In an appearance on 'Run it Back' FanDuel TV, former Heat point guard Mario Chalmers revealed a hint of how much power team President Pat Riley has in his city. Looking back on one of his most memorable encounters with Riley, Chalmers recalls Pat detailing his actions after a night out in the city.
"It was my rookie year and I had went out. I was out having fun, nothing major. And Pat said, 'You went out last night.' He said, 'You are at this bar, you had this many drinks, and then you went home.' I was like, 'How do you know everything?' And he said, 'I run Miami. You can't do anything in Miami without me knowing.' I wasn't in trouble, he was just letting me know like, you can't do nothing in this city without me knowing.”
Pat Riley has presided as the "godfather "of the Heat since he took over back in 1995. Over the years, he's grown and expanded his influence to stretch beyond the organization itself. Today, it's likely that Riley has connections and contacts from all over the city, and his residence there for 20+ years has allowed him to know the city like the back of his hand.
Under Riley's guidance, the Heat have had some of their most successful seasons and it's no wonder why. Between his connections, influence, and wise decision-making as a team executive, the Heat have been able to establish a winning culture that has kept them relevant for many years now.
After an early playoff exit this year, however, there is a sense of uncertainty for the Heat as they reconsider their loyalties. While Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler have denied interest in a split, anything is on the table this summer if it means raising the ceiling for this ball club.
What's Next For The Miami Heat?
For a team that's always looking to compete, the Heat have been unable to capture a title since the departure of LeBron James back in 2014. Despite setting high standards for their players, the Heat have struggled to build a roster that can keep up with rising young teams across the NBA.
This summer, after suffering a loss to the Boston Celtics in round one, speculation started to boil over as the Heat faced serious questions about their ability to compete in the future.
With an aging roster and lack of star power, the Heat have a harder path than most contenders to winning the NBA title but the culture they've set there has allowed them to play above their means and shock the world by exceeding expectations.
Without Butler, they'd likely have to start from scratch and build their way back up. Regardless, with Pat Riley at the helm, the Heat will always have a plan and they will never be caught by surprise.
Multiple moves are expected this summer, whether in the form of free-agent signings or a blockbuster trade deal. One way or another, Pat Riley is going to take some kind of action in the offseason, and it's possible he already knows which of the next big stars will want to come to his city.
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