Sometimes, it's hard to accept the long view when that view is being offered from a member of the organization that is stressing such patience.
Understood. When Pat Riley speaks, there clearly is a pro-Heat perspective. It's who he is, what he does.
Yet Riley just might be on to something when he talks about how his team is positioned for next summer. Says who? Says ESPN.com, in this analysis from widely respected NBA number cruncher John Hollinger.
While the story is part of ESPN.com's "Insider" pay service, we offer two telling paragraphs from the piece, commentary that offers an outside perspective to Riley's vision, amid fears elsewhere around the league regarding a severely reduced 2010-11 salary cap:
"The biggest winner of all, however, might be Miami. While several teams' hopes of cap space were severely diminished by the projected salary cap dip -- most notably New York's sugarplum dreams of inking two max contracts at once -- the Heat are unaffected. They have virtually no money on the books beyond this season and could add one max contract and another fairly expensive star, all while keeping Dwyane Wade.
"No wonder Miami has been quiet this summer and happily let Jamario Moon scoot off to Cleveland. For all the talk from Wade about threatening to bolt if they aren't better this year, it's clear Miami's best shot at contending is to try to find Wade two stellar teammates next year and then continue to build in the following seasons … when the cap and tax levels project to rise just like the good old days."
Apparently, even the world-wide leader approves. And don't forget, Wade would earn about $30 million more from the Heat as a free agent if he stays than if he seeks a maximum contract elsewhere next summer, as part of the NBA's home-team advantage built into its collective--bargaining agreement.
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