Heat Draft 2010: Pick-by-Pick Breakdown

June 25, 2010

On Thursday night there was no first round hype for the Miami Heat as they traded away their 18th overall pick (along with Daequan Cook) to the Oklahoma City Thunder just a night before the draft. However, they had plenty of second rounders to stock up with (four to be exact), and they are as follows:

32nd Overall Pick: Dexter Pittman, C, Texas

Length, height and girth are the attributes that pop put when analyzing this four-year center out of Texas. The Heat went big and that's exactly what they get with Dexter Pittman. Despite having weight issues (holding 20.8% body fat entering the draft combine), Pittman has shown resolve in the past as he dropped nearly 100 pounds from high school to college and has proven that he is ready to commit to improving his game, both physically and mentally. As a senior, Pittman posted 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks on average, coupled with a whopping .654 field goal percentage. His offensive game is still a work in progress as he has very little range, but can produce points off put-backs and offensive rebounds near the rim. In essence, Pittman is a Pat Riley kind of player just by the mere fact that he the large, defensive-minded center that is so highly sought after by the Heat's president. Whether he contributes immediately or is shipped off to Europe for further development is unknown. What is known is that Pittman fits the pedigree of the prototypical tenacious Heat player, akin to Udonis Haslem and Brian Grant.

Physique:
Height - 6'11
Weight - 303 lbs.
Wingspan - 7'6
 
41st Overall Pick: Jarvis Varnado, PF, Mississippi State

When you think Jarvis Varnado, you think freakish athleticism. This kid averaged a double-double in his senior season and served up 4.7 blocks per game in the process. Another defensive-minded player to fit Miami's style of play, Varnado can take the role of Joel Anthony with an added bonus of increased offensive production. The Heat clearly wanted to sure up their front court with the selections of Pittman and Varnado, potentially giving them their own version of Boston's Kendrick Perkins-Glen Davis combination. Varnado has been criticized fore being underweight for his height compared to NBA standards, but that's something the Heat trainers can easily fix during this offseason. His role on the team is still in the air as free agency will determine virtually all of Miami's roster make-up for the 2010-11 season. Expect him to see the court no later than next season if he pans out in the Heat system.

Physique:
Height - 6'10
Weight - 210 lbs.
Wingspan - 7'3


42nd Overall Pick: Da'Sean Butler, SF, West Virginia

This may just be Miami's sleeper pick of the entire draft. Coming off a horrid ACL injury to his knee, Butler is rehabbing to meet and exceed the physical shape he was in during his senior year at West Virginia. Voted Big East Championship Most Outstanding Player, Butler was projected to be a first-rounder prior to his injury during the NCAA Championship Semi-Finals. Assuming that he does recover fully, Miami will have acquired a smart, play-making forward that exudes the toughness of a Bob Huggins system. In his final season at WVU, Butler averaged 17.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1 steal (and don't count out his 35.4% 3-point field goal percentage). This kid is an all-around solid basketball player that could make the Heat roster with continued progression in his recovery process.

Physique:
Height - 6'7
Weight - 230 lbs.
Wingspan - N/A

Final Notes

• All three Heat draftees played in their respective colleges for the entire four-year limit, hinting at a common strand of experience and maturity amongst Miami's newest rookies.

• In general, Miami went after size and athleticism with their draft picks, something that can help their team regardless of the other moves they make this offseason.

• The primary offseason goal of the Heat, which was to maximize cap space and avoid adding guaranteed contracts, was preserved in this draft. Currently, Miami has $43 million worth of free cap space, which is the highest among all NBA teams. That number could increase if they dump anymore contracts this offseason (e.g. Michael Beasley and James Jones).

Firing Fredi: Good or Bad?

June 23, 2010

The Florida Marlins announced that they fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on Wednesday morning after a 10-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The timing of the decision seems predetermined as such firings are not usually made after a blowout win. However the Marlins do find themselves 7.5 games behind the N.L. East lead and are under-performing in the eyes of the front office.

In all fairness to Gonzalez, he was not the one who dictated the performance of the Marlins bullpen, which has failed to hold leads and close out games all season long. The Achilles heel of this ballclub was, and still is, the relief pitching. And while Gonzalez had the responsibility to manage who would take the mound in relief, the sporadic play of the bullpen made it difficult to establish a consistent rotation. In sum, Fredi was not the one giving up games in the late innings because of his decision-making abilities.

Moving forward, the Marlins must now find a way to stay focused and continue to compete for a playoff spot; be it a division title or wild card berth.

Although the front office named Triple-A New Orleans manager Edwin Rodriguez (pictured right) as the new interim head honcho, it must be speculated that another candidate is waiting in the balance. Similar to 2003, when the Marlins fired then-manager Jeff Torborg and hired Jack McKeon, this could just be a primer to the coming of the next "Jack." What is unknown is whether that move will come during this season or after it is over. Perhaps the owner Jeffrey Loria will allow Rodriguez to prove himself and has sufficient confidence in him to lead the Marlins to the promised land.

Whatever the case may be, keep this in mind. After the Marlins fired their skipper in 2003 and brought in McKeon, shortly thereafter they fell to 19-29, which was the worst record in the Majors. However, we know what came after as the Marlins went on their magical playoff run that led to their second World Series title in six seasons. In order for the 2010 Marlins to make such a run, it would require an uplifting boost in the confidence of their pitching staff and an unyielding desire to prove the odds wrong. It's a tough task ahead, but the Marlins have a history of accomplishing such tasks. 

Heat Warming Up Trade Waters

June 22, 2010

Sources from within the league and in the media have confirmed that the Miami Heat are placing their 2010 first-round draft pick (18th overall) on the trading block. This move comes at no surprise to close followers of the Heat as Miami rarely seeks improvement through the NBA draft. Beyond that, in the Heat's search for a quality supporting cast to aid Dwyane Wade, there is little immediate help they can acquire from the services of a rookie. Pat Riley's focus is on freeing up cap space and bringing in established players to play alongside Wade next season and beyond.

Michael Beasley's name has been thrown out into the trade rumor mill for quite some time now, and pairing him with Miami's first-round pick and another player would be the most likely package the Heat will offer to interested teams. Few teams have an interest in Beasley at the moment, but nonetheless there are teams fancying the thought. A month from now we will see the waters warm up even more as free agency officially opens up and the NBA offseason will be in full throttle.

Other News

The Miami Heat picked up Mario Chalmers' team option and have re-signed him through next season. This means one of two things: 1) Miami values Chalmers' services, or 2) Miami is setting Chalmers' up for a trade package.Chalmers joins Beasley and Daequan Cook as the only players under contract through the 2010-11 season.

A New Reign for Miami Sports?

June 17, 2010

As summer marks the beginning of vacation breaks for average Americans, most sports take a hiatus of their own during this season. With football deep into it's offseason, hockey just finishing and basketball wrapping up it's playoffs, only baseball is left for sports fans to watch. Not to say that "America's Pastime" lacks entertainment value, but most consider this the hibernation season for sports.

However, there is plenty to look forward to once fall rolls around, particularly if you are a Miami sports fan. The Miami Dolphins have aggressively pursued new talent to improve the team for the 2010 season with Brandon Marshall and Karlos Dansby joining the Fins. At the same time, the Miami Heat have openly voiced their intentions to re-sign Dwyane Wade and revamp their roster with additional marquee players. And with the Florida Marlins still in reach of a playoff spot, anticipation of greater days are alive and strong in the South Florida sports community. In sum, Miami may be on the brink of it's best stretch of sports success across the board.

The emergence of Chad Henne and his newly acquired target, Marshall, could elevate the Dolphins to the next level in the NFL; The level of elite status. More importantly, Miami's young defensive core only has room to improve and could become a formidable defense in seasons to come. While the AFC East has become a three-team race, the Dolphins have a prime opportunity to recapture the division title. Last season they held a record of 3-1 versus the New England Patriots and New York Jets combined. In 2010, such a feat may be more difficult to attain, but still equally possible. Whether title aspirations are part of Miami's fate this season or not, there is no doubt that the Lombardi Trophy has just moved closer to home and within arm's reach for the Dolphins.

As for the Heat, the odds are in their favor this offseason as a tropical South Florida backdrop, superfluous cap space and Dwyane Wade stand in their corner for recruitment of a revamped roster. Pat Riley has built a championship caliber team once in Miami and will plan on doing so again in 2010. If the Heat secure another dominant athlete to line up next to Wade, along with a quality supporting cast, Miami will instantly improve their chances at a title. No longer will the Heat stop flat at a first round playoff exit. Knowing that Wade is entering his eighth NBA season, Miami's front office will look to build a roster with longevity - one that competes every single season. Unlike the 2006 Heat roster, there will not be a on-and-done cast in Miami. Riley understands that an offseason like this does not come around often and the time is now to build a dynasty in Miami.

To top that, the Marlins have maintained a core of young players with experience and All-Star resumes as they lunge towards a new home in Marlins Stadium. Realistically, a few more pieces could boost this team to playoff contention in the near future. Acquiring talent through their farm system, the Marlins have always built from the ground up rather than trading for older, more establish players. The perks of such strategy is a longer window of opportunity to make a title run. In the past, the two World Series Championship Marlins teams have been led by their solid pitching staffs. Today, Josh Johnson has firmly placed himself at the helm of the Marlins rotation followed by quality starters in Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad. It is the patchwork bullpen that has given Florida troubles this season, and will likely hold them back from playoff contention if no improvement comes soon. However, the MLB trade deadline and offseason could have something in store for the Fish in terms of better arms for relief. It was the trade for Ugeth Urbina in 2003 that solidified the Marlins bullpen. A similar trade could put the existing core of relievers in more defined roles, simplifying their jobs and taking some pressure of them. Once other teams begin to fear the Marlins' bullpen, then we will see a new reign in Miami.

Thus, the prospect of achieving championships this decade among the big three sports in Miami does not seem far-fetched at all. Boston, Massachusetts, had their run at being Titletown USA last decade. Now it's Miami's turn to make their run as the best sports city in the nation.

Stanton Struggles, Nunez Blows Save

June 16, 2010

Forgetful could be the word used to describe the long awaited home debut of Florida Marlins rookie outfielder Mike Stanton. Much hype was placed on the phenom as he tore up the minor leagues this spring, but his brief Major League stint has been characterized by sporadic performance. In front of Fish Fans he was less than stellar with an 0-4 night plagued by three strikeouts. It was not what the fans expected, but public support still resonated throughout the crowd.

Speaking of support, Josh Johnson barely receieved any from the offense and had his solid start go to waste by the bullpen. More specifically, Leo Nunez blew his third save of the season and failed to command in the closer role once more; a common ocurence in recent closing situations for Nunez. This begs the question whether Nunez' job is in jeopardy now that confidence has been lost in him as the deal-sealer.


Tuesday night's game could very well have implications on the Marlins roster moving forward. For one thing, fans are ready to embrace Stanton even through struggles and slumps. That leaves Cameron Maybin's spot on the active roster likely to be replaced. Another sign of this was Emilio Bonifacio's appearance in a pinch hit situation late in the game. The reason why Freddi Gonzalez chose Bonifacio over Maybin is unknown, but the decision reveals a likely sign of things to come.

The other implication is regarding the Marlins bullpen as we approach the trade deadline in approximately one month. Could a trade be in the works for a veteran reliever? If so, does that mean Nunez will no longer be the closer, or even a dependable reliever? Many questions like these can legitimately be asked now that the Marlins realize that their division is getting more competitive by the week. If they hope to compete for a division title or a wild card seed, their pitching rotation must become more solid down the stretch. A trade or two may be the only way of accomplishing that.

Rapid-fire Notes from Game 64:

• Both Dan Uggla and Gaby Sanchez drew three walks each in the game, revealing Uggla's improved plate discipline and Sanchez' continued patience at the plate.

• Josh Johnson threw over 30 pitches in the first inning, but survived through the seventh inning allowing only one run and striking out seven batters in the process. Final pitch count: 110.

• Hanley Ramirez hit his 10th home run of the season, but is yet to return to his 2009 offensive level as he's batting under .300 after 230 at bats.

• The Marlins left seven runners on base, six of which were at the hands of Cody Ross who batted 0-4 on the night.

Rationalizing the Unknown: LeBron's Next Destination

June 9, 2010

Not a single person except LeBron James can say where the 2003 number one overall pick will be playing after this summer's offseason. Everything rumored and reported can be taken as nothing more than speculation at this point of the year. The only thing that can be deduced from LeBron's situation is what seems reasonable given the minuscule details we know about the 6'7 forward out of Akron, Ohio.

One thing's for certain and that is James' desire to win an NBA championship, and soon (very soon). Currently we know of a handful of teams that have the cap space to sign James as a free agent and can base judgments of whether he fits or doesn't based on the current state of each of those teams. Most notably, the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, New York Nets and Los Angeles Clippers have the room to land the NBA's reigning two-time MVP. However, when analyzing each situation, the likely suitors for LeBron dwindle down.

Snip the Clips from the List

The Los Angeles Clippers have not tasted true success in a considerable amount of time while under the same management that has led the team to playoff-less seasons for numerous years. While a young Blake Griffin may be enticing as a teammate, the uncertainty of joining a historically mediocre team immediately eliminates the Clippers from the LeBron sweepstakes. Enough said.

The "Other" Tri-State Team

The New York Nets are the next team to come under scrutiny. Having the worst record in the NBA last season, it's difficult to believe that this team could turn it around next season and compete for a title. In addition, new ownership by Mikhail Prokhorov places the franchise in a flux; something that an established star athlete would not want to enter when seeking a title. Besides that, the Nets have been overshadowed by the Knicks even when they held a better record than New York during the Jason Kidd/Vince Carter/Richard Jefferson era. If LeBron had to choose between two teams in the tri-state area, it's difficult to see that team being in Jersey.

James Bites The Big Apple?

And so we find ourselves with the possibility of LeBron joining the Knicks, an idea that has been pondered for over two seasons now. Let's break down the state of the Knicks and see how James' fits the mold in New York. First off, it has all the attention that a star could ask for as it is arguably the United States' entertainment capital. The fans would immediately embrace him and elevate him higher than the level his fans in Cleveland placed him. Hence, the fame and acceptance elements are present.

However, when it comes to winning, the formula presented to LeBron may not be as appealing as it seems. Mike D'Antoni is still New York's head coach - someone that is known for his offense-heavy, defensively-light strategy - which goes counter to James' style of play. Beyond that, there is no track record with the current Knicks front office that they can build a championship caliber team around James. The past, even after Isiah Thomas' departure, has not been pretty for the Knickerbockers. Thus, the New York possibility is not as desirable as projected at face value.

Following Jordan's Footsteps?

Chicago - the city that Jordan built - is our next stop along the path. Being a historic city behind number 23's magnificence in the 90's, Bulls fans are hungry to return to the promised land once again. LeBron James clearly admires and exalts Michael Jordan, hence the impending number change next season to six, and may want to follow Jordan's legacy in The Windy City. Then again, James has enjoyed building his own persona outside of the Jordan comparisons. Thus, the Jordan factor may either strongly draw or repel James from joining the Bulls.

In terms of talent, James would have a bonafide point guard in Derrick Rose to team up with. The rest of the squad can be built around those two. This may be James' most lucrative reason for joining the Bulls is he so decides to. But we must also account for the coaching situation as well. Recently dubbed head coach, Tom Thibodeau, has been an assistant coach in the NBA for 13 seasons, but has never been a head coach in his career. That places the team at a disadvantage for winning a championship title next season, and perhaps for season's to come if Thibodeau doesn't pan out. James may not be willing to wait around and see if his coach develops, he already did so for six seasons under recently-fired Mike Brown.

Stars Align in Miami?

Two names determine whether or not LeBron chooses Miami or not: Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley. Wade and James played alongside each other in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and dominated, holding up gold medals in their final game together. Pat Riley built and coached the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat team, and there's little doubt that he can do it again with the right tools available. James knows that the recipe for success has worked in Miami and that the Heat front office will relentlessly pursue high quality players. He can just ask his buddy D. Wade.

Miami's biggest disadvantages come in the form of a young head coach and the potential of conflicting egos. Erik Spolstra has been head coach for two seasons now, posting a winning record in that span, but has not won a playoff series yet. Some of that could be attributed to his lackluster available talent, but some of it is also in part to coaching decisions. Once again, James may not be patient enough to see whether Spoelstra is the man or not. However, Riley has left the door open to return to coaching. As for the ego conflict, it's uncertain whether Wade and James will bond like they did in Beijing or clash over the stretch of a grueling 82-game season. The past has shown the former, but during rough stretches of the season the two titans may collide.

Other Notable Possibilities

• The Dallas Mavericks have voiced interest (i.e., Mark Cuban has voiced interest) in LeBron James via a sign-and-trade deal. The Mavs always have the money to pull some strings and land some names, possibly attracting James to Dallas.

• As James stated himself, the Cleveland Cavaliers still have an advantage in landing their star forward for various, obvious reasons. We can't count out the hometown team in this entire process.

Stanton Time

June 7, 2010

The much anticipated minor league phenom has finally arrived to South Florida after a Florida Marlins series sweep at the hands of the New York Mets. The odd man out was relief pitcher Tim Wood as he allowed three runs in one and two-thirds innings of work, boosting his ERA above five. The move came on the eve of a crucial Philadelphia Phillies series, which begins on Tuesday, and the day prior to the MLB draft, which stretches from June 7th through the 9th. The Marlins find themselves in fourth place in the division (5.5 games behind the lead) and will appreciate the extended offensive production that Stanton may bring to the plate.

According to MLB.com, Stanton is ranked third among all prospects and is the most hyped prospect in South Florida since Miguel Cabrera. In just 52 games of Double-A ball with the Marlins' minor league affiliate, Stanton homered 21 times and was on pace to break the minor league record for home runs in a season. In 2008, he posted a whopping 39 home runs while playing Single-A ball for 125 games. There's no doubt that the kid can legitimately make contact, hit the ball hard and drive in runs.

However a few questions are left unanswered by this call-up. The Marlins still find themselves with a bullpen that is in a state of flux and as inconsistent as ever. Stanton will not resolve Florida's pitching woes. Beyond that, another position player will need to be moved in order to start Stanton in the lineup come Tuesday.
Cameron Maybin seems like the target of replacement, despite his recent improvements on both sides of the ball. Perhaps Stanton will come off the bench at first and fill in during pinch hit and double switch scenarios.

The conclusion is that the move will not be the end all be all for the Marlins. But it could energize the Marlins dugout akin to that of Jason Heyward's arrival in Atlanta.

Thus, Tuesday will be Fish fans' first glimpse at their newest player and the beginning of what may be a revamped Marlins team entering mid-season.