Coolbaugh: While the super team is assembled, don’t crown the Miami Heat NBA champions just yet

Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James (from left to right) will all sign with the Miami Heat, creating the league's newest super team.

By Gethin Coolbaugh

When LeBron James announced that he would be bringing his talent to South Beach, he completed the super team that is the Miami Heat.

James joins incumbent superstar Dwayne Wade and fellow free agent prize Chris Bosh as the newest members of the Miami Heat.

In doing so, he left the only team he has ever known.

Now that the LeBron, the last big name free agent, is off the market, teams can begin building around their core players.

And of all 30 teams, the Heat have the most work to do. But make no mistake, landing James, Wade and Bosh is no small task.

In fact, Miami’s pickup of the new Big Three puts a cap on the greatest free agent period for any team in league history.

But before you go hailing the Heat as champions next season and beyond, take a minute to remember what James said just after making his highly anticipated announcement.

“A team is not built on three superstars,” James said. ”You don’t become a champion as an individual, you become champions as a team.”

As of now, the Heat have four players scheduled to be on payroll for the 2010-2011 season. That is, the Big Three and point guard Mario Chalmers.

And last time I checked, team’s need five players on the court.

After doling out close to maximum contracts to James, Wade and Bosh, the Heat will be left with an estimated $1.5 million in cap space.

That’s not enough to bring in any proven veteran reserves, let alone middle of the road talent.

That being the case, the Heat will only be able to sign draft picks and bottom-of-the-barrel players, barring a sign-and-trade deal.

We will not be able to effectively predict how Miami will fair in the upcoming season until Pat Riley and the Heat brass fill out the roster.

Once that time comes, we can make our picks for the 2010-11 Finals.

Gethin Coolbaugh is the Associate Editor of Boston Sports U18. He can be reached at 774-279-1995 or at gethin.coolbaugh@bostonsportsu18.com. You can also visit Gethin Coolbaugh’s official website and follow Gethin Coolbaugh on Twitter.