The Miami Heat lost LeBron James to the Cavaliers in free agency, but names like Eric Bledsoe, Greg Monroe, Eric Bledsoe, Greg Monroe, Toure Murry, Andrew Bynum and Michael Beasley could be potential free agent targets with Shawn Marion and Ray Allen to join Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Chris Bosh in South Beach this season.
According to ESPN.com, the team has an interest in Murry as well as Allen, as they see Murry as a solid backup point guard option after his play last season. The Heat still have some room to make low level moves and while Monroe or Bledsoe would be a dream, they will cost too much and the Suns have said they will match any offer for Bledsoe. Miami saw James head home to Cleveland, but they should be a very competitive team in the eastern conference after keeping Wade along with Bosh and signing Luol Deng to a two year deal in free agency.
The Big 3 is still alive in Miami, it just has different players now with Deng coming in for James. While Deng obviously is not the same player LeBron is, there is a lot he can do to make up for his absence, as he is a strong offensive and defensive player and he also can rebound on both ends of the floor. Wade is a shell of his former self, but LeBron leaving could be one of the best things for him, as he is at his best when he is not playing off the ball and this could lead into a career renaissance for Wade.
Bledsoe and Monroe likely cost too much money as restricted free agents, while other teams might be able to bid higher on Boozer than they can. Michael Beasley was with the team last season along with Greg Oden, while the team could look at taking a flyer on Andrew Bynum, but after the way he handled things last season that's unlikely. The Heat signed back Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen and they also brought back Udonis Haslem on a multiyear deal. The Heat now have Deng as part of the Big 3 and that gives Miami and nice core.
All parties involved said they have no regrets and now Wade and Chris Bosh will show what they can do as a duo. Bosh is a very consistent and productive player, but his numbers took a major hit in the Big 3 era and now he may put up numbers like he did for years in Toronto. James leaving Miami opens things up in the east and that includes the Heat, as they should still easily be a top half playoff team in the conference after all the moves they have made and their bench is shaping up to be very deep as well.
James leaving obviously shifts things to the central division, but that will be no picnic for LeBron and Cleveland, as the Indiana Pacers are coming back mostly intact, while the Chicago Bulls have added Pau Gasol and Doug McDermott this offseason. The central division will be tough with the Bulls, Cavs and Pacers and now Chicago is battling with Cleveland to get Kevin Love from the Minnesota.
