Offseason Heating up

As the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified, things can really start getting interesting for the Miami Heat.

The negotiations with Shaq seem to be a formality at this point, and that should be official very soon. It is believed that Shaq will take a bit of a pay cut initially, but land a 5 year deal as opposed to the 3 year deal that was originally mentioned.

As for Damon Jones, Cleveland has some interest but beyond that, it doesn't seem the phone is ringing off the hook. Even for Cleveland, Marko Jaric is a higher priority. But reports out of Memphis is that Damon Stoudemire is going to sign with them - 4 years for $17 million. If that is the case, the market may expand for DJ as Stoudemire and McInnis are both off the market. The Heat are currently offering a package of 3 years worth $10 million, reportedly.

The Heat's choices for a backup point guard are namely Earl Watson, Steve Blake and Dan Dickau. All three look to be currently within the Heat's price range as they have both the mid-level exception to offer ($5.1 million) and a trade exception (acquired for Malik Allen along with Steve Smith) worth around $2 million.

There have been discussions with Antoine Walker in which Pat Riley has actually met with the former Celtic to discuss what role he would be willing to play with the Heat. It is believed Boston will not invite him back but could work out a sign-and-trade.

Another sign-and-trade possibility being rumored is with the Grizzlies. The Heat may be looking to trade for Jason Williams and Lorenzen Wright. If the Stoudemire signing is true, then this may make that trade possibility more likely.

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Collective Bargaining Agreement ratified

The NBA announced it's new Collective Bargaining Agreement as it was ratified Friday and will clear the way for free agents to sign with teams on Tuesday at noon, eastern standard. In the meantime, officials will be going over rules and figures with teams in order to make sure everyone understands the new agreement. Some basic features of the new CBA:

The salary cap is set at $49.5 million which is an increase of $5.63 million dollars.

There is also a new salary cap threshold - $61.7 million. Any team exceeding that must pay the dollar-for-dollar penalty required of the soft cap system. In fact, with the new agreement, teams will now know ahead of time what the luxury tax threshold will be unlike in previous years where it remained a mystery for most of the season.

The amnesty salary cap clause will be in effect. Teams can waive a player's contract that will relieve them of the luxury tax penalty one time only. Allen Houston and Michael Finley look to be candidates for this clause.

The minimum team salary is now $37.125 million.

Maximum length of contracts has been reduced from 7 years to six. Free agents changing teams can now sign for 5 years maximum and not six like under the previous model.

Player movement is now expected to take off as the new CBA is ratified and allowing players to officially change teams and negotiate.

No Dooling? No problem.

Sorry if I am not getting teary-eyed over the departure of Keyon Dooling. This has happened to the Heat so many times over the years that it is all too familiar. Eric Murdock. Terry Porter. Anthony Carter (thank God!). Rafer Alston. Now Keyon Dooling. You see a trend here? Yeah, these guys had success with the Heat then left and went right back to anonymity.

DJ is thinking real hard about this, too. As he should.

There is a reason why Damon Stoudemire wants to be here. Or, for that matter, a number of other highly talented players that are looking to win. Shaq. And Wade, of course.

The Miami Heat has all the glitz and glamour and electrical buzz that the NBA could possibly market. The Heat sells itself. The only problem is, they just dont have the budget to work with.

Still, despite that, the Heat are more likely to attract a potential player than any other team offering a similar deal. So, consider that an advantage, Heat fans.

The other thing is the talent pool of remaining point guards is pretty attractive. After Stoudemire there is Steven Blake, Earl Watson, Marko Jaric, Brevin Knight, Tony Delk, Chris Duhon, Dajuan Wagner, Jannero Pargo, Jeff McInnins, Darrell Armstrong, Dan Dickau even Gary Payton. These guys all can come in and contribute right away to the Heat as they are, for the most part, a veteran pool that can play for cheap. Which fits the bill for the Heat. They are established players and those that are lesser known have the ability and are hungry to show it. Just like Keyon was last season.

Sure, Keyon gave us some highlights and got us excited. He played fast and frantic. Of course, that was also the very same reason he drove us nuts - he played fast and frantic. The fact is, the Heat did lose a valuable player in Keyon who could have seen his game grown and mature quicker with the Heat; but he chose a path he felt was more attuned to his needs. Consequently, the Heat find themselves in a position to find a back up PG who could actually fill their needs a little better than Dooling could have.

And if there is one thing to know about Riley, it is that he does not miss out on talent. When a player comes into Miami, he gets some of the best coaching avaiable and will quickly see his potential maximized. That is why you see players like Keyon Dooling come in through the back door only to leave through the front door. Haslem had the chance, too, but was smart enough to realize what he had here in Miami. And Miami will be kind to him for it.

So another player will come in through the back door, too, and replace Keyon. We very well could be having this same conversation next offseason. And that is precisely why I am not worried at all.

Dooling to sign with Magic

Terms have yet to be finalized, but reports out of Orlando is that Dooling has agreed to terms with the Orlando Magic. The contract, as reported is 3 years at around $10 million.

"I feel overwhelmed," Dooling said Friday. "I wouldn't have been in this position if it weren't for the Miami Heat franchise. They gave me an opportunity to play with a special team."

The search for a backup point guard now becomes another offseason priority for the Miami Heat. Such options that have been discussed are Steve Blake, Earl Watson, Chris Duhon, Marko Jaric and even Juan Dixon. Dooling's contract cannot be made official until the NBA ratifies its new collective bargaining agreement - expected to happen sometime this week.

Is Riley the right coach for the Heat?

There has been a lot of speculation lately about whether or not Pat Riley will step down from the President's booth and sit on the bench to coach. Much has been said about Riley's desire to coach again in the media. In fact, Riley has taken a much more 'participatory' role in coaching and developing players and this lone act, no matter how it was dissected, has seem to trigger this recent rash of speculation.

Will he or won't he?

The real question ought to be: should he?

Would the Heat really benefit from Pat Riley the coach? I am not so sure.

Think back to when the Heat were dominant - it was the late 90's. Their style of play was typified by Zo's fierce interior defense and bulging biceps, along with Timmy Hardaway's heart and dagger three pointers. They grinded you down for 48 minutes, and their offense sputtered along the way. The Heat didnt seek to blow you out, they wanted to break your nose, blind you and suffocate you. It was the same for the Knicks at that time, the original for the Heat copy as created by the architect Pat Riley.

In fact, Riley coming back to coach this Heat team shouldn't be a surprise. This is the same guy who left New York depicted as a villain and a traitor on his way to Miami to cash in on what he wanted. There is an interesting parallel between Riley's arrival in Miami and Shaq's arrival last summer. Both have promised championships to Miami. And both have the leverage to see their demands realized.

But the question remains, should Riley coach this Heat team? Is he the best coaching option for the Heat? Again, I think no. Stan Van Gundy in two seasons had not only fostered unbelievable clubhouse chemistry - to the point that Caron Butler and Lamar Odom even got teary eyed about leaving - but was able to bring out the best performance possible from two entirely different teams. It isn't Stan's fault that Shaq got injured with bruised thighs. It isn't Stan's fault that Wade tweaked his ribs in Game 5. It isn't Stan's fault that Damon Jones was playing on a bad wheel. But somehow, losing Game 7 has forced everyone to lose their minds. Could Riley have somehow dug down and got that team to win Game 7?

In case you may have forgotten, Pat Riley hasn't been too successful in deciding games, either. Check that '98 season. Or that '99 season. And even that '00 season.

Not to mention, the current personnell on the Heat is still very young. Players like Rasual Butler, Qyntel Woods, Wayne Simien, Dorrell Wright and Matt Walsh are all very young and need to develop. Exposing them to grueling practices and focusing on defense-or-die tactics will only suffocate their games and their developments.

Riley had it right when he quit at the beginning of the '03 season. He said the Heat needed a 'new voice' and a new direction. He didn't feel that he was the best man for the job, but instead laid it upon an unsuspecting Stan Van Gundy. Riley was right then, why wouldn't he be right now by maintaining that line of thinking and staying out of coaching? Times have changed, and it is not certain that this current Heat team would benefit from Riley back in as coach. And Riley knew that before.