Is It Time For The Miami Heat To Move On From Pat Riley?

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After yet another pathetic loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it's time to seriously question whether the Miami Heat should finally move on from Pat Riley.

First, let me be clear, I love Pat Riley. He is the Godfather of Miami basketball, and he has brought me more joy as a South Florida sports fan than any other executive. His contributions to the city and the franchise are legendary there’s no doubt about that. Pat is one of the greatest to ever do it, and I’m beyond grateful for everything he has built here.

However, even the greatest figures have to recognize when it's time to close a chapter. In Pat’s case, this story has gone on too long. Every time we turn the page, the ending seems to get a little worse. Just like NBA players, general managers and team presidents have shelf lives too. And it's painfully clear that Pat Riley is far removed from his prime.

Over the past several years, Pat has seemed more concerned with "sending a message" than winning playoff games. We've seen it before when he famously "took LeBron’s cookies", when he refused to pay Dwyane Wade the money he deserved, and most recently, in his handling of Jimmy Butler's situation. There’s a pattern here, and it’s not a good one.

This isn't the 1980s or '90s anymore. Toughness and grit, while important, can only take you so far in today’s NBA. Talent wins championships. Period. And yet Pat has consistently shown a reluctance to sign or trade for the top tier talent to get this team over the hump. We can list name after name of players who openly expressed interest in coming to Miami, only to end up elsewhere because Pat either hesitated or couldn't close the deal.

We haven't made a move for a player of real significance in nearly four years. Instead of landing Donovan Mitchell, a fucking dog, we ended up settling for Davion Mitchell, a solid player but nowhere near the caliber of star needed to compete for titles. It’s just one example of many that illustrate how the Heat have been stuck, unable to make the leap back into true contention.

As much as I admire and respect Pat Riley, I also know when something isn’t working anymore. Out of love for everything he’s done and in the best interests of both parties, it’s time for the Miami Heat to move on. Sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones that lead to the greatest growth, and right now, both the franchise and the legend need a fresh start.