Credit Andy Elisburg for the execution and Pat Riley for the vision. It is a remarkable deal for the Heat. They traded three players (Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson) who were no longer part of their long-term plans, lowered salary, created salary cap space, didn’t give up any draft picks and gained Iguodala. Even if the Heat don’t reach the Finals this season, they are positioned to compete in the Eastern Conference for the next few seasons.
- Riley, and his trusted, smart and creative general manager Andy Elisburg see an accelerated window to compete for a title so they acquired Andre Iguodala from Memphis in a deal that adds a proven veteran with championship experience and a mindset that fits Miami’s culture.
- The Heat are better than expected sooner than expected because of the emergence of Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson and rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn, alongside All-Star Jimmy Butler.
Pat Riley has nothing left to prove.
He won an NBA championship as a player (1972), a coach (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2006) and an executive (2006, 2012, 2013) and was coach of the year three times and executive of the year once. It’s a resume that has him enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Loud and clear now: Pat Riley still has something to prove.
He wants to win another championship, in another decade and era of the NBA, post-LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh Heat. Even at 74, the desire to win remains as strong as ever for Riley. If one thought Butler’s passion to win would disrupt the team, a person with the Heat organization laughed at that. No one is bothered more by losing than Riley, the person told USA TODAY Sports.
References:
USA Today Sports, Opinion: Pat Riley's next NBA title may come sooner, thanks to Andre Iguodala trade, Jeff Zillgitt, Feb. 7, 2020.
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