With free agency looming in the NBA, many teams are looking to cash in to push their teams to the next level of contention. The Miami Heat are among the teams in pursuit of free agents that could push them further into contention status in the Eastern Conference. And their plan to lure those free agents centers around forward Chris Bosh and head coach Erik Spoelstra.
League sources have indicated Heat owner Pat Riley’s pitch to free agents reportedly revolves around a confident view of Bosh’s successful return to the lineup next season and the long-term stability provided by Spoelstra. Riley said that Bosh’s status would be a key factor in how the team approaches free agency this offseason.
“That is the difficult thing for me in evaluating how far we’ve come and how good we are,” Riley said entering the summer. “It really can’t be answered. It can only be answered hypothetically if Chris was healthy. Then you would have a real idea, probably, about how everything would fit.”
Bosh has dealt with recurring blood clots that have cut the past two seasons short for the All-Star forward, but it has been indicated that he is making positive strides in his recovery. Both Miami and Bosh are working towards having him available for the start of training camp. The current status of his recovery is still unclear at this point in time. Prior to being sidelined during the All-Star Break in February, Bosh was Miami’s leading scorer and best shooter from 3-point range. His presence was certainly missed in the postseason, as the Heat were eliminated by the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
Meanwhile, Miami is prepared to commit to Spoelstra long-term, as the two sides start to finalize a contract extension that will run through at least the next three seasons. The extension will reportedly include both a rise in salary and a bigger role in personnel decisions. With about $42 million in cap space and nine free agents of their own to make decisions on, the Heat will be among the most intriguing teams to keep an eye on. They managed to schedule a meeting with Oklahoma City free agent Kevin Durant on Sunday, and must decide on whether to pull the trigger on center Hassan Whiteside or let him walk to another team willing to pay what will be a hefty salary.
With no clear No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference that could remotely challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Heat are perhaps the only team closest to even competing with them at this point in time. Being a major-market team in South Florida, the roster, and the franchise’s overall stability are certainly attractive enough to lure free agents. And if there’s one thing Riley knows how to do, it’s wheel and deal in signing quality players.
[ESPN]