Everybody Loves Miami

Yes, that’s were O’Neal’s career is at. Upside down. Unfortunately, I was at this game that he hurt his rib. My friend and I couldn’t stop laughing at O’Neal as he did a backwards somersault. But as I was laughing with her i was thinking in the back of my head “Oh my God what’s going to happen to Miami now?!” he got up, her and I stood up to applaud him on a “nice effort” to grab the loose ball and he went on playing. For all of you that don’t know, That game on December 22, 2007 was the last game the HEAT won. since that game they are 0-14. I joked with her and said we should go to more games so they start winning. I think it’s my fault as does every other HEAT fan. But here are the cold hard facts about this 0-14 decline of a once great team:

Shaquille O’Neal: He is not producing like he use to. Everyone knew the HEAT were going to have to overpay O’Neal at the end of his career to get a title chance or two. So they got a title and now are a little stuck. they owe him $20 million until the 2010 season. They are a mess. O’Neal can’t be traded, I mean who would want a has been? that is like 35 years old? they have no cap space, Riley and Mickey (their owner) made a bad call in signing him to such a huge contract this late in his career.

Dwyane Wade: Is the best he can be. There has been rumors going around that Wade will leave Miami in 2010 when his contract expires. I wouldn’t blame him, look at what Riley has done.  He turned a championship team into a joke. the “15 Strong” from the 06 run are now the “7 Strong” since half of the championship team left. Here are a few:

So you see? I mean it’s going to suck if Wade leaves but it seams like he will.  If Riley doesn’t come up with a fave five for Dwyane by 2010, things could get even worse for the HEAT.

I mean is there more that you want to hear? the HEAT let Eddie Jones go to free-agency to the Dallas Mavericks. Eddie was one of the best perimeter defenders we had last  year.

     One suggested method of resurrection is the trading of O’Neal. The problem with attempting to ship Shaq is the $20 million that another team must come close to matching in return. It’s not exactly genius to ship one dead-weight contract for two or three mediocre players with their own killer contracts.A better idea may be to get what they can from Shaq until 2010, dance in the streets when his contract comes off the cap and hope this year’s lottery pick joins Daequan Cook and Dorell Wright in helping Wade restore a little glory. After that 2010 season, the O’Neal, Blount and Haslem cap-relief total is $35 million. That’s also when Wade has a player option to return or scram.