Tag: pat riley

Dwyane Wade sees Pat Riley sticking around with Miami Heat

Pat Riley has a long, storied history in basketball. He’s a legend in many respects, including via his current status with the Heat. Here’s retired star Dwyane Wade talking about Riley, as per the Sun Sentinel:

Dwyane Wade said Wednesday that he envisions Pat Riley continuing on with the work he has done as Miami Heat president no matter the result of these NBA playoffs, and that even if the job became vacant, it is not one he would pursue.

Asked if championship success could bring the Riley era to a close after a quarter century of stewardship of the Heat, Wade said on 790-The Ticket that he sees the 75-old-icon as game for more.

“I don’t think so,” Wade said of Riley moving on after a potential fourth championship under his Heat watch this postseason. “I think we’re going to have to roll him out.

“Look, I’ve heard him say a lot of things over my time. He said he wanted to build a team to get back to the championship. I see Riley just being there. That doesn’t mean someone else won’t eventually come in.”

It’s clear that Riley has a good thing going with this current Heat squad, who are currently up 2-1 on the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. They’re clearly a championship contender right now, and no matter what happens in the remainder of these playoffs there is no reason for Riley or anyone up top in the organization to think about going anywhere.

Will Pat Riley not join the Heat at Disney Wide World of Sports this summer?

The NBA this past week nailed down their format for the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, to take place at Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando this summer. But there is plenty left to figure out. From major things like an exact schedule to smaller details like the very exact number of people each team is allowed to bring into the quarantine bubble setting.

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra:

As part of the NBA’s plan to resume the league in a quarantine-like setting is limiting team traveling parties, including players and coaches, to an estimated 35 or so when competition resumes in the absence of fans at the Wide World of Sports complex on the Disney World campus just outside of Orlando.

Already, the league is debating whether players on two-way contracts will be included, which for the Heat could limit the development of guard Gabe Vincent and forward Kyle Alexander. Beyond that, there figure to be difficult decisions with support staff.

“The only thing I’ll say about that is I don’t want to term anything ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’ staff,” Spoelstra said, limited in his allowable comments, with the NBA’s plan yet to be finalized. “That’s not fair to any of our staff members. These are extreme circumstances. We will plan and act accordingly when we get to that point.” …

With the NBA projecting the season’s resumption will run from July 31 to a potential Oct. 12 Game 7 of the NBA Finals, it could leave the team separated from Heat president Pat Riley for months.

At 75, Riley stands in a high-risk category of contracting COVID-19.

This sort of thing will be a heavy discussion topic in the coming weeks. Better safe than sorry, is a good rule of thumb.

After such details are worked out, and decisions are finalized, and the focus becomes actual basketball games again, it’ll be a very good time.