Heat Lose First Game Without Shaq

Just hours after the trade to the Suns was finalized, the Heat had to face the Detroit Pistons on the road. I was curious as to how the team would respond to the trading of a key figure in the organization. They responded relatively well with a hard fought 100-95 loss.

The Heat managed to stay in the game for the most part, and only lost in the final minutes. Making foul shots and holding on to the ball in the first half was a big part of that. It was a good effort by an undermanned team against a hated rival.

Wade had a great night in his first game (30 points 12 assists) as the standalone leader of this team. No longer is he the 1a option to Shaq's 1b. He is the man now. Riley has brought in a guy in Shawn Marion who can easily complement Wade's game as a second option.

From here on in, this is Wade's team and Wade pretty much has the say in where the franchise is going to go for the next 5 years. I think this trade pretty much ensures Dwyane will stay a member of the Miami Heat after his contract is up in a few years. Now the Heat will have the cap space to pursue free agents that fit into the kind of team that Wade needs to succeed with.

Imagine a scenario where Marion opts out next season and reaches a 10m/year extension. The Heat go out and use the JWill/Davis money to pursue Elton Brand, or lesser players that would match that money. Then they draft Michael Beasley and trade Haslem for a point guard, or draft Derrick Rose to be the 1 and keep Haslem.

You'd see a Rose/Wade/Marion/Haslem/Brand team or a Banks(or other)/Wade/Marion/Beasley/Brand. That would be just sick. There wouldn't be that much depth, but with a starting lineup like that, who needs a bench? It's all a pipe dream and it would probably still be over the cap, but Micky probably wouldn't mind too much if he could field that kind of lineup.

Before I go off rambling about the endless possibilities that make me salivate, I have to thank Shaq. I really hope the situation will stay amicable and that no shots will be fired by either side now that there is an official trade. I wish him the best and sincerely would have preferred him to be a member of the Heat, only at 6-8M a year instead of 20.