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      06-25-2010, 10:16 AM   #73
1ForAll
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2. "There's more than one way to create a Dream Team."

Riley's pitch to LeBron won't just be about the above scenario, because there's a good chance Bosh prefers the Lakers or has other options in mind.

Even so, the Heat would love to start with a foundation of Wade and James -- and could build on it in a lot of different ways, starting with Michael Beasley.

While the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft hasn't quite lived up to expectations, he's still developing as a player. Beasley, who turned 21 in January, averaged 14.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg in his sophomore NBA season. He has tremendous gifts, especially on the offensive end, and if he ever gets his act together, he could be a star.

Also, Daequan Cook is a proven 3-point sniper, though he struggled with injuries and seemed to lose his shooting touch last season. As someone who can spread the floor with Wade and LeBron in the game, he could be valuable. And Mario Chalmers, while far from being an ideal starting point guard, is solid coming off the bench.

If the Heat signed Wade and LeBron to max contracts, they'd also still have between $5 million and $6 million in cap room to add another piece to the puzzle.

Or they could explore sign-and-trade scenarios that could land Amare Stoudemire or Carlos Boozer in Miami.

The team also has the 18th pick in this year's draft, where we currently have the Heat selecting Kentucky point guard Eric Bledsoe.

No matter what happens, the Heat will have to be smart and add a number of veterans at the minimum. But with Wade and LeBron on their roster, they should have a pretty easy time recruiting them.
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