Miami Heat

Say It Ain't So: Is The "R" Word In Store For The Bulls?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:15:29 +0000

All signs point to it. The Chicago Bulls have been stockpiling young, cheap players the past couple seasons. They have several expiring contracts on the roster and have yet to move them. The front office drafted two power forwards, which likely spells the end of Tyrus Thomas' tenure as a Bull. The team is comprised mostly of recent draft picks (7 players have three years or less experience entering the upcoming season). The front office has used made thinly veiled references to it, mentioning the "process" and "learning curve" that will require patience and time. Most recently, we let our top scorer from last year walk. Yep, the signs all lead to one thing.

The Chicago Bulls are rebuilding.

I know, the R word is a dirty, vile, horrible label to put on a team, and this team isn't completely hopeless just yet. The front office could still pull off some huge deal to bring in a star to complement the young nucleus of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng (his massive, long-term contract means he's a Bull for at least another two years, so we may as well accept him as our SF for the forseeable future). But, in all honesty, who can the Bulls get? More importantly, can the Bulls offer a package for a star that no other team can top? I think not.

Like I already mentioned, the writing has been on the wall for longer than we may like to believe here in the Chicagoland area. Since the Michael Jordan dynasty ended in the 90's, the Bulls have never been a legitimate contender, and whenever they got close, the front office made the wrong move at the crucial moment. Elton Brand was let go, only to bring in Tyson Chandler. When Hinrich, Deng, and Gordon stunned the NBA by shutting down Dwyane Wade in the playoffs and exceeding everyone's expectations, the Bulls spent their money on retaining Kirk Hinrich for the long haul and going balls-out for Ben Wallace. When that failed, and the Bulls had to decide to re-sign Gordon and/or Deng, they chose Deng, who has since been an oft-injured, scarcely productive flop.

Now, the Bulls are mired in mediocrity, with no substantial cap space for this season and little hope for landing a star next offseason. Sure, there are plenty of stars who will potentially hit the market in 2010, but why would they come to Chicago? Most of the top potential free agents seems to be winners, who would obviously like to play for contenders. Cleveland will probably bring back LeBron, and the rest of the top talent will likely end up with Boston, Orlando, Cleveland, Los Angeles, or another viable contender (perhaps Denver). So if we don't land a star now, and if that failure persists in 2010, we'll have loads of cap space to either waste on undeserving talent or to rebuild.

So if we rebuild, what does that mean? Well, the two best examples from recent memory are the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams began with one star player (Paul Pierce and Kevin Durant, respectively), and they had to wait to slowly gather the right pieces to complement their stars. In the meantime, they cleared cap space, gutted their rosters, and collected a combination of expiring contracts and young players on rookie contracts. They then let the kids play, keeping the ones who thrived and letting go of those that didn't.

After that step is where the two teams too different approaches. The Celtics took note of two teams in miserable positions (the Timberwolves and, ironically enough the SuperSonics, who have since become the Thunder), realized that they were both ready to rebuild, and decided to throw all their efforts and cap space into getting a star from each team (Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, respectively). The all-or-nothing approach could have potentially doomed this team and forced them to start over yet again, but they won a championship the very next season, justifying their huge gamble.

The Thunder have yet to take that massive gamble, instead preferring to continue giving youngsters the opportunity to prove themselves. Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook seem to have worked their way into the nucleus alongside Durant, and new draftee James Harden will get the chance to join that core in the future. The Thunder appear willing to keep relying on draft picks to strengthen their team, and, though it has taken time, it has been working, slowly but surely. The team is clearly better than they were two years back when Durant began his career, and they still have plenty of cap space should they decide to take a gamble.

The Thunder's approach is much slower, and it mirrors the approach the Bulls themselves took after the MJ dynasty ended. Unfortunately, the "stars" the Bulls decided to build around were Hinrich and Deng, and Reinsdorf was gave them too much money and too many years to leave room for more talent, and his judgment leaves the team trapped in the middle of the conference. Luckily we have a true young star in Rose now, and we have already found a good, young complement for him in Noah.

The Bulls could, of course, pull off a move for some sort of temporary upgrade to try to contend next year, as Milwaukee did with Richard Jefferson last year. However, the Bucks found that their gamble was little more than a stall, getting them nothing more than assurance that they wouldn't get embarrassed throughout the season. The Bucks have since let Jefferson go, accepting their need to rebuild and preparing for a potentially long and painful period of trial and error to get back on track. Unless the Bulls pull off the miracle move and bring in a savior along the lines of Bosh, Wade, or Michael Redd (and I have little faith in any of these things happening), then, I have to grimace and grudgingly admit what is appearing more and more like the inevitable: the Bulls will have to rebuild. I hope we find that miracle cure, but to expect it would be naive. This team is in trouble, and the front office is faced with the decision to make one last gamble, or to prepare for the long and thankless task of rebuilding.

Heat Courting Iverson, Artest?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:54:26 +0000

Amid seeing constant upgrades Eastern Conference teams have made, Miami Heat President Pat Riley may have finally woken up. He has reportedly contacted free agents Allen Iverson and Ron Artest.

The report acknowledges that the discussions have been exploratory, though. Additionally, the article says that Riley has contacted other free agents. Undoubtedly, these are two of the biggest-name players on the free agent market this summer, however.

Convincing Iverson to sign for the mid-level exception worth approximately $5.5 million may be a tough sell, but having Iverson on the Heat would also present a challenge in of itself. The 2001 NBA MVP has never been a chemistry guy, and he proved that with his one-year stint with Detroit. Dwyane Wade will take a bulk of the shots and Jermaine O'Neal and Michael Beasley will also get their share of the pie. Signing Iverson would present too much of a risk without even considering his defensive shortcomings. I'd be more willing to develop Mario Chalmers and Patrick Beverley than sign this 34-year-old ball-hog.

Artest would be a great fit for the Heat, though. Miami needs a starting-quality small forward, and the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year certainly fits that mold. Last season in Houston, Artest proved that he can be an efficient complimentary player. He got a little trigger-happy during the Rockets' series against the Los Angeles Lakers after Yao Ming got injured, but he shot three-pointers at a 39.9 percent clip during the regular season.

The benefits to acquiring Artest are very tangible. He'll be able to score 14 to 17 points per game and help shoulder the offensive load. He can shot from the perimeter, but can also post-up. Artest's post-up game could be very valuable for spacing, especially if Beasley continues to be perimeter-oriented. He is arguably the toughest perimeter defender in the League. Moreover, he will be able to teach Chalmers how to collect steals without giving up defensive positioning.

The question is simply how does Riley book him a flight to Miami. Heat owner Micky Arison has said that he would be willing to delve into the luxury tax if it means turning his team into a contender. My guess is that Artest wants to get paid roughly $7 to $9 million per year. With the dollar-for-dollar tax, that would charge the Heat $14 to $16 million for Artest, however. Arison may not want to pony up that type of money, so Miami will probably explore sign-and-trade options if it is serious about signing Artest.

With Yao suffering a potentially career-threatening injury, the Rockets may be in for a rebuilding project. Artest may not be in that project. Houston met with free agent Trevor Ariza -- another small forward -- today. Yesterday, sources said that Artest is not likely to return to Houston. However, it is important to note that other reports have said that Rocket executives are hoping to keep Artest.

Assuming Houston is willing to sign-and-trade Artest, Riley should get on the phone immediately to develop a trade that he should have ready to show Wade July 12, the date when the Heat's franchise player can sign a contract extension. If Udonis Haslem is involved, then Riley will probably ask for either Luis Scola or Carl Landry -- two low-cost power forwards who could be Beasley's backup. The Heat may also look to unload one of its many small forwards. Still, the Rockets would probably be asking for more talent from Miami. Riley may have to trade a first-round pick and possibly Daequan Cook. If Miami doesn't want to give up more than say, Haslem and a couple small forwards, a third team would unquestionably have to be added to the trade.

Can the Heat be a contender in the East if Riley signs Artest and stands pat the rest of the summer? A lot of things would have to fall in place, but it is plausible. Chalmers would need to develop into a starting-quality point guard. Beasley would have to be a 20-point scorer. Cook and James Jones would need to be consistent shooters. O'Neal would have to be in excellent conditioning. Wade would have to be as explosive as he was last season. And Artest would have to be very disciplined. But acquiring for Artest could get Wade to sign a contract extension, which Riley said is his top goal this off-season.

Your Move, Riles

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:23:23 +0000

If Miami Heat President Pat Riley hasn't been concerned about the incessant upgrades Eastern Conference teams have made, he should be now.

Just when the Detroit Pistons appeared to be falling from grace as quickly as the Detroit Big 3 automobile makers, Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars added some bailout players to his increasingly sluggish team. According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Pistons and free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva have come to an agreement in principle to join the team. Gordon will receive five-year deal worth $55 million while Villanueva will sign a deal worth $40 million over five years. The signings cannot be made official until the League moratorium on trades and free agency signings ends July 8, however.

This instantly upgrades Detroit, which finished eighth in the East last season and bowed out in four games to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the playoffs. While Dumars may fix the plethora of starting-quality guards he has with Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton and now Gordon, he's got a competitive team. Tayshaun Prince will return as the do-everything small forward and Villanueva will be a nice replacement for Rasheed Wallace at the four (without giving away points through technical fouls, though).

If Dumars decides to stand pat, this puts his team into the second-tier section of teams in the East. The first-tier consists of Orlando, Cleveland and Boston, of course. The second-tier is now Atlanta and Detroit. This leaves the Heat in the third-tier, with Chicago, Philadelphia and possibly Washington joining Miami. The Sixers should be better with a healthy Elton Brand and the Wizards now have enough offensive firepower to make the playoffs. So what is the Heat to do?

Riley has stated that he cannot make any significant moves until Dwyane Wade signs a contract extension. Be sure, Wade is aware of what other teams are doing and knows that anything better than the sixth seed is a long-shot right now. It's doubtful that he ties the foreseeable future of his career to a hope and a prayer. The only way that Riley has a legitimate shot at getting Wade to sign the extension is if he comes to him and his agent with a bold trade that has been already agreed upon.

And this trade has to be very bold. It needs to be bolder than the deal that sent Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon and a first-round pick for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Still, it should be more sensible than the lamentable move Riley made for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. Finally, it should be a trade that moves the Heat among the top-tier teams in the East. Anything less would have Wade turning down the extension offer.

On this 11-man roster, I see seven good players. Those are O'Neal, Wade, Udonis Haslem, Michael Beasley, James Jones, Daequan Cook and Mario Chalmers. I wouldn't be depressed if Blount, Dorell Wright, Chris Quinn or Yakhouba Diawara was traded. Of the good players, only two shouldn't be traded: Wade and Beasley. The rest should be on the table.

Riley said that he doesn't want to make changes just for the sake of making changes. Fine, then he can keep the majority of those seven players. There shouldn't be an excuse for him to trade some of that dead weight he has sitting on the bench, however. As I mentioned in my previous post, every team that didn't make the playoffs last year is probably willing to give away more talent for expiring contracts. Riley has plenty of those. There may finally be a market for Blount or Wright, but not if Coach Slick explores the options.

Maybe Riles has this all figured out. Maybe he has a master plan that he is waiting to unleash. And for the record, I hope that plan isn't to wait until 2010. Wade has made it clear that he wants to fast-track the rebuilding process, and Riley's chances to sign Chris Bosh may have been squandered with reports that Bosh and LeBron James plan to play together by next season.

At 12:01 a.m. July 12 -- the time Wade and Riley can negotiate an extension -- it's Riley's move. Only one thing is certain to come out of this summer regarding Riles: he's either incredibly smart or incredibly stupid. We'll just have to find out.

Need for Upgrade

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:49:49 +0000

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel speculated that the Miami Heat may stand pat with its point guard lineup. He said that Miami paid the Los Angeles Lakers $1.5 million to obtain the draft rights to Patrick Beverley, a figure that is significant because Heat owner Micky Arison allowed Heat President Pat Riley to give the Minnesota Timberwolves $2 million to acquire Mario Chalmers only when Riley assured him that Chalmers would be a rotation player.

Riley appeared to like Beverley while he spoke in his post-Draft press conference, and there's no reason to think that he is not enamored with this second-round pick. Chalmers filled in admirably to the starting point guard spot and earned a place on the All-NBA Rookie Second Team. The fact of the matter is that this team will probably not win a championship with two inexperienced second-round picks as its quarterbacks, however.

Why do I bring up championships, especially when Miami has a long way to go before it reaches that point? Because a commitment from the Heat front office to winning championships will be its best bet to convince Dwyane Wade to sign a contract extension this summer. And upgrading at the point guard spot will help Wade the most.

Even with Chalmers starting all 89 games for the Heat -- including post-season -- Wade was the true point guard more often than not. He was the one who was setting up his teammates and himself for plays 90 percent of the time. Wade was effective in that role, but it is a duty on Wade's shoulders that he would prefer not to bear. It is a duty that he performs better without.

Why was Wade so impressive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics? He didn't have to focus on setting up teammates or making plays for himself. The plays were already made for him; he just needed to finish them. Now, the common rebuttal is that Wade had Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Jason Kidd as point guards. The Heat is not getting that kind of star power to join Wade in the backcourt. Fair enough, but does that mean that Miami shouldn't improve?

Miami-area newspapers have mentioned Jason Kidd, who is a free agent this summer, as potentially in the Heat's plans. With Miami already in the luxury tax, signing Kidd may seem like a stretch, but Arison has repeatedly said that he would have no qualms of delving into the tax if it means turning his team into a championship contender. Kidd is one of the best players in the League at making plays, but his jump-shot has always been bad. He probably doesn't make the Heat into a championship contender, but Riley may sell Arison on the move if he assures the Carnival Cruise owner that the acquisition of Kidd is a step in building a championship contender.

The options go well beyond just the 36-year-old Kidd, though. Milwaukee, New Jersey, Golden State and Phoenix have all given up more talent in exchange for salary cap relief amid tough economic times. What do all those teams have in common? They didn't make the playoffs, therefore not allowing these teams to create more revenue through post-season games. Every team that didn't make the playoffs -- and maybe a few that did -- are probably willing to give up a long-term deal to take expiring contracts, even if it means giving up more talent. Riley has those expiring contracts, with Jermaine O'Neal, Mark Blount, Udonis Haslem, Dorell Wright, Chris Quinn and Yakhouba Diawara all scheduled to come off the books next summer.

A team would be more willing to take those expiring deals if the player coming to Miami had a few years left on his contract, of course. Riley has stated that he cannot take contracts that go beyond 2010 until his franchise player, Wade, signs an extension. Those negotiations will come. But there is one certainty: if Wade does take the leap of faith in Riley and signs the extension, there is no excuse for him not to upgrade. And this team needs it.

Who Was Luckier? Us or Shaq

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:53:34 -0800

You may have already read 7,635,425 blogs and articles answering the pressing question of: Will the Shaq for Cracker Jacks trade work for the Cavaliers. The short answer: No. And that's all you're getting out of me on that one. I'm here to answer a more interesting question: Is Shaq the luckiest big man of all time - or are we the lucky ones?

With Shaq moving to Cleveland, he is paired up with Lebron James, the fifth time the Big Something or Other (© Celia Kelly) has been paired up with a great parameter player. It started in Orlando with Penny Hardaway, he moved to Los Angeles to play with Kobe Bryant, moved back to Florida to play with Dwyane Wade, shifted his weight to Arizona and played with Steve Nash and is now with one of the most freakish athletes we've ever seen? Again, I ask, who has been luckier, Shaq or us?

Off top, it seems like this answer would undeniably be Shaq. However, we've got to see the greatest center of this era, and one of the most candid athletes of all time, play with some of the most exciting basketball players of the last decade, and we're just months away from seeing him team up with the most exciting in the game now.

Has a center ever been more blessed to play with more future Hall of Famers than Shaq? Kareem got to play with Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Wilt played with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Russell played with Bob Cousy. Olajuwon played with Clyde Drexler, but that was at the end of his career. The most exciting perimeter player Robinson played with was Rod Strickland, and had Ginobili as a rookie as he was leaving the league. Ewing had John Starks, Xavier McDaniel and Larry Johnson. None of those lists jump out at you like Penny, Kobe, Wade, Nash and Lebron - no second name needed for any of them.

Was Shaq lucky when Orlando drafted the crafty, ultra athletic Penny Hardaway from Memphis in 1993? Shaq was drafted in '92 to bring life to a franchise that had been dead since its beginning and Hardaway was brought in to play Jake Hoyt to Shaq's Alonzo and tear through the league. Young Shaq and Penny made the NBA Finals in their second year together, establishing Shaq as one of the most dominate young centers the league had ever seen despite getting swept in the Finals. In Penny's first season, Shaq saw his scoring increase by six points per game, but again, maybe we were the lucky ones. Hardaway was one of those point guards who wasn't afraid to get in the lane and try and dunk on someone. It seemed like he made one ridiculous no-look pass every game and just had swag beyond his years. How could you top watching what some thought may have been the center position evolving with a 7'1'', 300 pound man who could run the floor and had a post game for half court sets? Sadly, just like Alonzo and Jake in "Training Day," Shaq and Penny had different views on the way things were supposed to operate and that made a disgruntled big man pick up his things and leave Orlando for Los Angeles to get paired with what would go on to be the best duo of the first half of the next decade.

Shaq's move to Los Angeles proved to be a huge one indeed. Was he lucky to be traded to a team that just drafted Kobe Bryant, the young wonder kid and the newest "Next Michael Jordan?" When they were on the court together it posed problems never seen before in the NBA. We had never seen a problem like the problem the Kobe-Shaq problem posed for NBA teams before they got together in '96. If you double-teamed Shaq, Kobe went to work, if you double-teamed Kobe, Shaq went to work. There was now way to double team them AND defend three other professional basketball players. With Kobe, Shaq earned an MVP, three titles and a Finals MVP for each title he won with Kobe. With Kobe as his partner in crime, he solidified his spot as a top three center of all time. Not only that, when they went to work it was exciting. So, maybe we were the lucky ones? You remember that lob Kobe threw to Shaq against Portland they have in those "Where Amazing Happens" commercials or when Shaq was shooting technical free throws against Sacramento or when Kobe took over in overtime against Indiana in the finals when Shaq fouled out. Then Kobe pissed him off and he moved on (we all know that story, so I'll move on).

Was Shaq lucky to be paired with Dwyane Wade after leaving Los Angeles? Wade came into the league and instantly took Tracy McGrady's spot as the best natural shooting guard in the NBA. Wade was relentless in his attack of the basket and Shaq was still dominant, yet willing to play second fiddle. He averaged 22 and 10 his first season there and won a title in his second, basically getting his revenge against Kobe with the new Kobe. Wade helped resurrect Shaq's career after it looked like he was aging after the Lakers' Finals loss to Detroit. However, the fans got much from Shaq going to Miami too. For those who loved drama, the networks fed that hunger with Christmas day meetings, documented accounts of those Kobe-Shaq handshakes, sound bytes from each player with commentary, each completely over-blowing the situation. Most importantly, the world was exposed to the greatness that is Dwyane Wade. I remember gushing over him while he was at Marquette. Shaq moving to Miami really brought Wade's unique game to the forefront. After Wade, did anyone think Shaq's career could be resurrected again?

Maybe Steve Nash did. Maybe Shaq was lucky enough to play with one of the three best point guards of the past decade. If you don't remember, Shaq's last season in Miami (07-08) he was looking ridiculously old. He had lost 309 steps, he couldn't get on the boards and he didn't have a healthy Wade to take the heat off of him (no pun intended). Fast forward to this season and he averaged 17.8 ppg (most since the '05-'06 season) and 8.4 boards. Once Nash learned how to play with someone who clogged the middle as much as Shaq did, Shaq's numbers became surprisingly good for a 37 year-old who had been carrying over 300 pounds for almost two decades (Shaq averaged 18.7 and 7.7 during their last 25 games as they made a push for the playoffs, which seemed unfathomable just a year and a half before that). While Shaq was in Phoenix, were we ever blessed with a better year and a half chalk full of memorable Shaq quotes?

-"The Big Shaqtus."
-"Kobe, tell me how my ass taste."
-"I know for a fact that he's a master of panic, and when it gets time for his team to go in the postseason and do certain things, he will let them down because of his panic."
-"I figured out a long time ago that the reason I'm a great athlete is because I'm a great dancer."

Speaking of dancing, what about that dance performance he had before the All-Star game? And speaking of the All-Star game, what about the co-MVP performance which included that gorgeous between the legs of Dwight Howard pass to Chris Paul that turned into a give and go with a classic Shaq dunk finish.

And speaking of finishing, is Shaq lucky that he may be able to finish his career in Cleveland with the best finisher (at the basket, not at the end of the game just to be clear) in the game? Should we have expected anything different in considering how his career has gone? We may be witnessing some highly entertaining basketball, especially with the team camaraderie they already have - which brings me to where the fans may be lucky. Remember when Shaq and LeBron were battling for the best pre-game performances? Now, we have the two best in the game working together, the possibilities are endless. It's already a fun loving team, and now they're bringing in the most fun loving big man of all time. Even though this is not going to turn into a championship for Cleveland (unless they sign a bigger defensive minded swing man, in which case this team is really scary), at least we'll have a season of very entertaining Cavaliers games.

I don't know who has been luckier, but it's safe to say that Shaq and the fans alike should be excited for what next season could potentially be.

Draft Leaves Questions, Not Answers

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:39:52 +0000

Miami Heat President Pat Riley spent most of the Draft merely looking at the trade bonanza that ensued after the Los Angeles Clippers took Blake Griffin with the No. 1 pick. Apparently, Riley was not kidding when he said that there were going to be no major moves until he knows what direction Dwyane Wade wants to take with regard to his contract.

Miami selected Marcus Thornton with the No. 43 pick, but traded him to New Orleans for a 2010 second-round pick and a 2012 second-round pick minutes later. The Heat front office has its eyes set on Patrick Beverley, though, a point guard who spent two seasons at Arkansas and last season in Ukraine. Beverley heard his name called at No. 42 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Riley quickly made his move, trading a 2011 second-round pick and cash considerations for the 6-foot-1 player.

So who is Beverley? The Chicago native seemed to have a bright future when he made a name for himself at Arkansas. He could hit the occasional three, defend well and rebound at a high rate for a point guard. Beverley was suspended for the 2008-09 season because of turning in a paper that wasn't his work, however. He decided to play professionally in Ukraine to develop his game as a point guard. Riley didn't seem to have any qualms about trading up one spot in the Draft to get the long-armed 175-pounder, though. He said that he was enamored with Beverley after his workouts in Miami.

With Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn already under contract, it appears to be a little strange that the Heat would take yet another inexperienced point guard. It has been well-documented that Miami's biggest need is a veteran point guard. The Heat may send Beverley overseas for a season and acquire a starting-caliber guard through a trade. Another course of action may be to include Quinn's expiring contract in a package to acquire a veteran point guard. Then, Chalmers and Beverley can compete for minutes behind the starter. Quite frankly, I just don't see Chalmers, Beverley and Quinn as the answers for Miami's point guard problems.

To finish up the Draft, the Heat picked Robert Dozier out of Memphis with No. 60. Dozier is an athletic, long combo forward who has drawn comparisons to Tyrus Thomas. He also has a nice jump-shot, as Dozier occasionally even stepped out to the college three-point line. Riley said that he expects to develop Dozier as an athletic three as opposed to the four, where he spent most of his time at in Memphis.

Hmm, it sounds that Riley is trying to do to Dozier what he couldn't do for Dorell Wright. It seems as if Wright's days in Miami could be numbered with the Heat bringing in an athletic player who Riley envisions to be on the wing. Miami already has a logjam of small forwards with James Jones, Yakhouba Diawara, Wright and Jamario Moon, a restricted free agent. Why bring in another three if a trade isn't going to be made?

Miami's two biggest areas of need are the starting point guard and starting small forward spots. The Heat picked up a point guard and a small forward, but not one that has the pedigree of a starter. Don't expect anything to be done until Wade responds to Riley's sales pitch for signing a contract extension, though. In the end, this Draft provided more questions than answers for the Heat.

Is East Shooting Ahead of Heat?

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic both made blockbuster trades Thursday, acquiring Shaquille O'Neal and Vince Carter, respectively. It is important not to overstate what these teams did because they were already better than Miami. What matters is what the second-tier East teams did, such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit.

Atlanta already improved with the trade for Jamal Crawford, but added depth to the point guard spot with the selection of point guard Jeff Teague at No. 19. It's doubtful that the Hawks will bring back Mike Bibby, but Crawford and Teague are solid acquisitions for Atlanta.

Philadelphia -- a team Miami fought with for the No. 5 seed down the stretch of the regular season -- picked Jrue Holiday, a point guard with a lot of upside. Holiday didn't have a good statistical freshman season at UCLA, but may be a replacement for free agent Andre Miller in Philly down the road.

Chicago picked James Johnson, who some view as an athletic small forward with a lot of potential, but not the best decision-making. The Bulls still have to sort out what to do with its small forward depth chart. Will Luol Deng stay or has John Salmons earned the spot?

Detroit selected Austin Daye with the No. 15 pick, a skinny, 6-foot-11 forward from Gonzaga. Daye will probably back up Tayshaun Prince in his rookie year, but the Pistons have a lot of cap space. They may look to go after Carlos Boozer and Hedo Turkoglu, which would not be good for the Heat.

Can Heat Compete in East?

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:15:58 +0000

The 2009 NBA Draft is only one day away, but I'm not talking about the Draft. The Miami Heat's lack of a first-round pick and the Draft's weakness contribute to that; however, division rivals Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks have completed lopsided trades that could potentially put them ahead of the Heat.

Washington traded away its No. 5 selection in the Draft, Etan Thomas, Darius Songalia and Oleksiy Pecherov for Randy Foye and Mike Miller. This instantly makes the Wizards a playoff-contending team when healthy. Foye, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison can all put up points in a hurry. Miller and DeShawn Stevenson can come off the bench and stretch the defense with their shooting. Moreover, Washington still has Brendan Haywood and JaVale McGee, who are both 7-feet tall.

The Wizards still have to become a better defensive team -- and the addition of Flip Saunders as the team's head coach doesn't help -- but Washington can be a playoff team that challenges the likes of Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Atlanta.

The trade that could affect the Heat more is the one that ESPN is reporting today, though. The apparently imminent deal would send Acie Law and Speedy Claxton to the Warriors in exchange for Jamal Crawford. The newest member of the Hawks has been especially keen at picking apart the Heat's defense. His career-high 52-point game Jan. 26, 2007 against Miami officially cemented his status as a Heat killer.

This deal does add questions to where free agent Mike Bibby will call home in October. The 6-foot-5 Crawford is not a true point guard, but could play alongside Joe Johnson in the backcourt for Atlanta. My guess is the the Hawks have Crawford and Johnson in the backcourt and wave goodbye to Bibby. No matter what Atlanta decides to do with Bibby, Crawford still gives the Hawks yet another offensive weapon.

Just to make things clear, the Heat had no viable shot at either of these trades -- or the Richard Jefferson trade that sent the dynamic forward to San Antonio. Jefferson and Crawford have contracts that go beyond 2010; and while Foye and Miller both have expiring contracts, the Minnesota Timberwolves were looking for a first-round pick, something the Heat doesn't have.

One has to wonder how this shakes up the Eastern Conference. Orlando, Cleveland and Boston are still leaps and bounds ahead of any other team in the East. Beyond Atlanta and Washington, Miami will have to fight Philadelphia and Chicago in the four-to-eight range. The Heat could conceivably go into the playoffs with the fifth seed, but putting Miami ahead of Atlanta right now would seem to be a bit of a stretch.

Heat President Pat Riley has made it clear that his team's off-season will be quiet until he gets a definitive read on Dwyane Wade. The negotiations for a contract extension can start July 12, so Miami will likely have to be spectators as far as trades go until then. Wade has made it clear that he wants to fast-track the rebuilding process. Unless Riley comes to Wade with an agreement with another General Manager on the table, it is highly unlikely for Wade to sign that extension.

After Washington and Atlanta clearly upgraded, Riley must know that this team cannot make a lateral move. Riley needs to make some moves that will upgrade his team and vault them ahead of Atlanta, Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia in the East. This team is not going to be better than No. 5 in the East if Riley does nothing. Wade wants to be on a championship-contending team, not a playoff-contending team. If he wants to keep Wade, Riley's going to need to be very busy.

Quinn Opts to Stay with Heat

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:30:48 +0000

Chris Quinn has picked up a player option for the 2009-10 season on his contract with the Miami Heat worth about $1.1 million. Similar to the options that Jermaine O'Neal and Yakhouba Diawara picked up earlier this month, this should not come as a surprise to anyone because Quinn was not going to be make that type of money anywhere else.

Quinn's move makes 11 players under contract for the Heat next season. In addition to Quinn, O'Neal and Diawara, Dwyane Wade, Mark Blount, Udonis Haslem, Michael Beasley, James Jones, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook and Mario Chalmers will all be on the team's payroll. Additionally, Miami extended qualifying offers to Jamario Moon and Joel Anthony, who are now restricted free agents. Should Moon and Anthony pick up their offers, the Heat will have 13 players under contract. Team president Pat Riley said that Miami may have to hold the minimum of 13 players under contract instead of the maximum of 15 to avoid dipping into the punitive dollar-for-dollar luxury tax.

Miami is already in the luxury tax, though. Riley stated that his team was within $300,000 of the tax, and Quinn's salary for the upcoming season exceeds that amount. Of course, the Heat will dip more into the tax if Moon and Anthony decide to stay in Miami. Heat owner Micky Arison is fundamentally opposed to crossing the tax unless it turns his team into a championship contender -- which Quinn doesn't do by any stretch of the imagination.

As Riley articulated earlier, he cannot make any significant moves until Wade signs a contract extension. I wouldn't expect Miami to make any big moves for the time being. Riley may make a small, financial deal to get the Heat out of the tax, but nothing other than that. If Wade agrees to an extension, Arison may come around to dipping into the tax if it moves Miami towards contention, though. If Wade doesn't sign an extension, Riley could make even more financial moves.

Are Wade, Riley in War of Words?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:20:47 +0000

In case you haven't heard, Dwyane Wade responded quite forcefully when he was asked to give his opinion regarding a statement Miami Heat President Pat Riley gave, indicating that he cannot make any significant moves until Wade agrees to a contract extension this summer.

"I'm there. Why not fast-track this thing anyway while I'm there and let's not give it a chance to get to 2010?" Wade said. "I'm in my prime right now, playing the best basketball I've ever played, and I feel as good as I ever felt. So let's not wait. Let's do it now if we can do it. So it's not about me signing a contract."

Wade also added, "They have to do everything they can to make sure they want me there for the future." He said that although he has the interests of his team when he steps on the basketball court, he is thinking of his own interests when he is negotiating a contract.

I can see where Wade is coming from. The last time Riley waited to make moves -- essentially what he is saying he will do unless Wade signs a contract extension -- he was left with Smush Parker, Ricky Davis and Mark Blount. We all know how that experiment turned out. Riley has failed to bring the Heat back to prominence since winning the title in 2006. Even after an immensely successful Draft in 2008, Riley did not give Wade nearly enough offensive help needed to vault Miami back into championship conversation through trades and free agency. Wade did seem to contradict himself when he said that he is thinking of his own interests when the talk of contracts come along, though.

Wade does not want to be known as the next Dominique Wilkins. He wants to win championships to elevate his name among the greatest players of all time. The Heat, as presently constructed, is not going to win a championship next season. Apparently, Wade views every year of his career very important when it comes to being in contention for a title. He wants help, and I don't blame him for that.

Riley also made a good point when he said that it is simply illogical to build around a player who may leave in just one season. He wants Wade to sign a contract extension so that he can give him the help he needs. The problem is that Wade probably doesn't trust Riley enough to give him that help, especially in the prime of his career -- at least that's a reasonable inference from Wade's comments.

What is Riley to do with these bold comments from Wade? I've heard all kinds of pathways, even calls for Wade to be traded and the team to build around Michael Beasley. No, Riley should just stay calm and not overstate these comments. When July 12 rolls around -- the day when Wade and Riley can start the re-negotiation process -- Riley should tell Wade that he has been in contact with a few General Managers to get Wade some help. He should tell Wade that he has come to a verbal agreement with one G.M. and that if Wade signs the contract extension, the trade can be completed within minutes. This way, both Riley and Wade get what they want -- with the ultimate goal of winning championships, shared by both.

There is no reason to assume that Wade is pushing for a Beasley-for-Chris Bosh deal and that he has suddenly become a cancer to the team. Instead of playing the blame game, the two cornerstones of this franchise need to find common ground. As I said, the two have the same goal of winning championships. If a situation like the one I described occurs, Wade can sign the contract extension with the confidence that the Heat will start contending for championships next season.

Heat Extends Qualifying Offers to Moon, Anthony

Miami has made qualifying offers to Jamario Moon and Joel Anthony, making them restricted free agents. The Heat has the right to match any offer the two receive from other teams. Both had their moments with Miami, and outside G.M.s may have noticed. It is plausible that Moon and/or Anthony could be signed to offer sheets that the Heat can simply not afford to match. However, Riley and other front office staff may not little outside competition for their services.

The Case Against McClinton

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:56:52 +0000

It's hard not to feel infatuated with former University of Miami guard Jack McClinton. At a workout in AmericanAirlines Arena Wednesday, the 6-foot-1 point guard sank 40 of 50 mid-range shots and 36 of 50 three-pointers. Videos of him are even posted on the Miami Heat's official Web site. The truth of the matter is that McClinton would be a bad pick for the Heat in a Draft only six days away, though.

This is not to take anything away from McClinton. He can undoubtedly shoot the basketball well. While Miami -- a team that finished 22nd in three-point shooting last season -- could use some shooting, McClinton is not the answer. The Heat already has a guard who can come off the bench and be a streak shooter. His name is Mario Chalmers, or at least that's what he should be doing. The last thing Miami needs at the point guard position is another neophyte in addition to Chalmers and Chris Quinn. It needs a veteran point guard who can challenge Chalmers' position.

Moreover, McClinton would be very one-dimensional in the NBA. He is barely six feet tall without shoes and was not known for his defense at UM. McClinton still does not have the ball-handling skills necessary for him to be a point guard. If Miami has him and Dwyane Wade paired together, Wade would need to assume the playmaking duties and create for McClinton. Doesn't the Heat already that player in Daequan Cook? Ultimately, McClinton would create redundancy with Cook and do little else.

Miami should instead be looking at players who can beef up its power rotation. I have mentioned Robert Dozier and Taj Gibson (if he falls down that far) as options. Those are two players who can step right in to a backup power forward slot, which would happen if Udonis Haslem is traded to fill a hole at a position of need.

Riley speaks of team's future

Heat President Pat Riley spoke yesterday about the direction of the team. He mentioned that he will not look to make any major changes until he gets a commitment from Wade to sign a contract extension. Essentially, Riley does not want to have a team full of role players if his superstar guard decides to sign with another team in 2010.

Wade will still most likely use the flexibility his contract gave him and not sign the extension. It just doesn't make sense for him to tie his peak years as a basketball player to the hope of Riley building a championship roster. If a major trade happens, Wade may be compelled to secure his future in South Beach, however.

Riley is in a difficult spot as it is. He said yesterday that his team is within $300,000 of the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, a threshold Heat owner Micky Arison is fundamentally opposed to reach unless it turns his team into a championship contender. Therefore, there will not be a lot in terms of free agency this summer. His trade chips are also very sparse, reducing the likelihood of a major deal.

This does not necessarily mean that Miami's roster for next season will have the exact same faces as last year's. There may still be room for some tweaks. A financially-sound trade Riley could consider is to trade Udonis Haslem and the $3 million trade exception he acquired in the O'Neal deal in exchange for Steve Blake. Blake may be the ideal person who can challenge Chalmers for his starting position. He isn't as good as Raymond Felton, but he's far better than Quinn or Marcus Banks, players who "competed" with Chalmers during training camp last season. Blake also has an expiring contract, meaning that he is 2010-friendly.

Haslem is probably worth more than just Blake, though. If Riley doesn't value the $3 million trade exception, he may be able to add Channing Frye to the deal. Frye has fallen out of Portland's rotation in his second season with the Blazers after a couple of promising years in New York. The 6-foot-11 Frye should rebound the ball better, but he may not be that much of a liability if he is Michael Beasley's backup.

Portland may be willing to deal Blake if it wants to develop Jerryd Bayless or search for an upgrade at the point through free agency. The Blazers may want Haslem because Brandon Roy said that the missing piece to his team may be as simple as a "rebounder in back of LaMarcus [Aldridge]."

Unfortunately, though, this would not be a trade to compete Orlando, Cleveland or Boston in the East. But with the Heat in the cash-strapped position it is in, what better is there?

Who Will Heat Draft?

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:03:10 +0000

The 2009 NBA Draft is a mere nine days away, and it is anybody's guess as to who the Miami Heat will select at No. 43 and No. 60 June 25. Heat President Pat Riley and other front office officials have kept their options open, inviting a plethora of guards and forwards to Miami.

Riley has looked at his share of power forwards. Among those brought to Miami are Jeff Pendergraph, DeMarre Carroll, Taj Gibson, Robert Dozier, Jeff Adrien, and Joe Ingles. Several point guards also flew to South Beach for a Heat workout, including Jeremy Pargo, Jerel McNeal, Jack McClinton and even French guard Rodrigue Beaubois.

Does Miami's look at power forwards mean that Udonis Haslem or maybe even Michael Beasley is on the trading block? Possibly, but Riley may be looking for an insurance option behind Haslem and Beasley in case one of them gets injured. As I have said before, the Heat needs an upgrade at the point guard position, even if it means giving up Haslem. I have mentioned Raymond Felton in a sign-and-trade, and I am still 100 percent in favor of that deal.

Of the power forwards, Dozier is one who stands out. He has the potential to be an energetic player off the bench. He can shoot the 15-footer, but has also increased his efficiency out to the college three-point line. He is even able to take his man off the dribble if he is isolated from about 15 feet out. Dozier is a legitimate 6-foot-10 with athleticism, which will help him on the defensive end.

According to DraftExpress, Dozier's best case scenario is being comparable to Tyrus Thomas. If Riley can pick up a player who can be like Thomas in the late stages of the second round, he'd be happy. Dozier is similar to Thomas in that he is very thin, though. Dozier only weighs 205 pounds and will need to put on some weight if he is going to defend the burlier power forwards down low.

Ideally, Riley would like to select Gibson in the second round if he is going to draft a four. He is projected to be a late first-rounder, but there are always a few quality prospects who slip into the second round. Gibson has many facets to his offensive game, including a high-releasing jumper and a post game consisting of drop-steps and mini-hooks. Gibson also averaged nine rebounds per game and blocked nearly three shots a game in his junior season.

Gibson has the same problem that Dozier has in that he weighs only 214 pounds. He needs to add plenty of bulk so he is able to defend bigger power forwards. Nonetheless, Gibson would be a steal if the Heat were to draft him.

Do not be surprised if Miami selects either Wesley Matthews or Danny Green. Both are two guards, and the Heat needs depth there behind Dwyane Wade and Daequan Cook. Matthews is projected to be a late second-rounder player, while Green is expected to hear his name called in the first- to mid-second round stages. Both of them have NBA-ready bodies for the two guard position. Both have three-point range -- though Green shoots it at a higher level, 42 percent. Both even have the potential to beat out Cook, which would make the 2009 Three-Point Shootout champion a valuable trade asset.

If Gibson falls to the Heat at No. 43, Riley should draft Matthews at No. 60. If not, the Heat president can draft Green with its first pick and Dozier with its last pick. Either way, Miami is getting two players who can be sparks off the bench immediately. Something better than that seldom happens in the second round.

Will Shaq and LeBron Together Finally Give Cleveland a Title?

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:15:00 -0500

Lakers win easy, LA rolls to title

Rumors of Shaquille O'Neal heading to Cleveland has sprouted a lot of thoughts. Some thoughts questioning possibilities, some thoughts stating facts and/or opinions.

One question is obvious: Will the pair of Shaq and LeBron end up as ugly as the rest of Shaq's relationships?

In the late '90s, the Big Aerostotle split up with guard Penny Hardaway, leaving the Magic and heading to LA. As per usual, he did the same with star guard Kobe Bryant, only this time, Shaq headed to Miami. Dwyane Wade criticized Shaq after his production took a turn for the worst -- due to injuries and age -- and called him out during a media press conference. Although the departure was not as quite as ugly as the previous two, there was certainly tension between the two All-Stars.

One statement is obvious: Cleveland would be a scary team if they acquired O'Neal. The one glaring weakness I could find in the '08-09 Cavs team was lack of consistent and efficient big men.

I've already expressed my disliking for Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Ben Wallace could possibly retire (he could also be part of the trade between Phoenix and Cleveland). Anderson Varejao will surely weigh offers he gets when roaming the free agent market with the possibility of winning a championship in Cleveland. J.J. Hickson still has a lot to learn before becoming one of the Cavs main big men in the rotation.

But one question that instantly went through people's heads when hearing this news was: Will Shaq and LeBron as a pair give Cleveland its first title in 45 years?

Let's take a look.

Can Riley Get Bosh Now?

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:38:34 +0000

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald published an article today, writing that a friend of Chris Bosh said that the four-time NBA All-Star is interested in playing for the Miami Heat.

Bosh would be a tremendous leap forward for this team. He possesses speed, athleticism and ball-handling skills rarely seen for a player his size. Bosh is dual threat in that he can shoot the 15-footer, but also score around the basket. He has solid rebounding skills, but is a liability on defense. Nonetheless, Bosh is undoubtedly one of the best big men in the League.

There is one thing about Bosh that some would say separates him from, say, Amar'e Stoudemire. Bosh has never said that he wants to be the man on his team. In fact, he would probably enjoy playing second fiddle to a superstar like Dwyane Wade. Bosh has been likened to Pau Gasol in that he is a complementary star, not a superstar who can lead his team to a title.

The Toronto Raptors forward can opt out of his contract in 2010, like Wade, so a trade now would come with the risk that it would end up as a one-year Bosh rental. But is the idea of Riley trading for Bosh this summer even plausible?

The Memphis Grizzlies parted ways with Gasol once the Los Angeles Lakers offered Memphis enough salary cap space to rebuild the team. Toronto is in a similar situation. Raptors President Bryan Colangelo has already traded Jason Kapono for Reggie Evans in a move that was widely seen as financial deal. Miami does have a lot of expiring contracts to offer Colangelo.

Jermaine O'Neal, Mark Blount, Udonis Haslem, Dorell Wright, Chris Quinn and Yakhouba Diawara all have contracts that expire at the end of next season. Trades have to match salary-wise in the NBA, though. A deal consisting of Udonis Haslem and Mark Blount for Bosh would work.

The Lakers gave up Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol and two first-round Draft picks to attain Gasol. If Riley wants to keep Michael Beasley out of the deal, he is going to have his work cut out for him. He is probably going to have to give up a few first-round picks. He may even have to trade away Daequan Cook, who is still in his rookie contract.

Now, Gasol's contract runs through 2011, so that was added incentive for the Grizzlies to take those expiring contracts. As mentioned before, Bosh can opt out of his contract at the end of next season. Therefore, Colangelo may not feel the need to trade away his star. A trade consisting of Haslem, Blount, Cook and Draft picks for Bosh would give Toronto two quality players -- Haslem and Cook -- while also obtaining cap relief and first-round picks, however. There are not many teams that can offer that. The Chicago Bulls, another team rumored to have interest in Bosh, has the Luol Deng contract that runs through 2014 and the Kirk Hinrich contract that runs through 2012. Hell, even a sign-and-trade involving Ben Gordon would involve a long-term deal.

A Miami-Toronto deal like that would be the one that could just maybe bring back Stephen A. Smith to television. It would be nice to hear him bash Mark Blount similar to how he bashed Kwame Brown in his analysis of the Gasol trade to the Lakers. Seriously, though, it is important to note that it is plausible that Colangelo could completely reject the deal. If Colangelo pulls the trigger on the deal, it would mean that he wants to get significant cap relief without acquiring a player with star potential, instead hoping for an answer with first-round Draft picks.

Riley should not be worried about acquiring a player that only has one year left on his contract. The architect of the 2006 championship run traded for Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 when he had a year left on his contract. Riley, of course, signed O'Neal to a five-year, $100 million contract the year after before trading it to Phoenix.

The only qualm about the trade on the Heat's part should be whether it is worth it to fast-track the rebuilding process at the cost of first-round picks and a couple of good players. Quite frankly, a trio of Wade, Bosh and Beasley would instantly vault the Heat back into championship conversation.

The Cavaliers Couldn't Have a Better Coach than Mike Brown

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:16:39 -0500

Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry focuses on more than star power to surround LeBron James. He focuses on who's the perfect fit.

Ferry, often criticized for not surrounding James with enough, has been able to find players suitable for helping James without the risk of giving out a Gilbert Arenas or Elton Brand-sized contract.

In Cleveland's first and only Finals in 2007, James wasn't surrounded by players who fit well. The frontcourt of Zyndrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden, although not very effective, was the team's strong-point. The backcourt was even worse, led by the injury-prone Larry Hughes and the aging Eric Snow.

Although Cleveland missed the Finals this year, they have a much better team, winning 66 games over the 50 they won two years ago. The backcourt has the range and the depth to free up space for James, and LeBron may have a good enough second option, Mo Williams.

The greatest improvement of the team has not been a player, but coach Mike Brown. Despite winning Coach of the Year this season, Brown is still disrespected. Rumors, although they're quickly dying, of the Cavs finding a replacement for Brown are quickly circulating.

One candidate includes Pat Riley. Already a Hall of Famer, Riley has coached five championship teams: four Lakers teams in the 80's and the Heat in 2006.

Brown is only 39, he's never played a minute of NBA action, he looks more like an accountant than an NBA coach, and his only rings come from being a Spurs assistant coach. Even so, the Cavaliers are better off with Brown than the guy who was named a Top Ten Coach in NBA History.

Even with less experience than Riley, Brown is developing into an incredible coach.

In his first four years, the Cavaliers have a record of 211-117. No team in the past four years has been that good under the same coach besides Greg Popovich's Spurs. And Popovich is the one who guided Brown in the NBA.

The Cavaliers haven't only succeeded in the regular season. They have won seven rounds of the postseason. When Cleveland is eliminated, you can rarely say that Brown was out-coached.

In his first year, the Cavaliers lost to the Pistons in seven games in the second round. The Pistons had arguably the best starting five in the league.

After that, he took Cleveland to the Finals where Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs. Although Brown is partly to blame, the Spurs were a team with three all-star caliber players with many championships and a coach who taught Brown everything he knew.

In Brown's third year, the Cavaliers were the only team to take the champion Celtics to seven games and it took an overtime Game Seven to make the Cavs go away.

Cleveland was expected to make the Finals in the 2009 season but lost in the Conference Finals, and you can't say Brown wasn't a part of the downfall. He couldn't motivate most of the players enough.

However, one year doesn't ruin what he's worked for.

Although Brown coached his worst series this past season, the Cavaliers didn't improve just because of the Williams addition.

The Cavaliers ranked No. 1 in defense, giving up 91.4 points per game. There isn't a single player on the team who hasn't improved defensively under Brown.

James learned to be an elite helping defender, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting after his defense was criticized a few years ago. Anderson Varejao finished 13th. Even Ilgauskas and Wally Szczerbiak look good under the system.

Although some would describe the relationship of Brown and James to be one where Brown doesn't interfere with James, Brown has made him into a better player. Not only James has improved, but it's hard to find someone who hasn't.

The number one reason why the Cavaliers would fire Brown is to bring in an elite coach such as Riley. But why should they get an elite coach when they already have one?

James has one year left on his contract. They could keep Brown and have another winning season. A new coach could jeopardize the team's success and make James less likely to re-sign.

Riley has coached losing teams before and who knows if the complex system of team defense and offense around James would remain as effective with any other coach?

Brown isn't the best coach in the NBA, but he's the best coach that the Cavaliers could have.