Pat Riley is 80 years old, but apparently, retirement can wait.
The Heat president met with reporters Monday and made that much clear after a season that ended with a winning record, but no playoff berth. Miami finished 43-39, then lost to Charlotte in the play-in tournament.
“I’m not going to retire. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to step aside,” Riley said, via the Associated Press. “I want another parade down Biscayne Boulevard. It may come. It may not.”
That was the theme. Riley still wants to win. He still wants to chase something bigger. He also knows the Heat are not there.
“We’re not good enough. We’re not happy with it,” Riley said.
That part is hard to dispute. The Heat missed the playoffs despite a winning record, something that almost never happens. According to the AP, Miami had never previously missed the playoffs after finishing above .500.
Riley pointed to flexibility, committed contracts and trade exceptions as reasons the Heat can make changes. He also said the team has “more assets” and has worked its way out of the NBA’s apron-related restrictions.
Translation? Miami intends to shop.
Riley put it more directly, saying the Heat will remain “aggressive as hell” in trying to improve the roster.
“We’re always going to try to win,” Riley said. “We’re not going to apologize for it.”
He also addressed the Terry Rozier trade, which turned into a mess after Rozier was arrested and indicted in a federal gambling investigation. Miami waived Rozier earlier this month after he never played this season, and Charlotte later sent the Heat a 2026 second-round pick to resolve the dispute.
“We traded for a player that we felt, at that time, was a real upgrade to the roster,” Riley said.
As for the past four years?
“I’m really pissed,” Riley said. “I’m disappointed. Disgruntled, just like everybody else in the organization is that understands what we’re about. We’re about winning.”
Same old Riley. Older, yes. Quieter, maybe. Done? Not even close.
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