After an offseason in which the team lost the best player in franchise history, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra finally broke his silence.
Spoelstra hadn't spoken publicly since the team and guard Dwyane Wade parted ways, but he released a video to the Heat's website on Tuesday. Last month, Wade decided to join the Chicago Bulls after playing 13 seasons and winning three championships in Miami.
"You learn pretty quickly in this league that your roster is going to change, sometimes your staff changes," Spoelstra said in the video. "Expectations change. It's like that every year."
Aside from Wade, the Heat also lost forwards Luol Deng, Joe Johnson and Gerald Green via free agency. The team, however, was able to re-sign coveted free agents Tyler Johnson and Hassan Whiteside.
"Just when you get comfortable, it will change," Spoelstra said. "This is a new challenge. We're embracing the change. We're excited about the future, excited about the guys we have on our team. You also have to have the right kind of players."
In the two seasons since LeBron James left, the Heat have missed the postseason and then lost in the conference semifinals. Still, the plan is to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference despite the overhaul of the roster.
"There's some things that will never change with this organization," Spoelstra said. "Our expectation to win. Our expectation to compete for an NBA championship regardless of who we have in this uniform. And to do those things, you have to commit to a championship level defense."
Spoelstra appeared confident the team can build around guard Goran Dragic, second-year players Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow and Whiteside. He didn't comment on the possible return of forward Chris Bosh, whose status remains in question after missing the second half of last season because of blood clots.
"Now, you also have to have the right kind of players," Spoelstra said. "We feel we have defensive minded players. It starts with a defensive player of year candidate in Hassan Whiteside, somebody that can defend the rim as well as anybody in this league and as well as anybody has done it in a long time in this league."
Spoelstra also said Richardson, Winslow and Johnson will also help the Heat maintain their defense reputation.
"But we also have defensive minded young players, which is unique," Spoelstra said. "Josh Richardson is a defensive-minded, versatile, long guard. Justise Winslow came in as a defender. Tyler Johnson is a competitive defender. And now as we build around those guys, we're looking for two-way basketball players that want to compete at both ends."
After working in the organization for 21 years, Spoelstra said he's grown accustomed to team owner Micky Arison and president Pat Riley expecting nothing less than competing to be among the league's elite.
"We're not looking to come into the season as an underdog," Spoelstra said. "It's much more exciting, much more purpose when you're playing with great expectations."
