This wasn't the ending Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh envisioned. In July 2010, the duo stood aside Lebron James who proclaimed Miami would win "not one, not two, not three...not seven" NBA titles, ultimately winning two between losses to Dallas and San Antonio.

The latter came as a surprise to anyone outside the Lone Star State. Bosh was ineffective, Wade averaged just over 15 points per game, and James' dealt with the 'cramp-gate' fiasco throughout the series.

The only semblance of a championship-caliber team came in a 98-96 Game 2 victory. James' supporting cast was stagnant in facing a grizzled Spurs team. By the time Miami limped out of the AT&T Center all were aware that the James, Wade, and Bosh era was near an end.

James ended up re-signing with Cleveland for $42.1 million for two years. Meanwhile, Bosh teased Houston before rejoining Wade for a veteran maximum deal; only they won't have King James leading the way this time around.

They're Nirvana without Kurt Cobain. The Three Amigos without Steve Martin. The 90's Dallas Cowboys after Michael Irvin left. Miami is one leg short of the tripod that earned four straight Finals appearances.

Still, there is life after Lebron.

Three-fifths of their starting lineup is back. Mario Chalmers agreed to a two-year deal, as did role players Udonis Haslem and Chris 'Birdman' Andersen. Heat President Pat Riley brought in solid all-around scorer Luol Deng in a respectable yet futile effort to replace James' scoring.

Deng averaged 16 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists splitting time with Chicago and Cleveland last season. He's a staunch perimeter defender who has trouble with the three-point ball. Deng struggled with the Cavaliers, but then again, he didn't have Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to lean on anymore. South Beach should do wonders for the two-time All-Star.

Miami doesn't have a true center, and with James gone they really don't have a venerable power forward either. Andersen played behind him over the last few years with spot starts at the five spot. He's 36-years-old and may not have the stamina for a 82-game season. Fortitude, yes. Moxie, absolutely. But the Birdman needs help in the post.

Former Charlotte Bobcat Josh McRoberts will battle Andersen to become the team's de facto starter at center. At 6 feet 10 inches tall, McRoberts has the body of a power forward with the shooting ability of a point guard. He averaged 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while hitting 36.1 percent of three pointers.

If--and that's a big "if"--newcomer Danny Granger can stay healthy, he should be able to take pressure off McRoberts and Haslem. The injury-plagued forward hasn't played anywhere near a full season since 2011-12.He's an open roster spot waiting to happen, which makes his two-year, $4.2 million deal surprising.

Other than drafting Shabazz Napier and picking up 24-year-old small forward James Ennis, the Heat didn't do much to get younger this offseason.

They're in talks with NBA journeyman Leandro Barbosa to backup Wade, but that wouldn't do much in the long term. Neither would re-signing Ray Allen. Or bringing back the legally embattled Greg Oden.

Miami is already out of roster space and cap space. Any success this season will be tempered by an ageing roster and sensibly low expectations.

Washington and Charlotte have the youth, drive, and experience to challenge for the Southeast division title. Not to say Miami won't make the playoffs, because they most assuredly will. Bosh will revert to the omnipresent scorer he was in Toronto and Wade will average somewhere around 20 points and six assists a night.  

The Heat have a group ready to make a postseason run, they're just not the team to beat anymore.