The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs weren't exactly eliminated since they took each other to a seven-game series for the NBA championship like the other 28 teams, but this is the culmination of our series of looks at the offseason that awaits.

San Antonio Spurs

The Big Questions:

  1. How much longer does free agent Manu Ginobilli want to play?
  2. Will Tiago Splitter want more money than San Antonio is willing to pay him?
  3. Who will be their next discovery / reclamation project?

Notable Free Agents:  Manu Ginobili (Unrestricted), Tiago Splitter (Unrestricted), DeJuan Blair (Unrestricted), Tracy McGrady (Unrestricted) and Gary Neal (Unrestricted)

2013 Draft Picks Held:  Own 1st Rounder, Own 2nd Rounder

The Lay of the Land: After signing both Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to three-year contracts last summer, RC Buford and the Spurs face the challenge of figuring out what Ginobili wants to do with the rest of his NBA career. It appears by all accounts that it will end with the Spurs, but when it could take place is anybody's guess. After the run this group has had, all of the major pieces have earned the rare right to determine their own destiny.

Fortunately, San Antonio already has some players in place to continue the organization’s success in Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.  Every summer marks another chance to try and find a diamond in the rough and this should be no exception. The team also has to make a decision on Tiago Splitter since the center market is pretty barren after Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum. Splitter had a better than expected season next to Duncan and should have plenty of suitors if he chooses to open his horizons.

Thanks to cap holds for the aforementioned Ginobili and Splitter, their current free agents will need to clarify before they know how much money they have to play with in terms of bringing in new players. A guy like J.J. Redick or a more capable ballhandling guard could be a major piece moving forward.

Miami Heat

The Big Questions:

  1. Can they get Chris Andersen to re-sign?
  2. Will Ray Allen return?
  3. Should they use the amnesty provision on Mike Miller? Will they?
  4. With so many rotation spots locked up, will they be able to get minimum free agents?

Notable Free Agents:  Ray Allen (Player Option), Chris Andersen (Unrestricted), and Rashard Lewis (Player Option)

2013 Draft Picks Held:  None (Own 1st Rounder held by Phoenix and Own 2nd Rounder held by Memphis)

The Lay of the Land: Thanks to the restriction on sign-and-trades in the new CBA, Miami is pretty limited in terms of improving this summer. Improving is not really necessary for the Heat, but they could need some depth if either Ray Allen or the Birdman elects to go somewhere else this summer. I fully expect both to return to get at least one more run with this group.

Since all they have to work with are trades (while not acquiring anyone via sign-and-trade), minimum salaries, and the taxpayer MLE, Miami will have to maximize their resources when adding the final few guys. I would love to see them take a risk on Greg Oden with one of them since they can allow him to progress and eventually play limited minutes since they would not need more than that at this point.