Miami Heat rumors: Heat won’t be able to draw as many free agents
The Miami Heat have been the NBA’s premiere franchise over the last four years. They have won four consecutive Eastern Conference championships and won the NBA title in both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
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One of the reasons they’ve stayed on top is their ability to sign key free agents, but with LeBron James now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, that could change.
Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel believes the Heat are still a free agent destination but their chances of signing certain players obviously took a big hit when James left for Cleveland.
"The question was in response to how Wade and Chris Bosh have to come through to make the Heat a free-agency destination in 2016. Yet the greater issue is, regardless of where Wade and Bosh stand in the overall player ratings, the notion that the “Heat culture” is enough to sway players. I think that took a blow with LeBron James’ departure and it will be interesting to see if the aura of the cult of Pat Riley, Micky Arison and the Heat itself still is a drawing card."
The Heat have always been a destination for free agents and that won’t change. However, the days of them beating out teams for veterans looking to chase a title (Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, etc…) are probably over, at least for now. The Heat have had interested in several players like that, including Dallas Mavericks’ free agent forward Shawn Marion, but he agreed to sign with the Cavaliers.
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