Ruben Patterson: How the Miami Heat Replace James Posey

The expected sign and trade deal of James Posey to another team has not come to fruition yet. In fact, there really doesn't even seem to be a seed.

The Heat were hoping they could cash in on Posey's talents by offering him up to other teams while in return solving a need of their own.

Better scrap that idea for now.

Because the free agents left on the market are going to be going away and the Heat will be a team left on the outside looking in and wondering "what if". If they don't move fast enough, there will only be a "what?!" from the rest of the Heatian fan base.

Yet there is one solution that could meet all the needs of the Heat. Right now, they have just under 2.15M left of their precious mid-level exception (MLE), the 1.8M biannual exception and the 1.1 veteran minimum exception (which they can use unlimitedly to round out their roster).

Ruben Patterson might be available for any one of those three options.



What is there to love about Ruben Patterson? Well, he is a ferocious, physical defender that can attack offensive rebounds. He can post up on defenders at his position, he can drive to the basket along the baseline. His outside shot was almost non-existent, he's just 6'5" and he just pushed pass the 32 year old mark today (Happy Birthday, Rube Cube).

But it almost seems too perfect for him here in Miami. His off court antics and personality would mesh well with the other personalities Riley seems to enjoy placing his own brand of therapy upon: John Starks, Anthony Mason. Patterson seems almost like a perfect prospect to be programmed by ol' Pat. He will play his butt off, won't back down from anyone, and will do the dirty things this Heat team needs done: mostly defend and rebound.

Patterson can score, but it will be around the basket and not from afar, which the Heat also needs more of. Too many guys were falling in love with their three point shots, which weren't spectacular to begin with, and it made the offense stagnant and predictable. See James Posey, for example. With Patterson, you won't have to worry as he shot 15% from three point range last season! It doesn't matter as much as the Heat won't need to rely on his offensive production, but instead need his defense to help assert their style of play better.

Posey is known for knocking down guys and getting very physical, Patterson would do the same. The biggest difference is Ruben Patterson has found a way to score in this league without relying on his outside shot while James Posey has been able to hit his outside shot but not be as productive as a scorer as Patterson.

Sure the Heat get older, but they also get a bit tougher, meaner and more physical. With the East seeing all these moves to improve teams, especially within their own division, the Heat are going to have to find ways to intimidate and bludgeon their opponents as they will most likely not have enough firepower to run.

Ruben Patterson's skill set and his pricetag may ultimately prove a great choice for the Miami Heat - should they choose to look in his direction.