Before the start of NBA training camp, we’ll be doing Q&A pieces with writers and editors who cover each team from the Southeast Division, respectively. Since the Miami Heat are no longer considered ‘championship contenders’ after the departure of LeBron James, the Washington Wizards, along with a few other teams, could potentially rise in the division standings. (Previously: Orlando Magic preview with Zach Oliver; Atlanta Hawks preview with Ryan Donoho, Charlotte Hornets preview with Reece Helms)
The Miami Heat lost a pretty good player this off-season. After getting beat down by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, LeBron James decided to return home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, putting the Miami Heat in a situation that they’ve never been in before.
Miami Heat president Pat Riley managed to re-sign Chris Bosh to a 5-year max contract, but he also added a few very solid pieces via free agency. Riley added Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts, and Danny Granger, so although they won’t make up for the loss of LeBron, they will help the Miami Heat compete for another division title.
Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg), editor of FanSided’s All U Can Heat, joined me to discuss the Miami Heat, the Southeast Division and the Washington Wizards. Enjoy.
Ben Mehic: Unlike a lot of NBA fans, I was shocked to see LeBron James leave Miami this off-season. Did his decision surprise you? After losing LeBron, the Heat’s front office managed to acquire several free agents including Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger. What will each player bring to Miami and how much will they make up for losing LeBron?
Wes Goldberg: The simple answer is yes, it surprised me. You prepare yourself (and your site) for every angle, but in my heart of hearts–as did most Heat media and fans–we thought LeBron was coming back.
Still, Riley should win executive of the year for his job putting the team back together. Not only for re-signing Chris Bosh, but also for maintaining relationships with free agents like Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem who had other options while we all waited on LeBron’s decision.
Deng will keep Miami’s SF position from becoming a negative while McRoberts will give the team a true stretch-4 who will help space the floor with Bosh and make room for Wade, Rio and Deng to get to the rim. Expect more ball movement and a more conservative defense, as the need for iso’s and getting in transition becomes less important without LeBron.
Ben: Dwyane Wade‘s sudden regression in the NBA Finals became a national story this past season. Now that LeBron is no longer in Miami, what can we expect from Wade this upcoming season, knowing that he’s taken a bit of a step back?
Wes: The best-case scenario is that Wade plays 70-75 games with a cap on his minutes. Maybe something like 30 max a night. Chalmers will see time at the 2-guard, as will Granger and possibly Reggie Williams and James Ennis (if they make the team). The big difference will be in the fourth quarter, when Wade will take over his role as the alpha dog who needs the ball when it matters.
Ben: After agreeing to a 5-year max contract with the Heat, Chris Bosh is also going to play an even bigger role for the Heat this upcoming season than he did in his previous seasons with Miami. How surprised were you to see Bosh stay after rumors linked him to the Houston Rockets? What role do you expect him to play this upcoming season?
Wes: When James left, I turned to my girlfriend and said “this means Bosh is gone also.” Needless to say when Bosh re-signed I was ecstatic. It meant the Heat would remain competitive, at the very least. Some people think we over paid, but think about this: Without Bosh, the Heat don’t get Deng, they probably don’t get Birdman to re-sign, or even Chalmers. This team goes into tank mode.
As far as Bosh’s game, expect him to facilitate from the post and from the high-post. Watch for improved post-scoring moves and for him to continue to work on his range. He will be the queen piece on the floor for the Heat.
Ben: The Heat, Hornets, Wizards and Hawks are all playoff teams, but none of them really stick out from the rest of the group. How would you rank these teams in the division standings this season?
Wes: Miami, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta. Heat get a slight edge due to experience and coaching, but I’m also biased. Atlanta could be at the top or bottom of this list, depending on how Horford returns and how the team handles the Danny Ferry situation. Still not sure Charlotte has enough scoring. Washington is a team that can get streaky all the way to the ECF.
Ben: And finally, from an outsider’s perspective, give us your thoughts on the Washington Wizards and Southeast Division as a whole.
Wes: The Southeast Division is going to be competitive, but it will be how these teams handle the rest of the conference that will be most interesting. Can all four of Miami, Washington, Charlotte and Atlanta get in the playoffs over Brooklyn and New York? Can Miami or Washington end up with a better seed than Toronto?
As for the Wizards, Wall and Beal are clearly the best backcourt in the conference. Wall strikes me as someone ready to make a leap. He’s got some ’06 Wade in him. Beal, on the other hand, is one of the most fearsome shooters in the NBA. We know this. We also know Nene and Gortat are great when healthy. Paul Pierce could be the difference, though. With the Nets in the playoffs last season, we finally saw why Pierce was brought on. His leadership was huge in helping Brooklyn make games competitive. He won’t be relied to score or even defend the opponent’s best player, but he will remind the young Washington team what it means to be in the playoffs. Look for his value to rear its head in the post season.
Thanks to Wes Goldberg for answering a few of our questions. Follow him on Twitter and check out All U Can Heat for everything Miami Heat basketball.