If the Miami Heat lose?

What happens next?

This year LeBron James is leading his Miami Heat team in final battle with the San Antonio Spurs.

You haven’t bumped your head and woken up in 2013, it does look just the same.

So, what happens if the Spurs do beat beat Miami this year? (3-1 finals lead at present)

Nothing much.

Reading between the lines, and listening to rumours flying around the league about possible landing spots for LeBron and his draft year pal, Melo (New York Knicks forward) in coming years — it seems as if some of the Chicago Bulls roster are desperately trying to recruit Melo for a run with their team.

As for LeBron, he will stay in Miami for the final year of his contract. Talk of a return to Cleveland should be reserved strictly for the nostalgics and for a time when his points-per-game hover around 12/15 and his assist, rebounds and blocks look equally weak for this multi-time MVP.

Wade will see out his playing days in Miami past next year, there’s no cause for the 3 time NBA champion to leave a team he has led, and been an ever-present alongside supporting and other star cast members. (by choice that is)

Chris Bosh could be moved during next year, to clear some cap space — but again that seems unlikely at this stage.

Mario Chalmers hits free agency this off-season, and he probably provides the biggest question mark should the Heat fail to win, or perhaps even if they do. With Norris Cole still on a rookie contract waiting in the wings, the Heat management could turn to a veteran PG to crutch the team when Cole needs a rest, or is off form. Chalmers eats up around $4m per year and will no-doubt command an increase on that even if he doesn’t fly the nest for another suitor.

Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Greg Oden and Michael Beasley make up the other notable free agency bound players. Expect to see 2/3 of the 4 retained — as the Heat always look to mix up the supporting cast, and have been largely successful with this over the past few years. At a guess — Oden and Battier will stay, Allen is in no hurry to leave as he approaches retirement — but at only 25, Beasley could ask for a little too much in salary for him to be retained beyond this year.

All said and done, regardless of the outcome from this years championship — the Heat should line up next year looking much like this year. If they fail to win, they will most likely give it one more go with the star 3 still in place — and if things look really bad early on next season, expect to see some moves in the trade market.

Bosh will be top of the list to move on from Miami, LeBron will be retained at all costs — with Wade no doubt making life easy for the Miami powers-that-be by accepting significantly reduced terms past next year.

So, what happens if the Miami Heat fail to win it all again this year?

Nothing much.