Miami Heat Fans Criticize Pat Riley After Paul George Signs With Philadelphia 76ers
Miami Heat fans had a hard time sleeping early Monday earning.
Hours before sunrise, the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a major move by acquiring Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers in the middle of the night. It didn’t stop Heat fans from expressing their displeasure with the news.
They were on social media posting about the move, placing most of the blame on Heat team president Pat Riley.
Pat Riley Asleep While Philly making 3am deals smh !
— HD CEO (@HD_Chuck) July 1, 2024
The Sixers signed George to a four-year, $212-million deal, pairing him with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. With this trio that now includes a healthy Embiid, Philly ranks up there with the favorites in the Eastern Conference. In Embiid and Maxey, they have two All-Star type players while George is still capable of producing at 34.
Another offseason .. another year watching Pat Riley sleep while the teams in the East get better around us https://t.co/Z2XdQ4FDDR
— MyMamaCallsMeDJ (@DJWithTheCamera) July 1, 2024
The George signing was the second major acquisition in the East. On Sunday, the Orlando Magic agreed to terms with guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He will better a Magic team that won the Southeast Division last season. Orlando already has one of the league’s top frontcourts in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Adding Caldwell-Pope’s championship pedigree (he won titles with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers) only helps.
“Pat Riley, the Celtics just won the chip and are returning all their players”
“The Knicks got Mikal Bridges and resigned OG”
“The 76ers just got PG”
“The Bucks have Giannis and Dame still”
“You could trade for Donovan Mitchell or Trae Young”
Pat Riley in the offseason pic.twitter.com/8UYuhfeExs
— Brenden Swanson (@Frostfyte87) July 1, 2024
Which brings fans back to Riley. This could mark the second straight year the Heat failed to get better while their competition used the offseason to improve. Last summer the Boston Celtics added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. It resulted in the first championship of the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown era in Boston.
Pat Riley is a fool https://t.co/HwTzwjDssX
— Gus (@Ya_Boy_Gusss) July 1, 2024
The worst part for Riley is the Heat have limited flexibility in terms of chasing a big-name free agent to enhance the roster. It’s up to him to find a suitable trade, most likely Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson, that leads to improvement.
If not, the Heat will enter next season with the same core for a third straight year and possibly spending it looking up at the rest of the conference.
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Inside The Heat. He can be reached at [email protected]
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