Inside The Heat

Damian Lillard Acquisition Would Show Pat Riley Still Has It Even Late In His Career

Yahoo! Sports recently ranked Pat Riley as the NBA's sixth-best executive but Damian Lillard signing would put him back in top-tier
Shandel Richardson|
Damian Lillard Acquisition Would Show Pat Riley Still Has It Even Late In His Career
Damian Lillard Acquisition Would Show Pat Riley Still Has It Even Late In His Career

In this story:

Miami Heat

Miami Heat team president Pat Riley has been around the top of the NBA for nearly five decades. 

He's won at every coaching stop, from the Los Angeles Lakers to New York Knicks to Miami Heat. Now, Riley is known as one of the league's top executive. 

But at 78, how much does he has left? He recently ranked as the sixth-best executive, a spot that is typically low from year's past. The names ahead of him were Kevin Pritchard, James Jones, Brian Wright, Masai Ujiri and Danny Ainge. 

Now, it should be noted the rankings were based on metrics that include draft picks, trades and free agents. While Riley lacks in these categories, he could make up for it simply by finishing the Damian Lillard deal. 

If completed, it would rank up there with the Heat acquiring Shaquille O'Neal in 2004, LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010 and Jimmy Butler in 2019. 

Metrics aside, it also solidifies Riley as one of the greatest executives of all-time because he's made so many deals in different eras.  

HEAT-RELATED STORIES

Nikola Jovic scores 25 points for Serbia in victory. CLICK HERE

Miami Heat condemn racism after Jacksonville shooting. CLICK HERE

Jimmy Butler once again gives "Dame Time" gesture. CLICK HERE

For a look at some of the latest Heat apparel. CLICK HERE

If you wanna bet on any games at @PrizePicks or PrizePicks.com, use our link and code. They will match your first bet for up to $100. Here's the code: PR-R1YOFY6

Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

TWITTER: @ShandelRich

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

For any Heat or NBA questions, please email shandelrich@gmail.com

Published
Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here

Home/News