The Tres Amigos are now in South Beach or their other suitable nickhames: The Miami Thrice, The 3 Amigos, The Tres Hombres/The Three Men, Wade County – Palm Bosh County – LeBroward County or The Big Three. It really doesn’t matter what you call them, these three are now bringing their game, their kicks and their quest to bring another NBA Championship to South Beach.

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Photo: MiamiHeat.com

It has not even been a full week since the Cavs lost their playoff series against the Celtics and the media is already going crazy about LeBron’s future NBA team. Well it’s all speculation until the “King” announces it himself. From a general standpoint, it seems as though James has not really considered yet where he is going to end up and probably won’t for at least another month or so. What is obvious about the situation is that the Cleveland Cavaliers do not know how to build a championship caliber franchise even with a marquee player at their disposal. Unlike the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers did not have the management skills in their front office to effectively build a championship caliber team around arguably the best player in the game. The Lakers GM Jerry West traded for Kobe Bryant and Shaq, who went on to win three back to back titles for the Lakers up until 2002. Celtics GM Danny Ainge made the trades for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to form a big three and win a title in 2008, beating out the rival Lakers for the franchise’s 17th championship, the most of any NBA franchise.

Both the Laker and Celtics followed the rules of franchising, which is to bring together the top talent in the league and surround other mediocre players with this immaculate talent. A very easy concept that only two franchisees have done and succeeded at repeatedly. Now comes the summer of 2010, not the end of the world but the start of a new beginning for NBA franchisees. It is now the NBA’s top talent who have the power to transform the league into epic new proportions, by choosing the teams of their liking. It can be a complete power shift from pretender to contender. Imagine LeBron teaming up with say… hmmm, Dwyane Wade, another top free agent. Ever heard of the 96′ Bulls? Well raise that team to the 12th power and you still don’t get the same amount of star power as this duo would have. It’s fun to imagine who goes where like the electrons on an atom, one bonds with another and we have fusion or two collide and we have a mega disaster. Ooo this is going to be one exciting free agency summer.

Miami finished the season having won 12 of its final 13 games and likes its chances against the Celtics. Now, with a looming free agent frenzy this summer and a potential landing spot for some of the NBA’s biggest studs, Miami needs to prove that its coach (Erik Spoelstra) and mega star, Dwyane Wade, can use their past playoff experience to make it past for the fist round Celts. The Heat have much to prove this post season, but the Celtics have even more to prove. An early departure to a sub-par team could only mean the end of an “era” in Boston’s big three. And this summer will be the beggining of a new Miami Heat era, but for now, the Heat need to prove they still have a fight in them and that an early exit is not the best way to start Pat Riley’s future “dynasty.” This is going to be a close series. As for who will win the series…the team that fights the hardest.