‘They are dangerous.’ What one NBA insider believes Pat Riley plans to do with the Heat
Pat Riley has excelled at every level.
As a player, he helped deliver a championship to the Lakers. As a coach, he captured five titles with two different franchises. As an executive, he orchestrated a team that not only brought two rings to the 305 but also forever changed the NBA landscape.
It’s safe to Riley’s basketball legacy is fixed no matter what. That being said, his next move might be his greatest yet.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Heat team president might have more trick up sleeve: building another superteam.
“If you’re fortunate enough to be the type of franchise that can do that: you have clout and ability in this day and age of the NBA,” Windhorst said on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Tuesday. “And Pat Riley, even at 75 years old was on the cutting edge, and I believe they are dangerous going forward.”
“They’ve got two All-Stars now. Bam Adebayo is an All-Star. Watch out over the next 12-18 months as he might try to build one last superteam in Miami.”
Comparatively speaking, building a new Big 3 might be easier now than it was in 2010. Remember, the Heat had to recruit both LeBron James and Chris Bosh in free agency. They already have two of the three pieces in Adebayo and veteran swingman Jimmy Butler, as Windhorst noted.
If Riley pulled this off, it would be a welcomed turn of events for a team that has only made the playoffs two of the five years since the Big 3 era ended.
Heat fans, take a cue from a former alum and 14-year NBA veteran Caron Butler: next year might be your year.
