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Pat Riley Sends Cryptic Message On Future Of Heat After Early Playoff Exit
Miami Heat president Pat Riley is approaching 80 years old. He cannot handle another rebuild. He knows he has to add players now if the Heat are going to contend next season.
The only question is how? The team has no room under the salary cap and the tax is stiff if they go over the second apron.
At his end of the season press conference on Friday, Riley acknowledged he needs better players. He said the Heat will not "run it back" with the current roster.
Riley is open to adding an Alpha star, similar to Jimmy Butler, but he said they are probably going to make mostly lateral moves.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13)© Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images“There are some lateral trades that can be made to improve the team," Riley said. "Do we inject an alpha? A great, great player to help maximize our performance in those double digit leads that were lost? It could be that simple.”
While the Heat might not be able to afford an Alpha player, Riley is certainly not opposed to the idea of getting older players on the back-nine of their careers.
“I still think an aging player can play," Riley said. “I’m not against that, no.”
Riley compared the Heat gaining aging veterans to what Steve Kerr is doing in Golden State.
"An aging great, great player may not be able to carry a team," Riley said. "Together they can rise to the occasion in the playoffs. For us, if that player is the right name and the contract is the right length, I still think an aging player can play.”
