Hanifan: It’s time for Heat to take a break from star chasing altogether

Can you believe that it’s already been nearly 16 years since LeBron James’ infamous The Decision?

In July 2010, James quite literally altered the NBA, Miami Heat and his own career forever — all in one night. The buildup and announcement sent a euphoric shockwave around the globe, where many across South Florida roared while many others likely gave the bird to their TVs.

Nearly two decades later, the Miami Heat are still chasing that ecstasy that brought a pair of championship parades and two more Finals runs to Biscayne Bay. For four years, Miami was the city that never slept; the buzz never quieted, for better or worse. James wasn’t the only one. The “stars” have largely defined the Heat, from Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning to Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Bosh.

The word “star” is ingrained in the Miami Heat’s logo, if you look closely. To a fault of their own, they know no other way.

Most recently, Jimmy Butler pulled the Heat away from the doldrums of mediocrity in 2019, resulting in two more Finals appearances. Butler’s run was fun — very fun, actually. But his time soured like a carton of milk. Now that we’re over one year removed from his disgruntled exit, the Heat are back to square one: Chasing a star to pair alongside Bam Adebayo.

To some extent, there’s merit to chase a star. Miami doesn’t have one outside of Bam Adebayo. They are missing that key, elite centerpiece that many teams sought. In the annals of history, stars have driven title success.

However, how championship teams acquire said stars has changed.

Even though we’re only 16 years since James’ decision, stars don’t enter free agency anymore. Elite talents hit the trade market every so often, but for a price that’s too damning for a mediocre team to pay for short-term gain (i.e. James Harden to Nets; Kawhi Leonard/Paul George to Thunder). And if the price isn’t too high, it’s met the ire and alienation that Dallas Mavericks fans still resonate to this day with the Luka Doncic blockbuster.

Even non-elite — albeit very good — talents, such as Mikal Bridges and Desmond Bane, have unexpectedly gone for a haul of draft capital. With free agency dissolving, when stars are at — or near the peak of their powers — trading is the only palatable path to acquire them.

Though nowadays, the foremost route to supply talent before they reach that point is through the draft. The punitive aprons have only heightened the importance of the two-day spectacle. It’s the earliest time when teams invest stock in the league’s future building blocks, when they’re at their cheapest. Some drafts are better than others. Last year’s draft — spearheaded by Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper — has already looked like a huge hit. This year’s class offers a similar amount of intrigue. We won’t know for another few years, though the signs are promising.

There was a time when free agency and “star chasing,” so to speak, outweighed the draft. But that tide has turned, and the pendulum has swung back the other way.

Yet, the Heat haven’t quite received that memo.

This summer’s comet appears to be Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP and his camp have teased a possible trade for the last several months. Still, though, no red button has been pushed. But the Bucks’ roster and lack of resources provide a limited opportunity for Antetokounmpo, who appeared in just 36 games last season, to compete for a championship, which he desires most.

Thus, the game of chicken continues. Although we know one team that won’t be afraid to scream “Polo” at the other end of the pool: The Heat.

To their own detriment, too.

Miami’s roof is leaking. The league is permeated with great young talent, yet Miami is still without a true building block alongside Adebayo. Kel’el Ware’s the closest they have. But his low motor brings into question whether his potential will be actualized, or whether it will be fool’s gold. Miami possesses a fairly average crop of young talent thereafter, buoyed by Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson. It barely owns any second-round draft capital; it waited too long to recognize when it should have moved a slew of veterans (Norman Powell, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins, among several others) and owns a limited stash of first-round draft capital.

Instead of fixing the roof, the Miami Heat keep trying to replace their … air conditioner?

Every building needs a functional AC. But the rest of the foundation also needs to be kept serviceable and habitable.

Alas, it’s time to fix the ****ing roof.

Not every team needs to star hunt to maintain relevance. Most don’t. But for the Heat, that’s been their only source the last half-decade, losing sight of what makes a championship team a championship team and how they’re constructed.

Instead, they’re chasing the euphoria felt 16 seasons ago. The most baffling proposition is how poorly they prepared for Giannis and every other star it’s pursued. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, it will be in their best interest to take a step back — figuratively and literally — and learn from its mistakes.

Time will tell if they do. And if they don’t, they’re going to continue being left behind by the rest of the league and, most importantly, the stars eluding them.

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