooting. Shawne Williams could serve as a stretch four off the bench if he makes the roster. He brings plenty of defensive energy and plays hard every game.
Nonetheless, the Miami Heat have bounced back well after losing their star player. They have made enough moves to keep themselves in playoff contention. As a matter of fact, they could still be a top 3 or 4 team in the Eastern Conference.
Grade: B-
Depth Chart:
PG: Mario Chalmers/Norris Cole/Shabazz Napier
SG: Dwyane Wade/Reggie Williams/Shannon Brown/Tyler Johnson/Andre Dawkins
SF: Luol Deng/Danny Granger/James Ennis
PF: Josh McRoberts/Udonis Haslem/Shawne Williams/Shawn Jones
C: Chris Bosh/Chris Andersen/Khem Birch
Coach: Erik Spoelstra