Fansided

NBA post-free agency power rankings

By Brendon Kleen

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 30
Next
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 9: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 9, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 9: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 9, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

19. Miami Heat

Nowhere to go but down?

It’s miraculous how well the Heat have played thanks to Erik Spoelstra’s coaching, greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts roster construction, and perhaps the unseen effects of everlasting sunshine and ocean breeze. Miami is a perennial playoff team, something many franchises would give anything for.

But Pat Riley isn’t content with being O.K. every year. Neither are the many young players who have grown into their own with the Heat, or veterans like Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic. This team should be better.

The Hassan Whiteside contract hamstrung them in each of the last two summers, forcing the Heat to give top dollar to incumbent free agents (and Kelly Olynyk) rather than new talent. They struck out on Gordon Hayward and Blake Griffin last summer. They sat out this year.

Instead of a drastic Dragic or Whiteside deal, Miami re-signed Wayne Ellington and will head into a weakened East last year potentially convinced they could make a deep playoff run. If the roster stays healthy and the likes of Josh Richardson and Bam Adebayo continue to get better, it’s not completely crazy to imagine.

It’s also not completely crazy to think Riley has his next plan in mind already. The Heat will never be awful, and thus they’re always interesting.

Home/NBA