MIAMI — The whirlwind is about to begin all over again for the Miami Heat.
And it will last for days, weeks, months.
First up is Monday’s championship parade in downtown Miami.
Then, Tuesday night, LeBron James will fill the role Dwyane Wade held after the Heat’s 2006 championship, an appearance on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman.”
Following that will come what has become routine offseason maintenance for the Heat, a series of physicals followed by surgery needed by at least one, and possibly more, members of the roster.
Swingman Mike Miller already has confirmed the need for offseason back surgery, a procedure that could end his NBA career, a possibility he addressed during the NBA Finals. Forward Chris Bosh said during that series against the Oklahoma City Thunder he has yet to fully heal from the lower-abdominal strain he suffered in the first game of the second round of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. And guard Dwyane Wade is contemplating surgery after his left knee was drained during the playoffs.
For Wade and Bosh, such decisions could impact participation with the U.S. national team this summer, a commitment James has already confirmed. Olympic training camp begins the first week of July in Las Vegas, continues with a world tour and culminates at the London Games.
From there, the Heat are expected to be sent overseas during the preseason, likely to China, where the Heat and James have extensive marketing deals.
Beyond that, there now is an impending date at the White House, similar to the 2006 post-championship visit, with President Obama offering a congratulatory call Friday to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Their fair share
If cash was the incentive for a championship, it is doubtful the Heat’s hunger would have been as intense. As a team, the Heat earned $2,302,232 from the NBA playoff pool for winning the championship, compared to the $1,525,515 the Thunder received as runner-up.
Earlier, the Heat earned $263,695 for finishing with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, $194,016 for participating in the first round, $230,853 for participating in the second round and $381,482 for participating in the Eastern Conference finals.
That $3,372,278 will be divided at least among the 15 players on the final roster, but more shares likely will be created to account for others, including center Mickell Gladness who was cut during the season and other support staffers.
To put the player payoff in perspective, a one-fifteenth championship share would be $224,818, with James and Bosh each earning $195,396 per regular-season game.
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