Miami Heat Dream Team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of

the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests

that players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I

have decided to defy those odds. 

The Miami Heat entered the NBA in 1988 as an expansion team.

For being a relatively new franchise, the Heat have a rich history

with three NBA titles with wins over Dallas (2006), Oklahoma City

(2012) and San Antonio (2013). The franchise has been to the

Finals six times with losses to Dallas (2010), San Antonio (2014)

and the Los Angeles Lakers (2020). The Heat have been a

perennially competitive franchise, reaching the postseason 22

times in 32 years of existence. 

The Heat have also had some notable rivalries with the Chicago

Bulls, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, Dallas

Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. The arrival of Hall of Fame

coach Pat Riley in 1995 signified relevance. The problem was that

his first stint came when the Bulls dynasty was at its peak. Stan

Van Gundy led the team deep into the postseason in the mid-

2000s but resigned, drawing Riley back to the sideline. Riley, who

guided the 1980s Lakers to four NBA titles, led the Heat to the

NBA championship in 2006. 

In the 2010s, thanks to LeBron James and Chris Bosh teaming with

Dwayne Wade, the Heat reached four consecutive NBA titles from

2011-2014 under Erik Spoelstra, winning two of them. From 2015

on, the Heat rebuilt and retooled. They reached the Finals as the

No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference in 2020, only to lose to the

Lakers. 

Today, I put together a Heat Dream Team. There are some rigid

criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have

played for the Heat for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions.

Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard

needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This

roster is all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.

This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is

the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The

number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity

also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare

eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Heat during a season of being a championship team

does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the

Heat during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on this

team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get

considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into

positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players

encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,

after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the

franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t

just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would

remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask

yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starting five

Point guard: Tim Hardaway

Hardaway was acquired in a midseason trade that brought him from

the Golden State Warriors. The Heat reached the playoffs that season

and each of his six seasons thereafter. Despite being just six-feet

tall, Hardaway had a tremendous swagger and a bulldog

competitiveness. Hardaway’s killer crossover was the defining

move of his career.

During his time with the Heat, Hardaway averaged 17.3 points, 7.8

assists and 3.2 rebounds. Hardaway also delivered many great

playoff performances as well. Hardaway was a five-time All-Star and

five-time All NBA (one as a first-teamer). 

Shooting guard: Dwayne Wade

There is not a more decorated or impactful player in franchise history

than Wade, who is one of the best shooting guards in NBA history.

Wade led the Heat to three NBA finals and five appearances. Quite

simply, Wade is the heart of the Heat franchise. Wade will soon be

inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Wade had brief stints with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers

but his 15 seasons with the Heat are what defines him. During his

time with the Heat, Wade averaged 22.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.9

rebounds.  Wade was NBA Finals MVP in 2006. He was a 13-time

All Star, nine-time All NBA (two as a first-teamer), NBA scoring

champion in 2009 in NBA All-Rookie first team in 2004. 

Small forward: LeBron James

The infamous press conference that included the words “I'm taking

my talents to South Beach” still resonates quite strongly throughout

the NBA fandom as James left the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free

agent.  James played only four seasons with the Heat but each one

culminated by participating in the NBA Finals, two of which

included championships in back-to-back fashion.

James, who recently won his fourth NBA championship, leading the

Los Angeles Lakers to the mountain-top, is undeniably an all-time

great and future Hall-of-Famer. During his time with the Heat, he

averaged 26.9 points, 6.7 assists and 7.6 rebounds well converting

54.3% of his field-goal attempts. James was also the NBA MVP in

two of his four seasons with the Heat.

Power forward: Chris Bosh

The James free agent signing grabs a lot of the headlines but the

same offseason, the Heat acquired Bosh in a sign-and-trade deal

from the Toronto Raptors. Upon arriving with the Heat, Bosh

transformed his game and what is now known as the stretch for and

that he played much of his game away from the basket.

Though Bosh is viewed by many as the third wheel after James and

Wade, he was no less valuable to the franchise's success during

that time. Bosh’s career with the Heat ended prematurely because

of recurring blood clots. Nonetheless during his time with the Heat,

Bosh averaged 18 points and 7.3 rebounds over six seasons with

the Heat.

Center: Shaquille O’Neal

You could make a case for Alonzo Mourning to be a starter but it's

hard to ignore the fact that O'Neal helps deliver the Heat their first

championship as a frontliner. O'Neal's Hall of Fame career is most

notably associated with his time as a Los Angeles Laker but his

dominance continued with Miami after having been acquired in a

trade. O'Neal delivered his fourth NBA championship in 2006,

being the perfect big man compliment to Wade. 

O'Neal dominated the 2005 and 2006 postseasons. In 2005,

O'Neal was a serious NBA MVP candidate when he averaged 22.9

points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game. The 2006

playoffs were among his finest hours and helped the Heat win

their championship. O'Neal averaged 18.4 points, 9.8 and

converted on 61.2% of his field-goal attempts.

Bench (alphabetical order)

PJ Brown:

Brown played just four seasons with the Heat and while his numbers

may not be overwhelming, he was a defensive irritant for opponents.

Brown was a three-time All NBA Defensive second-team, two as a

member of the Heat. During his time with the heat, Brown averaged

9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per

game.

Mario Chalmers:

Chalmers spent seven seasons with the Heat, helping them to four

consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two titles in that span.

Chalmers was an NBA All-Rookie second team selection in 2009.

Chalmers’ numbers with the Heat look pedestrian at 8.8 points per

game but he converted many big shots when it mattered. 

Goran Dragic:

After joining the Heat from the Phoenix Suns in 2015, Dragic was

a significant part of Miami’s rebuilding after James left via free

agency. Dragic helped the Heat reach the NBA finals in 2020. During

his time with the Heat, Dragic has averaged 16.6 points, 3.7

rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Dragic was an NBA All-Star in

2016.

Udonis Haslem:

Haslem's career numbers may look pedestrian at 7.6 points and 6.7

rebounds but he became the 30th player in NBA history to play past

the age of 40 and the first modern era undrafted player to play at that

age. Haslem was especially a key player in the heat reaching for

consecutive NBA championships. In the Heat's first championship

in 2006, Haslem scored 17 points and 10 rebounds in the series-

clinching win over Dallas.

Eddie Jones:

Jones played 14 seasons for five different teams. His All-Star and

postseason notoriety came with other teams but with the heat he

was still a solid two-way player. During his five seasons in Miami, he

helped the franchise become a title contender by averaging 16.0

points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals. 

Grant Long: Long was an original Heat as he was drafted in the

second round of the 1988 draft. Long spent six of his 15 NBA

seasons with the heat. During which time, he paved the way for

some early stepping stones for the franchise. Long averaged 11.6

points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 blocked shots

per game. 

Alonzo Mourning:

Morning was a 6-foot 11 block of granite. After having been acquired

in a trade from the Charlotte Hornets, Mourning became a franchise

icon. In his 11 seasons with the Heat, Mourning averaged 23.2

points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game. Though in

a less starring role, he also came back from having a kidney

transplant to help the Heat deliver their 2006 NBA championship,

first in franchise history. Mourning was also the first player in

franchise history to have his number retired. 

Glen Rice:

Rice did not get all star recognition until after his six-year stint with

the Heat. However, Rice was an original member of the Heat having

been taken with the number 4 pick overall in the 1989 draft. Rice's

pure shooting ability gave the heat some instant offense. As a

member of the Heat, Rice averaged 19.3 points per game. Given

that 3-point shooting is en vogue in today's game, Rice would have

been a perfect fit. 

Rony Seikaly: 

Seikaly played his first five NBA Seasons with the Heat. He earned

NBA Most Improved Player honors in 1990. During his time with the

Heat, Seikaly averaged a double-double with 15.4 points and 10.4

rebounds per game. 

Hassan Whiteside:

Whiteside played for the Heat for five seasons and proved to be a

key part of the team's rebuilding after four consecutive NBA Finals

appearances in the 2010s. Whiteside was NBA All-Defensive

second team in 2016, led the NBA in blocked shots in 2016 and led

the NBA in rebounding in 2017.

Head coach: Erik Spoelstra

Because of his status in the NBA pantheon of coaches, Pat Riley

would be the comfortable call. Riley delivered an NBA championship

in his second stint as the Heat coach and 2006. However, his teams

were also 10-13 in the playoffs during his first stint. Spoelstra,

however, gets the nod because of leading the heat to four

consecutive NBA Finals in the 2010s, two of which ended in

championships.  It would be easy to dismiss that success because

of the talent that he had but Spoelstra also recently guided a

rebuilding project that led to the Heat returning to the NBA Finals in

2020. 

Team: 2005-2006

The season started less than auspiciously with the Heat going

11-10 during their first 21 games. After which time, head coach Stan

Van Gundy resigned and Riley came out of retirement for his second

stint as a head coach. The Heat finished the regular season 52-30

defeating Chicago, New Jersey and Detroit in the Eastern

Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals, the Heat rallied from a 2-0

deficit to win four straight games to defeat the Dallas Mavericks for

the franchise's first NBA championship. Throughout the season the 

keep were led by the duo of Wade and O'Neal along with some key

veteran such as Gary Payton, Jason Williams, James Posey and

Antoine Walker.