Moving On...

Now that the NBA Draft has passed, the Miami Heat must decide who to pursue via free agency and trades. This team still does have several areas in need. Pat Riley has to have a very active off-season if he wants this team to return to the playoffs. Thursday night was a start, but there is still a long way to go.

Some people may disagree with me, but I wouldn't be so leery about acquiring someone whose contract goes through the 2010 off-season, when Dwyane Wade and numerous other stars can become free agents. The Heat cannot take Wade for granted. They are going to have to prove to him that Miami will be the place to stay in a couple of years. He needs to be surrounded by a strong supporting cast. If not, you can have all of the cap space in the world, he will most likely leave. There are a lot of teams that could offer him money. When Dwyane Wade decides where he wants to spent the next few years of his life, he will probably think to himself, "At the end of the day, everybody gets a nice paycheck. But everyone doesn't get a championship."

One of the most pressing needs for Miami is the point guard position. An intriguing player to me is Raymond Felton. He is young and played for a winning program at UNC. He is extremely quick and can facilitate the offense well. A big trade with Charlotte that could involve Felton, Gerald Wallace, and Matt Carroll is very attractive, even if it comes at a cost of Shawn Marion, Daequan Cook, and a filler. Wallace can lock down opposing small forwards as well as hold his own on the offensive end of the floor. Carroll, meanwhile, can shoot lights-out from beyond the arc.

The Heat may have a bit of a logjam at the forward position right now, but they also need a center. Miami is, or at least should be, actively shopping Mark Blount's contract. Quality centers are very scarce these days. DeSagana Diop, a free agent who doesn't offer much, could be appealing to Pat Riley due to his size. Dallas, a former team of his, has reportedly inquired about Diop. Evidently, they have an advantage because he knows the system.

Another option at the center would be Joel Przybilla, though it would have to come via a trade. With Greg Oden coming back, Przybilla may find himself the odd man out in Portland. His contract is pricey, but he is a seven-footer and a strong rebounder. Moreover, Portland does retain a 2009 first-round draft pick. The Heat's first-rounder was given to Minnesota in the Ricky Davis trade.

The bottom line is that the Heat need to prove to Dwyane Wade that he will invest his time if he stays in Miami. They need to be able to compete with the Boston Celtics, the team to beat in the East. If they do nothing but clear up cap space and don't improve, it is difficult for me to see Wade return in a Heat uniform.