The Miami Heat are still basking in the championship glory, but meanwhile, the front office is already looking to make the team better in hopes for another championship run next year. While the Heat are the champs, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have any weaknesses. In fact, one of their most glaring needs is to acquire a productive point guard. Most Heat fans think Steve Nash is the solution to that problem, but why waste money on a free agent like Nash when you have already have Dwyane Wade on the roster?

Wade was originally a point guard when he was just a young pup, but his smooth scoring ability was too hard to ignore. And by his third season in the league he was a full time shooting guard. However, Erik Spoelstra would be wise to take a page out of Pat Riley’s book and experiment with Wade at the point guard again.

Why?

Because the Heat would instantly become a more dynamic team with Wade running the point. At 6’4, 212 pounds, Wade would he be bigger and stronger than most of his defenders, and he his aggressive style of play would also fit the bill of a “modern” point guard.

The point guard position is no longer a pass first position. There will always be a few exceptions, a la Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, and Jason Kidd, but for the most part, nearly all point guards can score 30 points per game. In fact some of the game’s best scorers are point guards. Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook to name a few.

By converting Wade into a point guard, Mario Chalmers would come off the bench which would probably be a better role for him. Yes, Chalmers has done everything the Heat have asked him to do (Pass to the big three), but more than anything, he fits the role of a backup point guard.

Chalmers averaged just ten points per game during the regular season, and about 11 during the playoffs. However, the former Kansas Jayhawk was used just 16 percent of the time during the postseason according to Basketball Reference. That 16 percent tells me one thing; he’s not an asset. And when you are on a team with Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, you aren’t going to be much of an asset.

Now if Wade was to slide over to the point, general manager, Pat Riley could look for a shooting guard to fill the void. While the market is slightly short on shooting guards, there is one particular shooting guard that wants to play for the defending champs, and it’s none other than Ray Allen.  The longtime Supersonic and Celtic is getting up there in age, but by no means is he done. In fact, 2012 was statistically his best shooting season from beyond the arc (45%) despite playing in just 46 games.

On a team where the ball is in Lebron’s hands in nearly half of the Heat’s possessions, Allen could focus on finding the open spots, (something he has mastered in his 18 year career) and be ready to shoot when Lebron or Wade kicks the rock out to the perimeter. Unlike Steve Nash, Allen wouldn’t need the ball in his hands to contribute. Actually, he’s probably a better player when he can just move without the ball and find the open spots on the court. And his consistent movement on the floor could open up penetration lanes for Wade and James, which usually ends well.

As the offseason gets into full swing, don’t be surprised if the Heat try to make a play for Ray Allen. Not only is he a perfect fit, but more importantly, he wants to play with Miami. So now it’s just up to both sides agreeing on a contract, which shouldn’t be too hard, as Allen is approaching the end of his Hall of Fame type career and a massive contract isn’t in the cards for him.

Stay tuned, Heat Nation.


//