Five Things To Watch: Miami Heat

As the back-to-back defending NBA champions, one could say that the Miami Heat stand in the best position of any team in the league. That’s probably true, but the 2013-14 campaign also stands as one of the most pivotal seasons in team history.

Why?

After this season, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will all have the option to test the free agent waters.

Although Wade said he wants to stay in Miami, perhaps a disappointing season with an aging core could give James pause about re-upping with the Heat. Already a champion as a supporting player, Bosh may want the spotlight. Regardless of whether the Heat three-peat, it is entirely plausible that key role players such as Ray Allen and Shane Battier will retire after this season.

And even if James re-signs, Heat president Pat Riley may have to build up another championship-caliber supporting cast without many salary cap exceptions at his disposal. That all leaves the spotlight squarely on Miami yet again.

The Heat come into this season with much of the same roster that won the title in June. But the punitive luxury tax penalties led them to amnesty Mike Miller, who was overpaid and injured but nevertheless managed to contribute during playoff runs.

Miami also added former top overall pick Greg Oden, who hasn’t played in an NBA game since 2009. Will he mitigate the impact Indiana’s Roy Hibbert and other imposing bigs could have against the Heat? We’ll see. Let’s take a closer look at five things to watch this upcoming season.

1. Dwyane Wade’s health. After suffering from knee issues for the second consecutive postseason, Wade enlisted the help of renowned trainer Tim Grover this summer. Wade worked with Grover during the summer of 2008, after the 2006 NBA Finals MVP was coming off two injury-plagued seasons before dominating in the Beijing Olympics and subsequently winning the scoring title.

Wade’s injury prevented Miami from reaching the level of play it reached during the first half of the Heat’s 27-game winning streak. He had reinvented himself to play with James, becoming someone who learned to play off the ball with sharp cuts to the basket. Miami also may not have had to endure consecutive seven-game series if Wade had been healthy. Miami’s hopes for a three-peat rest largely on Wade’s shoulders – and knees.

2. The development of Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole. As mentioned above, a handful of supporting role players could retire after this season. Allen and Battier – two huge contributors – could walk away, and Udonis Haslem will only continue to regress as a player.