The State of Florida v The Miami Heat

[Mike Lowry]

Well Guys, Looks like I caught a case.

For the first time in my career (not the last), I landed myself in Tax Jail.
And, from the looks of it, I'm on my way to tax hell when these wheels fall off.
That being said, The Miami Heat WILL contend!
We still LOVE our backcourt options. We know how talented Dixson and Cuevas are.
We've all seen the kind of impact Emoni Bates can have when he's on.
Kai Jones was a lil bit of a disappointment in Miami, but we've adjusted our expectations, and pretty much know what he'll deliver night in, night out.
We couldn't pay our taxes because we don't write enough. That's on management.
As a consequence we couldn't sign high impact free agents, but we will be on the phones for a day 60 move.
Management will also shoulder the blame for not making trades before jail, but Miami probably values the talent on this roster more than the rest of the league, and we're all right with that.

We'll start the season with a starting five of:

Kai Jones
Caleb Mills
Richie Cuevas
Gerald Dixson
Emoni Bates

and move Tony Krebs to the second unit

One real trade offer might ship any of our guys out and cause a fire sale, but we been selling for three seasons without that offer coming through.
So we're ready to get activated and see where the chips fall.

Talk to me

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Given that Kai Jones and Richie Cuevas are expiring contracts who you won't have much of a chance at re-signing, a tax bill at your current salary this year could handicap the Heat for seasons going forward. Is there a goal in mind to how successful this season would have to be to see it out without having to salary dump with little value coming back beyond tax savings?

[Mike Lowry]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: Given that Kai Jones and Richie Cuevas are expiring contracts who you won't have much of a chance at re-signing, a tax bill at your current salary this year could handicap the Heat for seasons going forward. Is there a goal in mind to how successful this season would have to be to see it out without having to salary dump with little value coming back beyond tax savings?

Great Point
Thanks for the question
I would say that we will have to compete on a pretty fair level for me to see this through.
If we are contending for the division at the trade deadline, I'll be in full buyer's mode looking for a frontcourt piece to compliment Kai for a playoff run.
If not, I'll probably cut drastically and start my rebuild.
Either way, I envision the Miami lottery picks carrying some value because I'll be in a tax situation.

[Black Superman]

Desert here with the Phoenix Suns-

Do you think trying to contend is the best option for you given the state of your team? we saw the pistons years ago reload and reset while also being in tax hell? do you trust your team to have the kind of success needed to earn points to pay the league?

[Mike Lowry]

Desert here with the Phoenix Suns-

Do you think trying to contend is the best option for you given the state of your team? we saw the pistons years ago reload and reset while also being in tax hell? do you trust your team to have the kind of success needed to earn points to pay the league?

I think my biggest problem there is that I don't post for the blogs.
In order to compete in this league with the likes of you and the other top contenders, points are life.
I learned that the hard way, and now I'm in jail.
No matter what, my books come clean after this season, and I'm in rebuild mode. It was an expensive lesson to learn.

[greepleairport]

Gerald Dixson was an all-in acquisition a couple of seasons ago when Richie Cuevas was injured. A great player that hasn’t delivered the way mgmt had hoped when he was brought on board, nor the year after. This preseasons though he produced very promising numbers, easily looking like your best player. Is he the answer to keeping the team together? Or is he your most valuable asset to move?

[IamQuailman]

You have a lot of talent in the team, do you think this is the year things start to click?

[NickMalone77]

Fairly basic question but which teams in your division do you think you match up best against ?

[Mike Lowry]

Gerald Dixson was an all-in acquisition a couple of seasons ago when Richie Cuevas was injured. A great player that hasn’t delivered the way mgmt had hoped when he was brought on board, nor the year after. This preseasons though he produced very promising numbers, easily looking like your best player. Is he the answer to keeping the team together? Or is he your most valuable asset to move?

Realistically, there is no keeping the team together long term.
I'm not asking too much for any of my assets, I won't just dump them for points unless they fail to contend though.
Anybody on my roster could be had for a nice prospect and some points or a pick, but I haven't received an offer like that.
So Dixson and company will march forward, and if they show enough life I'll throw that 2056 lottery pick out there and try to secure some reinforcement.

[Mike Lowry]

You have a lot of talent in the team, do you think this is the year things start to click?

If not, this will have been a very informative stretch.
I thought I could build around Kai and Emoni, but I don't know how badly I misjudged the gap between solid foundation and championship contender.
I definitely misjudged the cap management, but I wanted to make a run.
This is the wind down of that attempt. I would love if it turned into a strong finish.

[Mike Lowry]

Fairly basic question but which teams in your division do you think you match up best against ?

I love some of the prospects the MAGIC and the HAWKS have lined up, but it seems they are a lil ahead of me on the rebuild movement. I'm hoping my veteran leadership will get me by them.