Heat Make No Picks In NBA Draft

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – Here we go again. For the second time in four years, the Miami Heat made no picks in the NBA draft.

An array of trades made in recent years — including the deal that officially sent LeBron James to Miami in 2010 — left the Heat with no selection.

The Heat also had no pick in 1996, 2006 and 2013.

With no draft additions, the Heat will do the bulk of their offseason work through free agency. Dwyane Wade, Hassan Whiteside, Luol Deng, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire and Udonis Haslem are among the most notable Heat players who could become free on July 1.

Miami went 48-34 last season, reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Top 10 Draft selections set to compete at Samsung NBA Summer League 2016

NEW YORK — A matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers, owners of the first and second overall picks, respectively, in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm, highlights the 67-game schedule atSamsung NBA Summer League 2016. The 11-day showcase of top young NBA talent will run from Friday, July 8 through Monday, July 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

LeBron: Hurtful parting words served as motivation

LeBron James said that some people he "trusted" told him that he made the biggest mistake of his career when he left the Miami Heat.

Here we go again in the cryptic saga of the relationship between LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

After winning his third NBA title Sunday night -- and first as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers -- James revealed what gave him some secret motivation to win another championship. And it seems that with Pat Riley, no love is lost between these two basketball legends.

Ten years ago, the Miami Heat won its first NBA championship

This column by Dan Le Batard was originally published in the Miami Herald on June 21, 2006. The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 95-92 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win its first championship. See historic images and buy memorabilia at Flashback Miami.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Smiling and hugging and screaming and dancing and blowing kisses and raising index fingers and pounding on their hearts and high-fiving and laughing and raising their arms in triumph, the best basketball team South Florida has ever seen held up the golden trophy at midnight here Tuesday night.

Could LeBron James ditch Cleveland again and return to Heat?

LeBron James just put on one of the greatest NBA Finals performances of all time, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 93-89 Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

First off, James signed a two-year deal with the Cavs last summer, but the contract has a player option after the first year. So he could opt out and head south — or anywhere, for that matter, willing to pay him somewhere between $25-30 million a year.

Second, you could argue that in delivering the city’s first title since 1964, James has fulfilled whatever “obligation” he had to Cleveland. Most of those who were burning his jersey six years ago when he left are at this moment out celebrating an NBA championship.

Then and Now: A look back at the 2006 championship Heat

Heat/NBA finish line: Anderson was waived by the Heat in Sept. 2006, six weeks later signing with the Bobcats. Anderson's NBA career came to an end in 2007-08 with Charlotte.

2016 update: Anderson owns several entrepreneurial pursuits, including hotel, automobile, clothing and media businesses, while also writing screenplays and books.

Of note: Anderson was one of two players from the 2006 championship team who declined to sign a commemorative basketball from the team's championship season (Shandon Anderson was the other). He told HoopsHype.com in 2014, "It was just fun to be around guys who wanted to win. Pat Riley does things the way he wants. We won a championship and it was great to be part of that championship team."

Shandon Anderson

2005-06 season: Appeared in 48 regular-season games for the Heat, starting one, averaging 2.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists. He then appeared in 13 playoff games, for 90 total minutes.

Heat/NBA finish line: Anderson was not re-signed as a free agent in the 2006 offseason, with his NBA career coming to an end at that point.

2016 update: Anderson took an interest in vegetarian eating and lifestyle, as well as art, during his NBA career, which led to the opening of Drink Art, a restaurant in Atlanta, after attending the Living Light Culinary Institute and the Natural Gourmet Institute.

Of note: Anderson was one of two players from the 2006 championship team who declined to sign a commemorative basketball from the team's championship season (Derek Anderson was the other). He told CNN in 2014 of retiring after winning the 2006 title with the Heat, "I needed a change. I told myself that my last year in the NBA was to win a championship and after I did that, I knew it was time to try something new." He then turned to cooking and the arts.

Earl Barron

2005-06 season: Appeared in eight regular-season games for a total of 45 minutes, averaging 1.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.0 assists. He did not appear in the playoffs.

Heat/NBA finish line: Barron was not retained after the 2007-08 season, continuing his NBA career through 2014-15, with time with the Knicks, Suns, Bucks, Trail Blazers and Warriors.

2016 update: Barron has been playing for the Fubon Braves of the Super Basketball League in Taiwan, with Joe Lin, a younger brother of Jeremy Lin, among his teammates there. Among his performances this past season was a 46-point, 20-rebound game.

Of note: Barron participated in the 2015 World Series of Poker, eliminated in the early stages.

Michael Doleac

2005-06 season: Appeared in 31 regular-season games, starting three, averaging 3.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists. He then appeared in eight playoff games for a total of 72 minutes.

Heat/NBA finish line: Was traded from the Heat to the Timberwolveson Oct. 24, 2007 along with Antoine Walker, Wayne Simien and a first-round pick for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. He played 24 games during that 2007-08 season in Minnesota before retiring.

2016 update: Doleac teaches physics and coaches the boys' varsity basketball team at Park City High School in Park City, Utah. He returned to his alma mater, the University of Utah, after his career to pursue a master's degree in physics.

Of note: Doleac had expressed a goal of pursuing a medical career after his Heat tenure, but instead enrolled in a pilot program designed to help fill the shortage of science and math teachers in Utah.

Udonis Haslem

2005-06 season: Appeared in 81 regular-season games, starting 80, averaging 9.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists. He then started all but one of the Heat's playoff games, suspended for one for throwing his mouthpiece toward referee Joey Crawford.

Heat/NBA finish line: Haslem is one of two players, with Dwyane Wade the other, who have remained with the Heat since that inaugural franchise title.

2016 update: Haslem becomes a free agent on July 1, expected to be offered another contract to extend his Heat career into a 14th season.

Of note: Haslem and Wade are the only players with rings from each of the Heat's three championship seasons.

Jason Kapono

2005-06 season: Appeared in 51 regular-season games, starting two, averaging 4.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists. He then appeared in one playoff game for two minutes.

Heat/NBA finish line: Kapono appeared in 67 games for the Heat in 2006-07, emerging as one of the NBA's premier 3-point shooters, turning that exposure into a free-agent contract with the Raptors in the 2007 offseason. His NBA career ended in 2011-12 with the Lakers, before a stint in the Greek League in 2012-13.

2016 update: Kapono was on the cusp of joining the Warriors for what turned into Golden State's 2014-15 championship season, cut at the end of training camp. "I figured why not give it a shot?" Kapono said, ultimately retiring at 33.

Of note: Kapono is the parent of twin girls who are 4 1/2 and twin boys who are 2 1/2, playing golf when he can.

Alonzo Mourning

2005-06 season: Appeared in 65 regular-season games, starting 20, averaging 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists. He then appeared in 21 playoff games, all as a reserve, closing with a dominating defensive performance in the title-clinching victory in Dallas.

Heat/NBA finish line: Mourning was forced into retirement by a devastating knee injury sustained in the middle of the 2007-08 season, having previously returned to the NBA after a kidney transplant.

2016 update: Mourning just completed his seventh season as the Heat's vice president of player programs.

Of note: Mourning was enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014, a year after Gary Payton became the first player from the Heat's 2006 championship team to be enshrined. Shaquille O'Neal will join them in Springfield in September.

* * * * * *

Shaquille O'Neal

2005-06 season: Appeared in 59 regular-season games, starting 58, averaging 20 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He then started all 23 playoff games.

Heat/NBA finish line: O'Neal was traded by the Heat to the Suns on Feb. 6, 2008, for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. His NBA career ended after appearing in 37 games with the Boston Celtics in 2010-11, limited by a debilitating calf injury.

2016 update: O'Neal is best known for his role as a studio analyst forTNT and NBA TV, while also involved in a variety of entertainment and entrepreneurial ventures.

Of note: After an ugly parting with the Heat that essentially resulted in a trade demand, O'Neal and the Heat have mended fences, with O'Neal's Heat No. 32 to be retired next season.

Gary Payton

2005-06 season: Appeared in 81 regular-season games, starting 25, averaging 7.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He then appeared in all 23 playoff games as a reserve.

Heat/NBA finish line: Payton retired from the NBA after returning to the Heat for the 2006-07 season on a minimum-scale one-year contract.

2016 update: Payton has worked as an NBA analyst for several outlets, including NBA TV and Fox Sports 1, now helping guide his son, Gary Payton II, through the NBA pre-draft process, with the younger Payton having recently completed his senior season at Oregon.

Of note: Payton is working with the NBA and Mountain Dew to promote 3-on-3 halfcourt basketball, which has been pushed for inclusion as an Olympic sport.

James Posey

2005-06 season: Appeared in 67 regular-season games, starting 63, averaging 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He then was shifted into a reserve role in the postseason, playing off the bench in all but one of his 22 playoff appearances.

Heat/NBA finish line: Posey left the Heat for a two-year contract with the Celtics as a free agent during the 2007 offseason. His NBA playing career ended after spending the 2010-11 season with the Pacers.

2016 update: Posey is in his second season as a Cavaliers assistant coach.

Of note: Posey remains the only player from the 2005-06 Heat to go on to win a title with another team, as part of the Celtics' 2008 championship.

Wayne Simien

2005-06 season: Appeared in 43 regular-season games, starting two, averaging 3.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.2 assists. He then appeared in two playoff games for a total of seven minutes.

Heat/NBA finish line: Was traded from the Heat to the Timberwolves on Oct. 24, 2007 along with Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac and a first-round pick for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. His eight games for the Heat in 2006-07 were the last of his NBA career.  His final professional season was in Spain in 2008-09.

2016 update: Simien moved from his basketball career into the Christian ministry "Called to Greatness," which ministers college students, serving as campus director at the University of Kansas.

Of note: Of his brief, 51-game NBA career being followed by this lengthier career in the ministry, Simien earlier this year told Athlon Sports, "When that became more exciting to me than putting a ball through a hoop, I knew that’s when it was time to make that transition full time."

Dwyane Wade

2005-06 season: Appeared in 75 regular-season games, all as a starter, averaging 27.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. He then started all 23 playoff games, averaging 28.4 points, including 34.7 against theMavericks in the NBA Finals.

Heat/NBA finish line: Wade is one of two players, with Udonis Haslem the other, who have remained with the Heat since that inaugural franchise title.

2016 update: Wade becomes a free agent on July 1, to be offered another contract to extend his Heat career into a 14th season.

Of note: Wade and Haslem are the only players with rings from each of the Heat's three championship seasons.

Antoine Walker

2005-06 season: Appeared in all 82 regular-season games, the only player on the roster to do so, starting 19, averaging 12.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He then started all 23 playoff games.

Heat/NBA finish line: Was traded from the Heat to the Timberwolves on Oct. 24, 2007 along with Wayne Simien, Michael Doleac and a first-round pick for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. Walker appeared in 46 games for Minnesota in 2007-08, the final games of his NBA career. He was dealt to the Grizzlies in the 2008 offseason, waived by Memphis before appearing in a regular-season game, playing briefly thereafter in Puerto Rico and the D-League.

2016 update: Walker is working as an NBA analyst for "120 Sports," a digital-only sports network based in Chicago, with Sports Illustrated among the network's equity partners.

Of note: Walker's monetary woes have been well chronicled, going from $108 million in career earnings into bankruptcy in 2010, which led to producing a documentary as a cautionary tale to other athletes, "Gone in an Instant."

Jason Williams

2005-06 season: Appeared in 59 regular-season games, starting 56, averaging 12.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He then started all 23 playoff games.

Heat/NBA finish line: Williams left the Heat to sign with the Clippers as a free agent in the 2008 offseason but then announced his retirement before training camp. He sat out 2008-09 but then returned to play two seasons with the Magic and Grizzlies in 2009-10 and '10-11 before announcing his retirement on April 18, 2011.

2016 update: Williams remains a regular at Magic home games in Orlando and is a fixture on the pro-am circuit in Central Florida. Even at 40, his ballhandling videos from those prom-am games still go viral.

Of note: Williams has committed to playing in The Basketball Tournament, a summer single-elimination tournament for non-NBA players known for its $1 million winner-take-all prize. Williams is on a team that features former Heat guard Mike Bibby.

Dorell Wright

2005-06 season: Appeared in 20 regular-season games for a total of 132 minutes. He did not appear in the playoffs.

Heat/NBA finish line: Wright left the Heat to join the Warriors as a free agent in the 2010 offseason, also playing with the 76ers, Trail Blazers and in China before rejoining the Heat at the end of this past season.

2016 update: Wright becomes a free agent on July 1 and is not expected to be offered another contract by the Heat.

Of note: At 20 at the time of the Heat's 2006 title, Wright remains the youngest player to win a championship with the Heat.

Heat president: NBA wants future All-Star game in Miami

The 2017 NBA All-Star game is scheduled for Charlotte (though that could change), and the 2018 event is headed to Los Angeles.

After that?

Ira Winderman of the South Florida SunSentinel:

"Appearing Wednesday at the unveiling of the Heat’s Learn & Play Center at Robert King High Park, Eric Woolworth. the Heat Group president of business operations, said the Heat are not part of the process of the NBA assessing venue options for the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte amid concerns over restrictive LGBT legislation currently in place in North Carolina."

"“The NBA has made it clear to us that they would like to try figure out how to come to Miami,” he said, after appearing at Wednesday’s community event alongside Alonzo Mourning and Josh Richardson. “And so, we have put some feelers out to the people around town, to see what can be done. And so I would say we’re at the very preliminary stages of trying to figure something out.”

A warm-weather city on the water in February? I can see why people would appreciate that.

2016 NBA free agents: Four tempting scenarios for Dwyane Wade

As usual, there’s almost no chance Dwyane Wade leaves Miami this summer. Almost.

With the end of his career looming, this is one of Wade’s final opportunities to explore anything else that entices him. He’s never given voice to any dream of playing somewhere else, but here are four possibilities that must’ve crossed his mind as we near July 1:

Cleveland Cavaliers
Never underestimate or dismiss the bond between Wade and LeBron James. That’s what pulled James to Miami in 2010 and it could prompt Wade to consider joining up with his friend in Cleveland. Would Wade fit with the Cavaliers? Many doubted the cohesiveness of the Big Three in Miami before each player found a way to make it work. There’s also a chance the Cavs will move Kyrie Irving this offseason.

Los Angeles Lakers
If James is seriously about putti
ng together a Super Friends team with Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, this might be the place to do it. The Lakers have about $70 million in salary cap space for next season, and building this in Los Angeles means Paul wouldn’t have to relocate. Paul can become a free agent after next season, and the Lakers would have to find a way to trade for Anthony.

Chicago Bulls
Does the allure of home mean anything to Wade? If so, he’s rarely expressed that publicly other than taking free agency meetings with the Bulls in 2010. Since then, it hasn’t come up. Still, this could be an area where James’ influence shows up indirectly. Perhaps seeing him go home would move Wade to want the same. The problem here is that the Bulls are far from contention — they sound closer to holding a fire sale than loading up — and they would have trouble finding a spot for him basketball-wise unless they trade one of their high-priced guards.

Los Angeles Clippers
This is another possible Super Friends location (it would require at least two major trades), but even if that’s too far-fetched this could work for Wade. The Clippers have the pieces to contend for a title and might have been in the mix for it this season if not for injuries to Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Assuming those two come back healthy, Los Angeles could line up four potential All-Stars with them, Wade and DeAndre Jordan.

2016 NBA free agents: Does Dwight Howard make sense for Miami Heat?

While the Heat have said publicly their top priority this offseason is re-signing center Hassan Whiteside, they certainly are making a list of contingency plans in case that doesn’t happen.

One man who probably isn’t on that list? Dwight Howard.

Howard’s talent has always been enticing and his skillset would make him a decent fallback should Whiteside leave, but the combination of age and salary makes this a nonstarter for Miami. Assuming Howard declines his player option for next season, he will become a free agent July 1 and is likely looking for one more giant contract. Someone will give it to him, but it probably won’t be the Heat.

Whiteside, who is four years younger, outplayed him last season (not by a ton) and probably won’t cost as much. Howard would make $23.3 million by opting in with the Rockets next season, so it’s difficult to picture him taking less than that as a starting salary on this summer’s free agency deal.

Howard has been working to bolster his image after leaving a bad impression on each of his three teams. His exit in Orlando was as ugly as it gets, leaving the Lakers wasn’t far behind and he’s taken plenty of criticism in Houston.

“I’m always interested in winning,” he told TNT. “There’s been times I’ve been upset and I’ve taken myself out of games and situations. That’s on me. I have to go and be a better player at that. I’m always interested in the game. People say I smile too much. I play too much on the floor. So when I’m not smiling, it looks like I’m not interested in the game.”

Howard averaged 13.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game last season — all of which were among his three worst seasons. The only way he makes sense for the Heat is if he’s willing to sign a short, modest deal with the intent of re-proving himself and trying to land a huge contract in 2017 or ’18, but that seems highly unlikely.

Max Deals could very easily end the Miami Heat's near future

The Miami Heat are facing tough decisions. The most important of those is how to approach contract negotiations with Hassan Whiteside.

Whiteside could become the second Miami Heat player with a max contract on the team, with Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade also making big money. I am going to be making the argument that the Heat are on the verge of over-using the max deal contracts that will eventually lead to their doom.

Let me preface by saying this: I certainly do not hope for this to happen, nor do I necessarily think this is the likely scenario that happens for the team. All I want to conclude is that it is a possibility, and that they may be playing with fire.

Here's what the Heat are looking at right now:

Chris Bosh has a max contract that will pay him $23.7 million next season. That's regardless of if he even plays or not. If he does continue to play, he's also due in the following two seasons $25.2 and $26.8 million. He's currently 32 years old.
Goran Dragic has a near max contract that will pay him $15.8 million next season, then $17 million, $18.1 million and $19.2 million dollars through the 2020 season. He will be 34 years old when that season ends.
Hassan Whiteside is likely getting a max contract from the Miami Heat near the $22 million range. It will be a five-year deal that will keep him in a Heat uniform (as long as Pat says) until he's 32 years old.
That's the outlook, again even without including Dwyane Wade's high-dollar deal that will keep him here.

Here's how it can all go wrong.

1. Chris Bosh might not play again. That's bad for next season and a lot of money tied up. But if Bosh doesn't play again, his remaining two seasons of salary will not count against the cap in '17-18. That won't be the end of the world, but it will take Wade out of any contention for another Finals appearance. Miami simply can't expect to make a run with $23 million in a suit.

2. Goran Dragic might still be a bad fit in Miami. There were rumors he was being traded for Jeff Teague at the deadline. He came on once Bosh went out, but he hasn't reached his worth yet here in Miami. Imagine that for a moment. Dragic will be aging soon, declining in speed and athleticism (he just turned 30) and making high pay on this team.

Remember, he is the engine. The Heat will go as far as Dragic is comfortable as a point guard here. And they began to figure things out, but it was overly promising that he has it together. If he isn't happy, not producing, or declines, the Heat have a lot of money invested in him. Already, there were plenty of times that Erik Spoelstra didn't use him in crunch time, opting for Josh Richardson.

It makes me nervous the type of money he is owed vs what he has produced.

3. Hassan Whiteside might go crazy. We've seen Whiteside have his moments. He's a kid in a man's body. I mean, watch his SnapChat stories sometime. Imagine him with money to spare at $22 million a year. The guy is living in an apartment with his buddies. His life is going to change and I don't know how he will handle it. He may do fine, or he may go nuts.

On the court, we aren't even sure what we have. He's a dynamic defender and was an improving offensive player. But to give a max contract to a guy that really never had his number called for a play for him to create anything seems risky. He's going to get a massive deal, either here or elsewhere...I get it. We will have to pay to keep him. He does enough to be reimbursed for his impact.

Things could go south here for the Heat with the money he will make...will he live up to it in year 3, 4, or 5? Will he learn anything from this playoff experience where Al Jefferson and Jonas Valanciunas routinely worked him? There's a lot of questions.

Conclusion
Any combination of these things will land-lock the Miami Heat in max deals unable to do anything in free agency in the future. They don't have sufficient draft picks, even though Pat is great at dealing away the parts he doesn't want, Miami needs to recognize the fire they are playing with here. If things go their way, they could be set up for a nice future in the next few years.

But there's always the potential that these deals can bite them. And that bite is hard and will leave a mark for a long time.

NBA salary cap explosion benefits Miami Heat in free agency

The Miami Heat will benefit from the coming salary cap explosion due to Florida being one of only seven states without a state income tax. This advantage is especially true for NBA stars who have substantial endorsement incomes, because they have to pay state income taxes on their contracts inside and outside the court in most states.

California residents pay up to 13%, New York residents 12%, Oklahoma 5%, and Ohio 5% in state income tax on their total earnings. Even when their playing days are over, they'll be giving these states part of their paycheck for the privilege of residing there.

The state tax becomes a significant chunk of change when max players contracts may leap from $100+ million to $200+ million after all the television money comes into play over the next few seasons. The basketball free agents will be looking long and hard when they sign long-term deals, as the numbers for elite players stand to become massive over the span of the contracts.

The actual contracts for the handful of max players isn't as simple as only taxes. This article on a hypothetical situation for Kevin Durant points out he would earn slightly more staying put in Oklahoma City (see comment), because of CBA rules. The article does not mention the state taxes he pays on his $300 million Nike contract. When Durant said he hasn't made any choices yet, he's been totally honest about how complicated the process is before signing on the dotted line.

Most people see Miami as a great place to enjoy the weather, both in summer and then the winter basketball season.

The climate lends itself as a haven for athletes to work out and enjoy life all year long. The Heat have Bill Foran on the Stack list as one of the top 8 strength and conditioning coaches in the NBA, "Bill Foran is the O.G. [original gangsta] of basketball strength and conditioning, having been with the Miami Heat since their inception in 1988...Foran's training methods have evolved as the game has changed, and he now focuses his efforts with the Heat on total body balance strength training."

Come July 6th the expensive free agents won't visit Florida to think only of balmy winters. Their agents, accountants and lawyers will be there to advise them on the real costs of a commitment to long-term contracts, since the numbers go way beyond those of a few years ago. Especially prime opportunities for the Heat lie with players who have significant endorsement contracts, which would be taxed by many states for years to come.

Other ingredients in the mix include the prospect of having a Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside on their team to possibly reach the NBA Finals playing in the Eastern Conference. All things considered, the Florida lifestyle, both financially and physically, looms as attractive options as the massive contracts become reality.

Mario Chalmers thinks Kevin Love should call Chris Bosh

"IChalmers was asked if Kevin Love fit with the Cavs. After Cleveland got beat in the first two games of the Finals, they won Game 3 by 30 points without Kevin Love who hadn't completed the concussion protocol after his hit in Game 2. Now, people are really starting to question, wonder and talk about how Love fits on this team.

And who are they asking? Yeah...Mario Chalmers.

And what's Chalmers response...Kevin should call Chris Bosh.

But hey, it's got some merit to it. Chris Bosh made a very similar adjustment to playing style and attitude when it comes to going from the go-to guy to the third option. Bosh wasn't perfect at it, but he changed his game, added new pieces and adjusted in a way that eventually led to two NBA Championships in 4 Finals visits.

Chris Bosh was routinely touted as the "most important" part of their team. Even with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade next to him, they looked at him as the one who would put it all together and complete their trio to make it potent.

That's not necessarily happening in Cleveland right now. Kevin Love at times can feel out of place. That was evident in Game 3 where Cleveland just raked the Warriors without Love. They may play better without him, at least against the Warriors.

Nonetheless, Chalmers is telling Love to call Bosh for some advice. That doesn't really do the Miami Heat any favors, they would prefer theCavaliers not get to the level the Heat reached in those four years.

But, thanks to Rio for creating some discussion.

2016 NBA free agents: Count on Kevin Durant going to Miami Heat

MIAMI — While the wide-ranging belief in NBA circles seems to be that Kevin Durant will stick around in Oklahoma City and the possibility of him heading tothe Heat is an extreme long shot, Pat Riley isn’t working under that assumption.

He rejected that talk six years ago when he acquired LeBron James and Chris Bosh and is doing so again this summer as he pursues what he has referred to as “a whale.”

One player in this free-agent class fits that description, and it’s Durant.

Since the day James called to say he was leaving in July 2014, the organization has been planning to take a monumental move in the summer of ’16 and/or ’17. Riley has been plotting for two years — no signing or trade was made without making sure it wouldn’t hurt “Operation Whale” — and hopes to get a chance to pitch Durant when free agency opens July 1.

If that meeting materializes, how will Riley pitch the Heat as the place to be for Durant?

1. They can make him better.

The Heat, starting with coach Erik Spoelstra, elevated James to several of the best seasons of his career, and they can do it with Durant. Certainly it helped that Miami had James from age 26 to 29, but the staff deserves some credit for James’ stellar production. The same case can be made regarding Bosh.

The best defensive rating James ever posted was in 2011-12, and his four seasons with the Heat are among his top five when it comes to true shooting percentage, an advanced analytic that accounts for 3-pointers, 2-point field goals and free throws. Spoelstra steered him to play in the post more, and that strategy peaked in the final season when he averaged 27.1 points on a career-high 56.7 percent shooting.

2. He can trust Pat Riley.

Players and coaches come and go, but the best teams have stability at the top. Few teams in the league can offer the respect and trust Riley has earned. Not only does he possess the ambition to chase championships, he’s been quite successful doing it. At the moment, only the Spurs stack up to Miami’s reputation. Golden State is getting there.

Most of the attention Riley gets is for landing big prizes like Shaquille O’Neal and James, but he’s a mastermind at roster building. He surrounded the Big Three with strong role players like Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Chris Andersen and Mike Miller. Even without an obvious contender on his hands, he persuaded Amar’e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson to sign cheaply this season.

It’s impossible to project who Riley might pick up to put around Durant, but there’s extensive track record that indicates they’ll be pretty good.

3. They have complementary pieces.

Miami’s roster is ready-made for Durant, even with Bosh’s uncertain future. If the Heat can re-sign Hassan Whiteside, they’ll have top-line players at center, point guard and shooting guard going into next season. With the offensive boost from Durant, they can afford to have defensive-minded Justise Winslow at small or power forward.

Dwyane Wade should have at least one more season in which he’s capable of carrying the scoring load, and Goran Dragic’s predisposition to play fast should appeal to Durant. Whiteside should be compatible, too, given that Durant took 69 percent of his shots from 10 feet or deeper last season.

Durant and any four humans would make a nice starting lineup, but Miami’s argument will be that it already has a strong and suitable core for him to join. If Bosh is able to make it back, it’s a bonus.

4. Their young talent is an asset.

If Riley’s grand dream of landing Durant, keeping Whiteside and satisfying Wade comes true, the Heat will be extremely short on salary-cap space to fill out the secondary tier of their roster. The only ways they can get relief in the near future are if Bosh retires or Josh McRoberts turns down his $6 million player option after next season.

However, Riley will have pieces he can move if necessary. Winslow and Josh Richardson are coming off highly encouraging rookie seasons, and Riley could parlay them into players that fit better. Then again, there’s reason to believe both of them will continue developing into players the team would never want to trade. The Heat also have three first-round picks in the next four drafts.

5. He’ll make more money here than some places.

Durant is unbelievably wealthy and will make a staggering amount of money no matter where he spends the rest of his career. However, Miami is one of five teams that plays in a state with no state income tax.

Durant’s most lucrative path is signing a one-year deal with Oklahoma City, then staying there on a five-year max contract next summer, but the Heat, Magic or one of the Texas teams can make up some of the difference because of state tax. That benefit also applies to his endorsement deals, including that reported $300 million Nike contract. If he went to the Warriors, for example, California has a 13.3 percent state tax.

Hassan Whiteside is the ‘Most Obtainable Free Agent’

While many assume the Miami Heat will retain Hassan Whiteside this summer, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders says “if the Heat try to play games, sources close to the situation say Whiteside will go shopping.”

The narrative around Whiteside has been that he’d like to stay in Miami. He’s comfortable there, has had success there and they can pay him the most money of any team in the league. Assuming that’s the offer from the HEAT, there is a better than average chance he signs a new deal. If the HEAT try to play games, sources close to the situation say Whiteside will go shopping.

Now whether the shopping would be to apply pressure on the Heat in an effort to squeeze out maximum dollars or whether he’ll truly shift his focus to other teams is important.

Also, does “play games” mean offer anything less than the max?

There is a sense that Whiteside is one of the top names on the Lakers’ wish list of free agents, with the Celtics also interested. The problem with trying to peg either as having some edge over the other neglects that Whiteside could be the most obtainable free agent in the class and likely gets a lot of interest beyond those two suitors.

I would disagree with Kyler in that Whiteside is “the most obtainable free agent” because all indications are he will stay if the price is right. Even if the Heat don’t offer him a max deal, they can still offer him more money than any other team because of the lack of a state income tax along with being able to offer him higher annual raises.

So if Whiteside wants to stay and desires the most possible money — both realistic assumptions — staying in Miami is a simple decision.

League sources said this weekend that Whiteside is getting a full max deal – the question is will it be from the HEAT or someone else?

This last part seems silly regarding Kyler hearing from “league sources” Whiteside will get a full max deal. As mentioned earlier, he can still sign with Miami for less than a true max and still get more money than he could get elsewhere.

Considering Chris Bosh’s questionable health, Whiteside’s game-changing potential, and Pat Riley’s affinity for large men protecting the rim, there has to be a better chance than not Whiteside returns.

Then again, if negotiations spiral out of control and Whiteside is demanding that “full max deal,” something the Heat may be unwilling to offer, a polished big man like Al Horford would be a stellar Plan B.

ASK IRA: Could Heat experience a major roster turnover this offseason?

The way Pat Riley has cashed in on talented rookies in the past (Caron Butler comes to mind) means Justise Winslow in

A: I'm going to take a wider view of your question, although I do agree that Justise certainly could prove to be the difference in topping off a trade, just as Caron was in the deal that landed Shaquille O'Neal. Instead, I've been thinking about which players are the most likely to definitively be in uniform with the Heat next season from the current roster. To me, Dwyane Wade and Josh Richardson are the only locks. While Justise, Goran Dragic, Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts are under guaranteed contract to the Heat for 2016-17, Justise has the value you mentioned as a potential trade sweetener, Goran could be moved (although not likely) to create additional cap space, Bosh remains uncertain because of his health, and McRoberts hardly has cast himself as must-keep. Then there is Tyler Johnson, who could stand as the third-most-likely player to stay, unless an outside team offers a huge free-agency contract, which does not appear likely in light of his shoulder issue. Beyond that, everyone and anyone either does not have fully guaranteed money or is a free agent. Richardson, with his non-guaranteed contract, remains too much of a value to be headed anywhere, But otherwise? Luol Deng, Hassan Whiteside, Joe Johnson, Amar'e Stoudemire, Gerald Green, Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright are all impending free agents, with Briante Weber only with a conditionally guaranteed contract. Overall, I would say that you would start with the group of Wade, Richardson, Tyler Johnson and Udonis Haslem as those most likely to be back. After that? July will tell.

Q: Hey Ira, there has been a lot of focus on Chris Bosh's health, Hassan Whiteside and Kevin Durant free agency (which are all of importance). However, there some other issues the Heat need to address such as adding quality depth in the power rotation, such as Willie Reed, Jordan Hill or Jason Smith. All are serviceable and versatile power forwards and centers. What are your thoughts? -- Rodney, Miami.

A: There are two parts of free agency: The "sooner," which involves players such as Whiteside and Durant, and then the "later," which involves the players like the list you offer, similar to when the Heat made their moves last summer for Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green. Not to go too Pat Riley-esque on this, but the main thing in free agency is about the prime candidates, and the main thing will remain the main thing for the Heat at the outset of the negotiating and signing period.

Could the Miami Heat find a surprising undrafted prospect?

Aside from the Kevin Durant chatter, Miami Heat have other free agents, as well as undrafted prospects, to consider after the summer signing season begins July 1st.

Just because the Miami Heat do not have a first-round pick this year in the NBA Draft doesn't rule out finding an uncut gem waiting to be polished. One of the top-60 prospects this year from DraftExpress includes Gary Payton II, who is the son of former Heat Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton. Some regard him as the "2016 NBA Draft Sleeper."

The skinny on his prospects as #48 in DraftExpress' mock draft is, "Lacking a degree of high level experience, Payton's combination of athleticism, defensive potential, and solid playmaking ability make him a fairly intriguing prospect nonetheless. More raw than many players his age, Payton's lack of great polish as a shooter and ball handler are concerns, but also areas that he could conceivably make strides in down the road."

The reality of having only five players on the court and 15 on a roster, makes breaking into the NBA extremely difficult. The Heat have four under 30-year-old development projects in Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Tyler Johnson and Briante Weber. A young prospect would face long odds to be included in the mix.

Having said that, here are several hopefuls attending tryouts seeking to land a spot on a NBA team.

Anthony Bennett
Bobby Brown
Dwight Buycks
Chris Copeland
Jordan Crawford
Chris Douglas-Roberts
Pierre Jackson
Cory Jefferson
Grant Jerrett
Alex Kirk
Ognjen Kuzmic
Ray McCallum
Phil Pressey
Peyton Siva
Greg Stiemsma
Adonis Thomas
Royce White

Jarnell Stokes will be available to be resigned after July 1 by the Heat. Other Skyforce alumni include Greg Whittington, Jabril Trawick, DeAndre Liggins and Keith Benson. Coach Dan Craig knows the NBA Development League intimately from last season, and could give invaluable advice on unearthing another potential steal from the D-League, such as the Heat found in Hassan Whiteside.

Though Gary Payton II will probably be drafted, prospects No. 61-75 on the DraftExpress list present a possible player to fill out the Summer League team, or even merit a training camp invite. These names are not well known due to their perceived flaws, but could provide hidden opportunities for development down the road.

Damion Lee
Joel Bolomboy
Yogi Ferrell
Marcus Paige
Isaiah Cousins
Blaz Mesicek
Isaiah Taylor
Perry Ellis
Aleksandar Vezenkov
Georges Niang
Tim Quarterman
Derrick Jones
Mathias Lessort
Tyrone Wallace
James Webb III

An example is Marcus Paige, who has a smooth spot-up shooting stroke, but is limited athletically. Not listed in the mock draft, he could be a candidate for a look to help address the Heat's shooting woes from beyond the arc. James Ennis was an example of ultra-athletic rookie, who had the dunk of the year, but didn't shoot reliably enough or develop a handle to stay on the roster.

Scalabrine: ‘Not Shocked’ if Kevin Durant chooses Miami Heat

Talk of Kevin Durant’s impending Free Agency has chilled during the NBA Finals, but Miami Heat fans are going to be thrilled with Brian Scalabrine’s take on where the sharpshooting superstar could sign if he leaves Oklahoma City.

“If Kevin Durant goes to Miami, I’m not shocked,” he said on the Ethan Skonick Show with Chris Wittyngham last night. “I’m not shocked at all. I think they will be a player. Will they do it? I don’t know. Will Kevin Durant leave? I don’t know, but you have to at least look at Miami.”

In a video for Yahoo Sports’ The Vertical, the White Mamba also named Miami as his top free agent destination.

While Scalabrine is engrained with the Boston Celtics, having played there and worked as a broadcaster for gang green, his reputation has to be climbing within Heat Nation.

I agree Durant should look at Miami if winning a title is his No. 1 priority for the reasons outlined here. The question is whether he’s really going to consider leaving Russell Westbrook and the only NBA team he’s ever known after coming so close to an NBA Finals appearance.

2016 NBA free agents: Al Jefferson could be Heat’s Plan B

Hassan Whiteside’s upcoming free agency is unpredictable, and the Heat can’t possibly know if they’ll be able to bring him back. That’s the goal, Pat Riley says, but other teams are going to hit Whiteside with enticing offers as soon as he becomes available July 1.

If Miami loses Whiteside, there is no obvious next choice around which the team can build. At that point, the Heat would be in the market for a short-term starting center that doesn’t severely impair their free agency ambitions in 2017. That likely eliminates someone like Dwight Howard, who should be looking for a long-range deal.

One good option might be Charlotte’s Al Jefferson. He’s 31 and made $13.8 million last season, but missed 52 games over the past two seasons. If he’s confident that he can come back healthy and have a resurgence, he could help himself on a one-year deal (probably with a second-year player option) to reestablish his market value heading into summer 2017.

The last time he was healthy, the 2013-14 season, he averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Hornets. However, over the past two years he put up 14.7 and 7.6.