Is The Heat Back On?

The Heat is back on in Miami after a cool down period from the NBA Finals. The San Antonio Spurs soundly beat the Miami Heat. It’s time to reload. It started last week with the NBA Draft when Pat Riley selected Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier in the first around after trading up two spots to get him. Many say this was LeBron James’ pick because LeBron said Napier was his favorite college player from the NCAA Finals and in the NBA Draft. What do you think?

The free agent period began at 12:01 a.m. this morning, players can begin meeting and talking with teams, but they cannot sign contracts until the 10^th of July. The spotlight is on Miami because LeBron James can single-handedly change the whole landscape of free agency with his decision to stay with the Heat or go elsewhere. The Big 3, James, Wade and Bosh along with Udonis Haslem have all opted out of their contracts giving Miami roughly $55 million in salary cap space. This is very important because after resigning the Big 3, which will happen, the Heat will need the extra money to bring in other big name free agents. Pat Riley is the master at closing deals and is very good at motivating speeches. There is a 95% chance that Riley and Heat owner Mickey Arison close the deal with any free agent they get in front of.

There are a few interesting free agents on the market, Carmelo Anthony, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, the Washington Wizards’ Marcin Gortat. The question is will Carmelo leave the bright lights and big money in New York for a chance to win a championship? It is more likely we will end up in Dallas or Chicago than Miami. Toronto is going to throw big money at Lowry for him to stay. Gortat is the big man that the Heat could use, but will Washington let their big man go after making the playoffs with their up and coming young team? Let me know what you think.