Ron Artest to Miami?

Talk about putting the "vice" in Miami, landing Ron Artest would certainly make this Heat team a whole lot more...complex.

The latest rumor now is that the Heat may be players in the Artest sweepstakes II. Last year, he was dealt to Sacramento for Peja Stoyakovic, who is now with the Hornets after making a pit stop in Indiana.

The deal is going to be made, according to numerous sources. That is, Artest is going to be dealt. The Kings have decided to stick with Bibby and vote Artest off the island, instead. The most likely scenario has been Artest to the Clippers for Corey Maggette. But, like the Allen Iverson deal, there is another player emerging on the block that may have a better offer - the Heat.

The Heat showed strong interest in AI and dangled several players in a possible scenario. Ultimately, the Sixers stood by the standard notion that trading within your conference is a bad idea and opted for a lesser deal with the Nuggets. Andre Miller for AI could have a positive effect on the value of Artest - at least where the Heat is concerned.

Artest is arguably one of the league's most talented players but with his off court antics (and even his on court antics) overshadowing his playing status, his value has dropped. Perhaps even more so than last season, since, again, AI netted only Andre Miller. Artest could garner less.

But could Riley really make a deal for a player like Artest, who is more Rodman than perhaps Dennis the Menace was in his post Detroit days. And Artest, lest we forget, did go after Pat Riley once.

Still, it is too tantalizing, too sexy to refuse. Ron Artest in a Heat uniform would make this team tougher, stronger, meaner and leaner. It would get hungrier and would be arguably the most dangerous team in the entire NBA.

Artest can guard any position and has actually shown a history of deferring to players in the right situation. In Miami, he would be behind Shaq and Wade in the pecking order and would have no foreseeable problem with it, since both players are champions and among the most respected players in the NBA fraternity. And Pat Riley would be there to guide them all the way to the end. Whatever end that may be.

The sexy factor would rise for Miami who would now have a player that can beat you inside, one that could beat you on the perimeter and outside, and one that could create a physical mismatch with any other player you put on the floor.

If Riley has a chance to land Ron Artest, it would prove more valuable than landing even Allen Iverson. I think the same rules apply here, too. Open up your roster and say anyone except Wade and Shaq is available. Let's see what happens.

Wade Injured; Day to Day

Dwyane Wade went down with an injury early on in the loss to the Bulls last night, believed to be caused when he was trying to get through a screen. Xrays were negative and the MRI scheduled for today was also negative.

Team doctor Ron Culp advised to hold Wade out of the game for precautionary reasons. The Heat were not able to fight off the Bulls for a win, yet played inspiring basketball considered they were without Wade and Shaq on the road in Chicago, a team that totally blasted the Heat on opening night.

''We made a heck of a comeback,'' Riley said. "We were in shock for a while without Dwyane. But it was a lot of guts. A lot of pride. We ended up losing at the end.''

Yet the injury is not without controversy, Wade injured his wrist on a screen set by Udonis Haslem when his wrist was grabbed by Kirk Hinrich.

"Hinrich grabbed his hand," Riley said late Wednesday at the United Center. "He does it all the time. Anytime Dwyane comes off screens, they always either grab his shirt or they grab his hand. It's a little bit of a tactic down below the body. The official can't see it. He had Dwyane's hand and he tried to pull his hand out of there, and I think something happened."

Wade said he felt the wrist had popped out of its socket.

The Bulls denied any intention for injury by Hinrich. Skiles added, "Pat's an expert on tactics, I'll leave it at that. There are coaches who believe you're somehow jockeying for position when you say things like that or apply pressure to the referees."

So, Wade is listed day-to-day, and there may be some extra baggage from this situation. Perhaps a small rivalry is brewing between the two franchises?

Shag Takes a Shot at Jackson

Wow, we must be bored these days. After all, isn't this supposed to be the time of year when everyone forgives and forgets? Well, not for Shaq and Phil Jackson.

Maybe it is because Riley has won a championship and has started to reclaim the greatest living coach tag. Maybe it is because Phil is just bitter than Riley made it look easy doing so with his ex-asset, Shaq.

Shaq was done, wasn't he? Isn't that what Dr. Buss and his braintrust, Phil among them, agreed? Go with Kobe, Shaq is done.

Phil couldn't resist. When asked a question about Kobe's work ethic, he remarked that the only superstar player he coached that didn't like to work hard was Shaq.

Why Phil? Why did he make this comment? To get back at Shaq for something? And what was it for?

It doesn't matter, as it lead to a "Benedict Arnold" comparison from Shaq to his old coach, Phil. If anything, this securely locks Pat Riley into Shaq's mind as the greatest coach he has and will ever play for.

Or is that what Phil is reacting to?

After all, since Riley had to listen to the "Phil Jackson-is-the-greatest" speil for years, it is now his turn. And he actually did it his way, with players he drafted and traded for. Phil has done it with what was given to him. He was given the keys to a Ferrari. All he had to do was drive it.

Pat Riley had to build his own.

Interesting to note was Riley's reaction, who quickly supported O'neal's work ethic while the Diesel has been with the Heat. And anyone watching the Heat of late would notice that Shaq is not slacking. Certainly not as much as when he played for the relaxed Phil Jackson.

Maybe Shaq didn't need a "zen master" but perhaps a drill sergeant. After all, Shaq's dad was one.

AI to Miami?

Recently, one of our very own members (and a contributor to this blog) has stated one of his sources told him that AI to Miami is a DONE deal. The deal, if this source is correct, would be AI for Haslem, Williams and Wright and possibly another player such as Earl Barron, Robert Hite or Chris Quinn. Follow the discussion HERE

If this is true, it would be a great move for Miami as it would now gain, arguably, the best backcourt in ALL of basketball - and possibly one of the best EVER.

Stay tuned - this is only speculation at this point, as stories continue to swirl about the possibilities for an Allen Iverson deal.

Bring AI to Miami

No, not that AI, the AI as in "The Answer". He would definetly be the answer to what ails this team.

The latest is Allen Iverson wants out of Philly. This time, for good and its for real. It seems the 76ers are going to move as quickly as possible to make a deal and there are going to be a very large number of suitors out there for #3.

I hope Riley is able to convince not only himself, but Mickey Arison, that the Heat could benefit from this deal.

Sure, it is highly unlikely. Allen Iverson has 3 years and $60M remaining on his contract. That is a pretty steep price to pay for any team, especially the Heat. And yes, the Heat acquiring AI is indeed a long shot.

But so was the Heat winning it all last season, right? Well, at least if you went with what the media was saying.

Still, there is a possibility for the Heat to be a player in this deal. They have Antoine Walker, whose contract was inked in 2005 for 6 years and $53M. *** Not to mention, the Heat have some attractive young pieces in Wayne Simien, Earl Barron, and especially Dorrel Wright that may entice Philly. Walker's deal could net the Sixers some cap space, adding a young player like Wright may help them in the 'now' department but most likely be used to set them up for the future with pieces like Carney, Dalembert and Hunter in place.

For the Heat, AI would be a great addition. His athleticism and speed would greatly increase the Heat's attack and his offensive firepower would help spread the floor. Not to mention, his ability to penetrate and draw contact would be a nice counter with Wade on the court. Teams would have to find a way to cancel out the attack of both Wade and Iverson, while also accounting for the gravity of Shaq's presence (when healthy).

More importantly, a move like this would shake up the champs and perhaps free them of their biggest problem - stagnancy and apathy. While this isn't entirely true of the whole team, there have been some major rumblings about Walker and Payton and even to the extent they are clashing with Riley. That will amount to a short shelf life for both players, and considering that both are playing horribly and digging themselves deeper into Riley's doghouse, a trade may be the only thing left. And the Heat did try to trade Walker this past offseason.

The main thing missing, like I alluded to earlier, is hunger. There are plenty of players that have it on this team, but some of the key players do not. This notion was on Wade's mind pretty recently:

"I don't want to turn into one of those players that come out and be jacking, trying to win the game with every shot I take. ... The team I was on the first year (2003-04), we weren't that good, but we played hard. That same effort is not being applied here. ... We understand that you go through times like this in the NBA, but to lose by 20 or so every game you lose, it's pretty tough. You get to a point where you wonder why, even though we're not at full strength. We're just not performing to our capabilities."

Adding some AI to this team may get it back to that level it was at coming into the playoffs last season. Shaq may be down, but the Heat desperately need to do something to right the ship while he is out. They will burn Wade up. Bringing in AI as a complementary player would be both the ideal role for Iverson, and for the Heat.