‘Heated’ issues: Retaining the supporting cast

(Even amid the NBA lockout, there are issues the Miami Heat clearly should be considering in advance of the start of training camp, issues that should not be masked by the team coming within two victories of the 2011 NBA title. This is the seventh in a series of evaluations.) The point: No matter when the season starts, it will come with a quick turnaround, with little time to mesh new talent into the Heat system. That could leave some benefit to retaining the likes of Mike Bibby, Juwan Howard, perhaps even Jamaal Magloire or Erick Dampier. It’s not that upgrades wouldn’t help, it’s that they might never fully grasp the “Heat way.” The counterpoint: Even in advancing to the NBA Finals, the Heat displayed flaws along the way with their veteran roster. Beyond that, the team’s older players appeared to grow exponentially older as the playoffs progressed. We say: If Mike Bibby is willing to return for the minimum, which might be a stretch for a play...