Less than a week away from the 2014 NBA draft, it's still unclear how the Cleveland Cavaliers plan to use the first overall pick.The list of available players worth drafting at No. 1 took a hit recently when potential top pick Joel Embiid had to undergo surgery to repair a broken navicular bone in his right foot.
Pat Riley, in a bizarre press conference after the Finals, obliquely acknowledged as much.The biggest name that's been bandied about is Carmelo Anthony, who sources told ESPN's Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst the Heat may pursue. But while the idea of that much talent on one roster is doubtlessly tantalizing, Melo doesn't really address any of the Heat's weaknesses. The San Antonio Spurs rocked Miami because it couldn't defend them, and Melo—for his many strengths—is not much of a defensive presence. Anthony is a luxury item at a time when the Heat have much more urgent needs.What probably makes a bit more sense for Miami, as Simmons and others have pointed out, is to pursue a handful of lesser stars. This approach would allow the Heat to plug multiple holes.
Pau Gasol would, for one, be a tremendous option. He and Chris Bosh have a broadly similar skill set—big guys with mid-range games who can pass out of the post—so Miami could let the two spell one another, keeping Bosh and Gasol fresh for the playoffs without missing a regular-season beat.Gasol, still a strong rebounder, also helps the Heat address what's maybe their biggest weakness: the glass. According to ESPN, Miami finished 27th in rebounding rate during 2013-14. That's a lot of extra possessions to give to your opponent.
Rumors of the center's demise may also be a bit exaggerated. While he isn't the caliber of player he was just a few seasons ago, neither is he in rapid decline. According to Basketball-Reference, Gasol's 15 rebounds per 100 possessions was the second-highest rate of his career, and his 26.9 points per 100 was the gaudiest figure he'd posted since 2006-07. He can still help. And with $156 million in career earnings, he might be willing to do it at very steep discount to add another title or two to his resume.Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Luol Deng is another name to watch. Deng is a stalwart defender who comes from a winning culture in Chicago and, even in a down season, was above league average by measure of player efficiency rating and wins produced, per Basketball-Reference and Boxscore Geeks.Trevor Ariza and Kyle Lowry should also get a look from the Heat. Both players enjoyed career seasons—Ariza finished 25th in the NBA in win shares and 11th in wins produced, while Lowry placed eighth and 12th—and are regarded as top-shelf defenders.If Miami could land one or two of the above-mentioned veterans, then use the rest of the leftover change to supplement the roster with title-hungry vets, suddenly a title window that appeared closed is creaked open just a bit.
A rotation led by Wade, James, Ariza, Bosh and Gasol could be a monster in the Eastern Conference. The team would be at least as good offensively as the 2013-14 Heat, and with the infusion of athleticism and depth, the Miami D could return to its hyper-frenetic, trapping roots. It would require many of the players involved to make financial sacrifices, sure, but it's a plausible scenario.
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