Miami Heat Preseason Conference 2005

[logpmess]

Welcome everyone. We have our top guys currently traveling the nation scouting the new talent for each team, so this press conference is coming remotely from Houston.

First of all, last season was a failure. From top to bottom, we always have higher aspirations than what we accomplished last year. That is all of the comments I have on that season.

The offseason started with the draft lotto, where we finished with the number 3 pick in the draft. We were really excited with this spot as we felt this draft had a lot of talent at the top. On draft day we had some difference of opinions between people in the organization. Some felt that we would be better off drafting a big man in Andrew Bynum to develop next to Lebron and Jefferson, but ultimately we decided on Monta Ellis. We felt that we had a better chance at getting a big man in free agency and Monta fits our system perfectly with his potential for inside ability. We decided to keep big man Earl Barron, because he is going to be a solid contributor in the upcoming years.

Free Agency was a mess for this organization. We missed the deadline for bids for RFA, which resulted in our talent acquisitions coordinator getting let go. Miami had eyes for quite a few big men in the RFA period that we could have had for the next four years. We left the rest of free agency in my hands. I decided to go hard during round one and put in the maximum number of bids including some maxes. The positions I felt that we needed the most help was center and point guard. Monta is a hell of a talent, but is not NBA ready just yet. We lucked out and convinced Shawn Kemp to join our team. Coming off of a 16 ppg season, Kemp is immediately walking into an organization where he has open season for offense. Our other acquisitions were Latrell Sprewell and Robert Pack. These are two contributing players that are heading into the twilights of their career.

Training camp didn't go as planned. We let the computer simulate for the first time in my tenure as GM. We had some big hits. All of our Free agent acquisitions declined as expected. These three players are still going to be integral parts of our team. Raja Bell, Al Jefferson, and Monta Ellis all took steps in their careers. Raja is really coming into his prime.

Our starting five for the start of the season is as follows:

C: Shawn Kemp
PF: Vitaly Potapenko
SF: Lebron James
SG: Raja Bell
PG: Robert Pack

Latrell is going to backup at SF, SG, PG. Jefferson will be the backup for the PF, C. We consider ourselves a playoff team at this point in the season. We think we will be about a 4-6 seed, and have the ability to make a push at that point in the season.

I will open up the floor to all of you.

[WigNosy]

Right now your expectations are to be a middle of the pack playoff team. How long do you feel it will take to assemble a true contender around LeBron?

[IamQuailman]

Lebron looks like he truly is coming into his own. Do you have any plans on focusing specific trainings on any part of his game to help it grow?

[logpmess]

Right now your expectations are to be a middle of the pack playoff team. How long do you feel it will take to assemble a true contender around LeBron?

I think we have the right pieces in place, but we need to give them time to develop. When Al Jefferson and Monta Ellis get to their potential, we will have a very potent offense around the superstar that is Lebron. I give it two more years. We know that we need a team around Lebron when he hits RFA to make him want to come back for another few years.

[JNR]

GWR: Talk about Monta for a minute. He's only 20 but he seems well on his way to being a good player in this league. Are you planning on bringing him along slowly?

[logpmess]

Lebron looks like he truly is coming into his own. Do you have any plans on focusing specific trainings on any part of his game to help it grow?

Miami has never been a place to spend extra money on trainings. We won't do it for this time period, but we may address it on all star weekend.


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[logpmess]

GWR: Talk about Monta for a minute. He's only 20 but he seems well on his way to being a good player in this league. Are you planning on bringing him along slowly?

He walked in the door with a starting spot on this team. The moment we acquired pack and spree, we decided to bring him along a little more slowly than originally anticipated. We are going to treat him like we did Jefferson. Sparingly in the first year. Primary backup in second. And anticipated starter in the third year.


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[ballsohard]

Random Reporter: Have you given any thought to letting LeBron James play the 1 and emulate Penny Hardaway and Jalen Rose's past success? He certainly seems to be athletic enough.

[logpmess]

Random Reporter: Have you given any thought to letting LeBron James play the 1 and emulate Penny Hardaway and Jalen Rose's past success? He certainly seems to be athletic enough.

Lebron is definitely the star of this team and will be highlighted any way he can. But due to our roster, he will be playing sf this season.


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[42PhD]

Dr. Rocker of the Cleveland Rocker: Let me remind you of your press conference two seasons ago.

I asked you:

LeBron's rookie contract puts you on the clock. How long before the lack of a title justifies a change at helm?

Here is your response:

In his third year, we should have gotten enough talent around him to compete for a title.

Here are are in that third year, two years after the original question, and you are saying:

I think we have the right pieces in place, but we need to give them time to develop. When Al Jefferson and Monta Ellis get to their potential, we will have a very potent offense around the superstar that is Lebron. I give it two more years. We know that we need a team around Lebron when he hits RFA to make him want to come back for another few years.

An uncharitable reading of this says that the last time you said you'd be a contended in two years, you found yourself in a position to say that you would again need two years to be a contender. In two seasons, of course, LeBron will commanding a big salary, which makes the situation even worse.

What would you care to set those who could read those comments that way?

[NOLa.]

Sent via Morse code

[logpmess]

Dr. Rocker of the Cleveland Rocker: Let me remind you of your press conference two seasons ago.

I asked you:

LeBron's rookie contract puts you on the clock. How long before the lack of a title justifies a change at helm?

Here is your response:

In his third year, we should have gotten enough talent around him to compete for a title.

Here are are in that third year, two years after the original question, and you are saying:

I think we have the right pieces in place, but we need to give them time to develop. When Al Jefferson and Monta Ellis get to their potential, we will have a very potent offense around the superstar that is Lebron. I give it two more years. We know that we need a team around Lebron when he hits RFA to make him want to come back for another few years.

An uncharitable reading of this says that the last time you said you'd be a contended in two years, you found yourself in a position to say that you would again need two years to be a contender. In two seasons, of course, LeBron will commanding a big salary, which makes the situation even worse.

What would you care to set those who could read those comments that way?

Thank you for that rather impressive and detailed observation. Next question.


Just playing. We were hoping to make that big of a splash that quickly. But with back to back fumbles during free agency, we had to make changes and re-evaluate our team appropriately. We have some talent around him. Like we stated. And we plan to compete as best we can. But title aspirations are going to develop with our talent.


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[logpmess]

Sent via Morse code

I don't see the question here. Next?


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[TrayWithAnA]

Where do you see yourself finishing this year?