Riley is the guy in charge. He was the only GM who cleared enough cap space for three stars and he did it while still making the playoffs at a 5th seed.
Once again, you give Riley too much credit. It was Wade who got them LeBron and it was Wade who made that team a playoff team. 07-08 Wade goes down with an injury, plays in only 59 games. Heat got 15-67 08-09 Wade plays in 79 games, Heat 43-39. You can't tell me it was Marion or Jermaine O'Neal who made that team a playoff team.
Riley is like PJax in that players like him and want to play for him. Two of Wade/Bosh/LeBron might have gone to the Bulls with their superior young core of players if players actually liked Bulls management.
You are wrong. Pat Riley deserves tons of credit. Chicago was a better situation for LeBron in terms of roster. Point Guard and Center are set. Miami has no point guard and no center. That is a real problem. So why would LeBron hesitate to go to Chicago? The difference between Chicago and Miami - Of course, Miami has the weather and no income tax, but I think the key difference: Management and Ownership. Miami: They have never screwed a star player over. They pay their players. They will pay the luxury tax and have done so recently. Chicago: Not so much. Despite their claims to LeBron that they will pay luxury tax if he came, and that they would never screw HIM over, how could he trust them when their past actions do not match their current words. Reputation matters. Riley has a rep for putting teams together, making ballsy moves, and taking care of his players, and winning with a bunch of different teams. Arison has a rep for spending big bucks on players salaries and paying the luxury tax. Chicago has the Jordan era, which ended badly, and the rest is pretty much crap.
You failed to explain how that was Riley and not Wade. We know that Wade had the summit with Bosh and LeBron. Riley was not present for that. If Riley sold anyone, it was Wade, and I'm not even sure that happened. I think Riley was just along for the ride on this one.
And why did Wade want to stay in Miami if at all possible? And why did Bosh want to go to Miami, and refused to go to Cleveland and rejected Chicago? You don't think it might have been because they were more comfortable with Miami's ownership and management than with the other places? You don't think it was because ownership made bold moves to create the most cap space? I can see you will never be convinced. Whatever. Think it is all about Wade if you like. Yeah, he runs that team, makes all the moves and signs all the checks. That dude is amazing!
