The Miami Heat had a terrific 2009-2010 regular season, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 47-35 record. Heat tickets were great for home games at American Airlines Arena, where they went 24-17 and were equally good on the road where they were 23-18. The basketball team with a suffocating defense (allowing opponents just 94.2 points a game) and an offense barely passing muster (averaging 96.5 points a game).

All the respect they had earned in the regular season as an overachieving team mattered little in the playoffs. The Boston Celtics, their first round and only postseason opponent, easily took the best-of-seven series in five game. Fatalists would think this would put Dwayne Wade’s future in Miami in jeopardy, but all signs indicate he is planning to return with another max contract recruit.

Wade’s supporting cast includes forward Michael Beasley and possibly forward Udonis Haslem and guard/forward Quentin Richardson if Pat Riley resigns them. This is hardly the makings of a team destined for a deep postseason run. The Heat have over $20 million and four draft picks (the 18th in the first round and 41st, 42nd, and 48th in the second round) to assemble a roster worthy of Wade’s leadership.

Rumors are swirling, placing LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudamire, and really any other major player on the market in Miami. The most realistic expectations should be for one of the power forwards to accept Wade’s invitation.

The draft can only realistically add one impact player to the roster. Riley and Heat fans would be ecstatic if that player was a point guard. Mario Chalmers is not the future at point and there is little help in the free agent market.