Evaluating the Evaluator

Pat Riley spoke Wednesday.

And when Pat Riley speaks, there's always news. There's always insight. There's always something that makes you go Hmmm. There's always at least a few candid responses. And there's always an answer or two where there's clearly an agenda to disseminate.

There was a bit of it all during Riley's session with select media members inside a private room near the front-office executive suites at AmericanAirlines Arena.

While the juiciest topic was his take on Dwyane Wade's sluggish (by Wade's standards) play this season, and slight concerns about Wade's conditioning, there were several other critical issues Riley addressed. Here's your chance to evaluate the Heat's chief evaluator in his evaluation of the first quarter of the season.

A detailed story on Riley and Wade talking conditioning and efficiency is posted online on our sports section. But there was plenty left over that didn't make the final cut. Riley gave an interesting answer when he was asked about where he felt Wade's conditioning was this season.

But before we go there, I'll make this clear: Wade is a tremendous athlete and to question the conditioning of a guy averaging 27 points a game in the NBA is a bit of a stretch. But Wade is now judged by the standard he set last season, when he led the league in scoring and finished third in MVP voting.

Fair or unfair? That's an individual decision. But even Wade can admit that the process of getting his legs under him this season is a work in progress. Does that mean he's out of shape? Nope. But still. It might be one of many reasons why he's shooting a career-low 42 percent from the field this season.

Riley on what he believes Wade's approach should be at this stage of his career:

"I think he's healthy and there's no real complaints other than the nicks and bruises that a player get. I've always been of the opinion, because I'm an absolute fanatic about it, that as you get older, you (should) get lighter and leaner. You've got to find new methods to condition yourself, and at the same time, gain strength. So (Wade's) got a long way to go. And the hope is that as the season progresses, the season itself will get you in shape, but I know he wants to fast-track that himself."

Riley on whether the move to cut Shavlik Randolph this week was a precursor to a trade:

"We made the move to increase our flexibility. Is it a precursor to something? Anything can happen at anytime between now and the (Feb. 18) trading deadline, so you just want to be ready."

Riley on making a smaller trade now that wouldn't jeopardize the greater plans for free agency 2010.

"We've been pretty diligent on all of the one-year (expiring) deals out there. There are a couple of players, we'll meet today, I'll take my sleuths to lunch today, they're all in town. But there are a number of one-year contracts or players that have two-year contracts where there's a team (second-year) option that we would consider if we feel that player could help this team win. We would pull the trigger on a deal like that. But nothing's really availed itself right now. All we're seeing right now, let's equate it to this: We're seeing the flop (card). We've got two cards, and we're seeing the flop. We're waiting for the turn and the river. So that's in about another six weeks (Feb. 18 trade deadline)."

Riley on anything out there, deal-wise, now that would tempt him to push up 2010 plan:

"If something presents itself that is going to push me in a direction to trade my room (salary-cap space) and to trade my flexibility, somebody is going to have to pay a big price for the room. It's the most precious real-estate in the NBA. Something like that could conceivably happen before February."

Riley on the team's performance and expectations this season.

"I think we're right where we are, with nine other teams, with the opportunity to run past a No. 4 team. So Cleveland is four games ahead of us, and we're four games ahead of the 14th team in the conference. So we're not running place. We're competing like crazy with nine other teams. You can't always get to the next level overnight. We've got a lot of time. There's a lot of time in this season."

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

Comments

[Ed E Jones]

Spo can read 'Cat in the Hat' before each game, if we win by 20 points. So you can LMFAO if you want, results is what we got.

Greg Gembe, he's a character, gotta love him

Black the trucker said in quotes
"Gay is good"

BTW nice article Mike, when you gonna get on here and start yapping with the rest of the peasants? Riley the only one with the cajones to call out lazy arse Wade.

[True Heat Fan]

Riley is King

[jermaine]

Trade is coming. When you see Riley speak out from nowhere, and cut someone, there's gotta be a move in the works. I wonder who, though.

I know a guy from Houston's front office, they said Riles contacted HOU's management, which lead to T-Mac suddenly playing, because Riles, before trading for Mac, wants to see if he's in shape. Let's see if this is true.

[SATANLOVES]

Fire Spo.

[yomama]

Really, u know a guy? Maybe you should help Riley get that trade done.

[sardi214]

I'm glad that Riley had the cojones to say something of Wade's conditioning. Also, if he waived Randolph and spoke to the media, this means that he's up to something. I hope that T-Mac comes to the MIA, but we also need a BIG man if we're giving up O'Neal, since he's the only one with the salary to match T-Mac's. GO HEAT...and yeah, fire Spo' and get Byron Scott.

[RP]

The Evaluator has spoken and is spot on...his clarity is crystal clear. Candid and correct...

[heatfan]

T-Mac is a HUGE mistake. He is not reliable and not healthy 75% of the time. JO is huge to this team. They cannot trade him away. Look at Toronto game the other night. They start game feeding him and it helps the whole team in the long run. There is no one else that can do that. When games start with Wade doing the one man show I know the Heat are going to be blown out. This better be a wake up call for Wade. With all the money the Heat have for next season we can get other stars and send Wade's out of shape body somewhere else. I have to wonder if all of Wade's personal issues are catching up with him now.

[black the trucker]

well, after sleeping on this topic, i have to say, t-mac is a good player who has a big contract that up at year's end... so if that trade does happen, ok... but then you really have to go after camby... and maybe that kid in golden state randolph... if trying to get cap space is what your after than jones must be on the move... i mean why keep him...haslem, o'neil and qrich can all come back in the offseason... but does this make this team better? i mean there the 1st round draft picks... maybe this isn't so bad... yeah make those moves, lets see what happen... you goota think, this offseason must be when all the pieces come together... hey, where all witnesses...

[black the trucker]

hey, what about randolph and morrow from golden state for cook, dozier, beverly... camby for jones, quinn, daiwara... o'neil for t-mac... hey pippin aint ez but it sure is fun...

[Joel Delgado]

I like Tmac but at this stage in his career he's like Mr. glass, one of these days he'll drive to the hoop get bumped and shatter.I also can't wait till the Feb. trade deadline when teams start to panic and try to make moves to make a run at the playoffs.I'm sure we can someone at a bargain price that can somehow help this team win cause if we play the hawks again I GUARANTEE that the heat will upset them.There's no way Dwyane Wade will let the heat lose after all this talk about being out of shape and losing a step NO WAY!!!!

[Greg Gembe]

Let's acquire Camby, T-Mac, Grant Hill, and Greg Oden for a bag of sand. It makes as much sense as some of these other trade ideas. Not only that, our trainer will get lots of overtime, and we can get our second string players a lot of minutes, because these guys ALL have injury issues.

The only reason we would get T-Mac, is to use him as trade bait. He's softer than warm butter.

[black the trucker]

well, even without the t-mac trade, get camby... o'neil and camby as the frontline combo would be great at this point... get taller upfront, put beasley at the three... and then maybe make small trade with the warriors for morrow and randolph...

[black the trucker]

keep o'neil, we need him.. uhmm, get camby, he could also help...i still say trade for rudy... but right now at this point of the season there is four teams in the east and then the rest... so do something to be a part of the talk in the east cause right now, well... lets just say we are in 5th place... camby, ok, rudy gay,ok, randolph,ok, morrow, ok, bayless,ok...

[ebag]

t-mac sucks

[leo]

from what i heard the heat is monitoring the tmac situation and hoping he gets bought out. but the heat really likes battier.

[BeasNWade fuck haslem]

fire spo

[E...]

Camby would be the way to go... T-Mac is a bag lady... JO is huge for the Heat if he continues to stay healthy and play at this level... I think JO is an integral piece to build around and keep for a while... That is, unless the injuries persist... I think that he is past the knee problems, and can be counted on as a centerpiece once more...