Bye Bye Lebron

[FlyMIA]

Originally Posted by Tcoma11

In the weak east, this team is probably a 7th or 8th seed behind Cleveland, Wizards, Nets, Indiana, Chicago, Raptors, and Hawks.

With the money committed to Bosh and probably Wade, they will remain a mediocre team for a long time. Especially with no 1st round draft pick in 2015.
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They are trying to get Wade a two year deal max 3 years it seems. Bosh in the market is getting paid a little above his value and in 2016 the salary cap will likely be in the 80 million plus range.

If Wade is healthy Miami is a 3-5 seed and maybe even a 2 seed depending on what happens with Lance in Indy and DRose health.

This roster is no 7 or 8 seed unless there are some major injury problems.

[Papillons2]

Originally Posted by FlyMIA

They are trying to get Wade a two year deal max 3 years it seems. Bosh in the market is getting paid a little above his value and in 2016 the salary cap will likely be in the 80 million plus range.

If Wade is healthy Miami is a 3-5 seed and maybe even a 2 seed depending on what happens with Lance in Indy and DRose health.

This roster is no 7 or 8 seed unless there are some major injury problems.

Riley's apparent plan is to keep the team respectable for the next two years, then go after the free agent class of 2016, which looks like it could include Durant, Love and Rose. And if he lands one or more of those guys, he's got things set up for his successor and probably rides off into the sunset and retirement on the beach at Malibu.

My assessment of the East teams listed above:

Cavs: Not totally sold on them yet even with LeBron. Irving has all the talent in the world but is injury-prone, Wiggins is a rookie who will need some seasoning, got some nice complementary pieces (Varejao, Thompson, Waiters). New, unproven coach. Must avoid bad karma that seems to jinx Cleveland sports. I'd almost be sold if they pry Love away from Minnesota.

Bulls: Like 'em a lot. Signing Gasol was a nice move. Much depends on Rose. Thibodeau is one of the top three coaches in the NBA.

Raptors: Like 'em a lot, team on the rise. Good job keeping Lowry.

Pacers: Could fall way off if Stephenson leaves; they have no depth and no suitable replacement for him. Hibbert is looking like an underachiever and they'd trade him if his contract weren't such an albatross.

Wizards: Like 'em a lot, especially their guards; would've liked 'em more if they'd kept Ariza (but smart to keep Gortat). Pierce adds a lot of savvy.

Nets: Ollllllld. Not much room to improve themselves because of the owner's previous spending binges. Pierce is gone and Garnett has nothing left, aside from a big mouth.

Hawks: Seemingly always stuck around .500 and a 7 or 8 seed. Heat beat them out for Deng.

Also keep an eye on the former Bobcats/now Hornets, even though they lost McRoberts to the Heat -- they're well-coached and Al Jefferson is terrific.

So most of the teams in the East have issues, and a 3 or 4 seed for the Heat isn't unrealistic. At the very least, we're not looking at a repeat of the post-Jordan Bulls unless everyone gets hurt.