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The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the Miami Heat (29-28) remain unchanged. The countdown to the end of the Dwyane Wade era has officially begun. While contenders Dallas, Cleveland added Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison, respectively, Miami yet again balked at the chance at adding talent. For what seems like the 10th straight year, Phoenix was shopping Amar'e Stoudemire at the deadline. Unfortunately, Pat Riley did not put together an attractive enough package to get Amar'e into a Heat uniform.
The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the Miami Heat (29-28) remain unchanged. The countdown to the end of the Dwyane Wade era has officially begun. While contenders Dallas, Cleveland added Caron Butler and Antwan Jamison, respectively, Miami yet again balked at the chance at adding talent. For what seems like the 10th straight year, Phoenix was shopping Amar'e Stoudemire at the deadline. Unfortunately, Pat Riley did not put together an attractive enough package to get Amar'e into a Heat uniform.
Now, if you are Dwyane Wade, what do you do? What are you thinking? What has to happen to convince you that Miami is capable being a title contender? I am afraid that Wade has lost faith in Riley's commitment to winning, or at the very least, his competence in assembling a squad that can contend. Since winning a title in '06, Miami has twice endured first-round exits, and once missed the playoffs altogether. Their biggest roster move? Trading Shawn Marion for Jermaine O'Neal, a 30-year-old with 40-year-old knees.
I am not going to presume that I know more about basketball than Pat Riley, because I don't. But the question must be asked, what is Riles doing? Basketball is a game wherein one great player can have a huge impact on the game. With Wade, Miami has an advantage over 27 other teams, because they have the 3rd best player in the league. Having a player of that caliber, combined with any semblance of a supporting cast should spell at least 50 wins for the Heat. If Riley's train of thought during this trade deadline had him freeing up cap room to sign two big free agents next summer, that is fine. But why has he wasted three seasons of Wade's prime?
The Summer of 2010 is going to be an historic one for the NBA. Two of the gems from one of the all-time great draft classes (2003) are going to be free agents, and it is possible that one team will end up with both of them. Can Miami win the Lebron James sweepstakes, and re-sign Wade? Will Cleveland pull a coup hold on to Lebron, leaving Miami and New York (among others) at the altar? Do the Raptors make Chris Bosh available to Miami, in fear of losing him next summer? One thing is for sure, if Miami doesn't pull in at least one key free agent, and become contenders again, they will have wasted a really great career by a very special player.
Dwyane Wade (2003-2010?)
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