With the Heat and Spurs set to get this year's Finals underway tonight, there's been plenty of talk about the way in which each team was built. As Michael Lee of the Washington Post notes in his latest piece, both teams have created a "Big Three" model, but obtained those three star players in very different ways.
Both teams' rosters are about more than just their respective stars though, so we're going to examine today how each of the players on Miami's and San Antonio's 15-man rosters was initially acquired. We'll cover the Spurs later today, but here's a look at how the Heat's current players arrived in Miami, listed in chronological order:
Dwyane Wade
Drafted with the fifth overall pick in 2003. Signed a four-year extension in 2006 and a six-year extension in 2010.
Udonis Haslem
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (August 6, 2003). Signed a five-year extension in 2005 and another five-year extension in 2010.
Joel Anthony
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (July 3, 2007). Re-signed in 2009 and eventually signed a five-year contract in 2010.
Mario Chalmers
Acquired from the Timberwolves for cash and two second-round picks (June 26, 2008). Signed a three-year extension in 2011.
James Jones
Signed a five-year deal as a free agent (July 9, 2008). Bought out and re-signed in 2010 before signing a three-year contract in 2011.
LeBron James
Acquired in a sign-and-trade deal from the Cavaliers for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a trade exception (July 10, 2010). Signed a six-year deal.
Chris Bosh
Acquired in a sign-and-trade deal from the Raptors for two first-round picks and a trade exception (July 10, 2010). Signed a six-year deal.
Mike Miller
Signed a five-year deal as a free agent (July 15, 2010).
Juwan Howard
Signed a one-year deal as a free agent (July 20, 2010). Re-signed in 2011 and eventually signed another one-year deal in 2013.
Norris Cole
Acquired from the Timberwolves with cash and a second-round pick for Bojan Bogdanovic (June 23, 2011).
Shane Battier
Signed a three-year deal as a free agent (December 9, 2011).
Ray Allen
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (July 11, 2012).
Rashard Lewis
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (July 11, 2012).
Jarvis Varnado
Signed a pair of 10-day contracts, then re-signed on a two-year deal (January 30, 2013).
Chris Andersen
Signed a pair of 10-day contracts, then re-signed on a one-year deal (February 8, 2013).
Also, via collusion.