The one thing I do NOT understand that I constantly read about is trade rumors for Shawn Marion.  WHY ON EARTH would the Heat want to actively trade him?  I understand wanting to get rid of the contract…but I sincerely doubt Marion is going to command near the 17-18 million he’s making in his end year salary.  I see him pulling a Baron Davis, and resigning his last long term contract around $13 million a year.  To me, this is well worth it.

Marion’s got a good four years left of prime time ball in him…could there possibly be a better SF combo for a healthy D-Wade than Marion?  Let’s look at Marion’s strengths:  Great defense…check.  Great athleticism…check.  Above average 3 pt shooter/midrange shooter…check.  Top notch slasher…check.  Can slide comfortably between the 3 and 4 spots…check.  One of the top rebounders in the league period, and probably #1 for his size…check.  Hustle/energy points…check.  Plays well with other stars…check. 

Do the Heat really want to give up a perennial all star and nice 2nd or 3rd banana on offense just to get draft picks and cap flexibility?  Who would they possibly get to replace Marion’s versatility…I just don’t get it.  A healthy Wade/Marion combo running the wing spots is flat out scary, and is easily the best SG/SF combo in the NBA (again…IF healthy).  Unless Marion proves to be a complete greedy idiot, I’m sure he’d be content with a 4-5 year, $13 a year contract.  Why don’t the Heat let him play out half the year and just extend the guy?

That Ben Gordon/L Hughes/J Noah trade is a total joke.

Further – They were only 15th in the NBA last season in 3pt shooting at 36%.  They went out and got James Jones a career 40% three-point shooter and already have both Chris Quinn and Marcus Banks who both shot nearly 40% from three last season. I also think Chalmers will be decent shooter from three as well from what I heard and saw in summer league.

I think they are set with perimeter shooters to surrounding Wade.  Their biggest issue is at Center.  They have two very bad players there right now.

Biggest strength(s):
-Dwayne Wade (Pookie)  (when healthy)
-Uptempo style
-Potential talent (Beasley, Quinn, Chalmers)

Biggest weakness(es):
-Perimeter shooting (What a difference two years make!)
-Frontcourt
-Young team

My biggest question about Miami is their new head coach, Erik Spoelstra, who Pat Riley chose as his replacement.  He would be the youngest NBA coach, even younger than Lawrence Frank!!  Can he coach?  For his sake, I hope so.  It is a very interesting story and position he is in.
 
With that said, I think the Heat could be 4th in the Southeast, 9th in the East.  
There will be four teams that I think will be fighting strongly for that 8th seed:
-Atlanta Hawks 
-Miami Heat
-Chicago Bulls
-Milwaukee Bucks
(And perhaps the Wizards if they really falter without Arenas!)
Why they would win the 8th seed?
-All the strength mentioned above
-Weak conference
-Dwayne Wade has to be healthy!!
Why they would not win the 8th seed?
-All the weaknesses mentioned above
-Too much competition
-Too young
-Erik Spoelstra, Is he ready?  I wouldn’t be surprised if Pat Riley pulls a Michael Jordan and steps in as head coach!!  He did to Stan Van Gundy.  Now Stan does not have a Championship!! Riley could have made him an assistant coach again.  Oh well, but historically Pat Riley is one of the best coaches all-time!!

This is how Dwayne Wade hurt himself and is no longer the player he once was. 

This is Dwayne Wade before the injury.  Now he is only 90% of the man he was. 

Shawn Marion is trade bait for the Heat, which is no surprise. The 2009 off-season is one the Miami Heat will keep an eye on.  I have heard rumors about them trying to get Carlos Boozer.  Boozer has a home in Florida and has to tend to his sick child. 

There is also talk about a potential trade with the Bulls, even though rumors say it is dead.  If something major with the Heat occurs before the Regular Season begins, then this site should be REVISITED.

The trade would be the Heat trading Shawn Marion & Marcus Banks to the Bulls in exchange for Ben Gordon, Larry Hughes, and Joakim Noah.  I think the Heat would really get the best of that deal and it could really help them get that 8th seed!!  The Heat would  get perimeter shooting, more quickness, and athleticism something the Heat have.  The more, the merrier.  It would put all those slow frontcourt players to the bench and for fewer minutes. 

On a side note, the Sixers will be (3-1) against the Heat.  We win both home games and we win one on the road.  Now this is against the current Heat team they have now.  Depth and more experience will make the difference!!