Ruben Patterson: How the Miami Heat Replace James Posey

The expected sign and trade deal of James Posey to another team has not come to fruition yet. In fact, there really doesn't even seem to be a seed.

The Heat were hoping they could cash in on Posey's talents by offering him up to other teams while in return solving a need of their own.

Better scrap that idea for now.

Because the free agents left on the market are going to be going away and the Heat will be a team left on the outside looking in and wondering "what if". If they don't move fast enough, there will only be a "what?!" from the rest of the Heatian fan base.

Yet there is one solution that could meet all the needs of the Heat. Right now, they have just under 2.15M left of their precious mid-level exception (MLE), the 1.8M biannual exception and the 1.1 veteran minimum exception (which they can use unlimitedly to round out their roster).

Ruben Patterson might be available for any one of those three options.



What is there to love about Ruben Patterson? Well, he is a ferocious, physical defender that can attack offensive rebounds. He can post up on defenders at his position, he can drive to the basket along the baseline. His outside shot was almost non-existent, he's just 6'5" and he just pushed pass the 32 year old mark today (Happy Birthday, Rube Cube).

But it almost seems too perfect for him here in Miami. His off court antics and personality would mesh well with the other personalities Riley seems to enjoy placing his own brand of therapy upon: John Starks, Anthony Mason. Patterson seems almost like a perfect prospect to be programmed by ol' Pat. He will play his butt off, won't back down from anyone, and will do the dirty things this Heat team needs done: mostly defend and rebound.

Patterson can score, but it will be around the basket and not from afar, which the Heat also needs more of. Too many guys were falling in love with their three point shots, which weren't spectacular to begin with, and it made the offense stagnant and predictable. See James Posey, for example. With Patterson, you won't have to worry as he shot 15% from three point range last season! It doesn't matter as much as the Heat won't need to rely on his offensive production, but instead need his defense to help assert their style of play better.

Posey is known for knocking down guys and getting very physical, Patterson would do the same. The biggest difference is Ruben Patterson has found a way to score in this league without relying on his outside shot while James Posey has been able to hit his outside shot but not be as productive as a scorer as Patterson.

Sure the Heat get older, but they also get a bit tougher, meaner and more physical. With the East seeing all these moves to improve teams, especially within their own division, the Heat are going to have to find ways to intimidate and bludgeon their opponents as they will most likely not have enough firepower to run.

Ruben Patterson's skill set and his pricetag may ultimately prove a great choice for the Miami Heat - should they choose to look in his direction.

What's Left: Heat Free Agent Options

The Heat finalized the deal for Smush Parker, which gave them a young, athletic backup PG to replace Gary Payton who has all but retired. Verdict? Upgrade.

Miami's ability to lure Smush might not immediately turn heads, but the Heat get a solid consolation prize while watching Steve Francis and Mo Williams go elsewhere - neither of which was the fault or failure of the Miami Heat.

This also allows the Heat to move on and focus on other needs - like a small forward to replace the soon-to-depart James Posey.

Two solid options are available still - Ruben Patterson and Ime Udoka. Both are NBA veterans and can play excellent, physical defense. Patterson is not a consistent shooter, but that could mark him down enough (along with his age) that could make him an affordable option for Miami.

Udoka could be a bit out of the Heat's price range as they have dipped into part of the MLE for Parker already. That and Udoka has rumored to have a $3M dollar per year starting offer from the Spurs.

Then there are more interesting options.

Matt Barnes - still on the market, and unrestricted. His true market value is being displayed as he has not been a valueable commodity on the current market. However, he could be had for great value and with the Heat still having just over 2.15M left of their MLE, something might be worked out. He would provide athleticism, hustle, defense and a great shot with the ability to score big.

Jumaine Jones - another guy who could be looking to resurrect his career. Still fairly young (28) he can shoot and play defense. Could be had for less than the MLE amount remaining.

Dahntay Jones - another young wingman who, like Barnes, is looking for the right opportunity. He has size, can shoot and play physical and Duke players have a tendency to be well coached on the defensive side of the ball. Not drawing the kind of interest he might normally get considering the market and the assets still available.

There are options left for the Heat to meet their needs of a small forward that can defend and shoot. Even Eddie Jones remains on the radar.

Heat Get Smushed

Smush Parker is apparently joining the Heat.

Sources are reporting that Parker, 26, is going to sign for 2 years at $5.35M - a portion of the Heat's MLE.

This might be a sign that the Heat have abandoned trying to acquire the rights for Juan Carlos Navarro from the Wizards or even a deal for Rafer Alston may have fallen apart.



UPDATE:

Randy Pfund addressed the media today after the signing became official. “We are excited to bring Smush to Miami,” said HEAT General Manager Randy Pfund. “He’s a talented young player who brings good size and athleticism to our point guard position. Smush has been the starting point guard of a playoff team the past two seasons and we believe he has his best years ahead of him.”

Looks like Smush will replace Gary Payton, who has still yet to retire, as the defensive PG off the bench. Smush shot in the 36% range from behind the arc and he has the ability to be an explosive player taking the ball to the rack.

Now, consider what a backcourt of DWade and Smush will look like.

Something Rotten in the State of Miami

Now, I know Miami is not a state - it's just a quote, or rather an allusion. But everybody is talking about Mo Williams' recent sound bite and using that as fuel to speculate about the status of Miami.

I said it years ago, Stan van Gundy would be a fine coach for this modern NBA and the Magic at least got that right. I also felt he was the best man for the job even when Riley was being rumored to come back. Yet right now, with Riley waffling over coaching, and the Heat strapped financially, there seems to be a bad stench that is keeping possible free agents away.

It is like repellent chasing everyone away, including a once bright assistant.

Not good considering I am going to be moving back to Miami myself.

Is there any truth to what Mo Williams said? Yeah, there is. Things aren't exactly Disney-like in Miami, but it is overblown. Riley might be stressing as the head coach but in point of fact, he didn't seem to do it enough last season. He let the players have it their way and that is why Zo said what he said. The question really should be is Riley willing to commit enough to coaching and winning? Can Riley live up to his own standards?

This down-trodden team, with a lackluster work ethic, is also being overblown. Whenever a team has two stars the magnitude of a Dwyane Wade and a Shaquille O'neal and those two players combine to miss 73 games, your team is going to take a hit. This also allowed for Jason Kapono to grab more playing time and enabled him to punch his passport for Toronto.

Something isn't right, and it isn't all about the money. Steve Francis apparently rejected more money from Miami to sign with Houston - yet that seems more like a heart move in that Francis wanted to return to Houston, his hometown. Mo Williams', comments aside, was definetly going to grab money. Other than that, there really hasn't been any high profile moves that Miami was seeking to do that they lost out on.

Yet, there are disturbing tendencies by Miami to overlook potential targets. No, not Travis Diener, but Steve Blake, Jason Hart, and now even Jannero Pargo.

Riley is right, however, that you don't want to overpay for a player especially when faced with paying the dollar for dollar amount of the luxury tax. So essentially, paying double for Pargo or Blake is not what Riley wants to do - he would rather upgrade another way without having to overpay and that would include a trade.

Mike Bibby is available, but the Kings don't want Jason Williams. Instead, they should be taking Udonis Haslem, which the Heat can afford to part with given the market (Alex Johnson or even Melvin Ely would be suitable replacements coupled with Bibby, would upgrade the Heat).

It just seems like Riley is shuffling his feet and looking to get out. Like in poker, he has had his bluff called.

The Open J: Sign PJ Brown?

The offseason is looking bleak for the Miami Heat, but there are still options available that could re-tool this team - as we have been stressing.

Another consideration, which may seem somewhat innovative and different, would be to get older.

The biggest problem for Miami last season was staying healthy: Shaq and Wade missed a combined 73 games last season. So it would seem getting older would only put the Heat more at risk of injury.

Yet, with very few financial tools as their disposal (as practically every team has the same tools to use at this time) the Heat have to meet the challenge of shoring up their roster in preparation of getting back on top. Orlando, Charlotte, even Washington and Atlanta have all improved their talent pools so winning the Southeastern division will be more of a challenge.

So, with all the retirees moving to South Florida, why not get one more? An old familiar face like PJ Brown.

Chicago power forward P.J. Brown remains available, but he reportedly favors a Florida team, the Magic or Heat, or possibly retirement. Arizona Central

It makes sense on many levels, not to mention continuing the trend of recycling ex-Heatians like Eddie Jones and Alonzo Mourning. What's one more?

More importantly, PJ Brown would still have a lot to offer this team. He brings a mental toughness that would agree with Zo, as well as a desire and intensity to win that would also complement Zo's. He can rebound, can still defend very well, and can stick that midrange jumper when needed. He would be a strong addition for a backup PF, and could even spend time at C if need be.



More importantly, he could be had for the veteran minimum $1.1M and would offer more incentive to deal Udonis Haslem to fill in at another place of need.

Sure, getting a guy who is almost 40 may seem like insanity. But this is a guy Riley can trust and he still has something to offer a team and he would get the chance to retire as a member of the Miami Heat. He could give you a solid 20 minutes a game and with the expected depth of this team, once the dust settles this offseason, he may not have to give you that much playing time and would serve as an excellent insurance policy - certainly a better option than Michael Doleac who could also be traded away as well.

Fat Lady Hasn't Sung Yet for Miami Heat Offseason

That's right, there is no Rosie O'Donnell mike check just yet. There are still plenty of options for the Miami Heat going forward in the offseason.

Free agents

Jannero Pargo is a worthwhile target, but it is surprising that he hasn't been signed yet while other point guards have been taken. It will only play to undermine his salary demands and the Heat could get him on the cheap.

Brevin Knight would have to grade a bit lower as concerns about his health would be a definite issue, and with Jason Williams' past health issues, it wouldn't give the Heat a consistent option but it seems that Knight wants to prove the Bobcats wrong for releasing him.

Trade possibilities

Juan Carlos Navarro is being dangled by the Wizards, but it will come down to what it will cost the Heat and if it would be worth it. Playing off the Steve Francis possibility, Miami was more able to command a better stance in the deal. With that option gone, however, it will demand that Riley be as cunning as ever to get the best deal - the Wizards apparently are attaching Navarro's rights to a bloated contract; either Etan Thomas, Brendan Haywood or Antonio Daniels.

Mike Bibby could return as a target for the Heat. They have always been after him, according to reports, and his contract is pretty sizeable - 13M and 14M over the next two seasons.

Luke Ridnour's time in Seattle might be up. With Earl Watson and Delonte West on the roster, the Sonics may be choosing between Watson and Ridnour. Given Ridnour's contract is slightly more (6.5M for next three seasons) the Sonics may be looking to trade him for a more valued asset.

These are options still left on the table for point guard. Don't even get me started on the other possibilities at other positions as there are still plenty. Ime Udoka, Jumaine Jones, Dahntay Jones, Eddie Jones, Ruben Patterson, Brian Skinner, Lawrence Roberts, Alexander Johnson and Melvin Ely to name a few.

Steve Francis Signs with Houston, What Now?

Well, it would have been nice to land Francis for the veteran minimum contract of 1.1M, but he got more money from Houston: $6 million to be exact.

A two year deal for 3 million a piece means that Houston was willing to dip a little more into the MLE (minimum level exception) than Miami or even the Clippers were willing.

Boy I sure hope there is a backup plan here. Still, you have to defend Riley in that he is not willing to spend more money on players just because. Getting Francis at the veteran mimimum was the deal, paying more on top of the 30M payout the Trailblazers gave him was not. So, the Heat, looking to buy, will move on pass the glass cases and see what is in the backroom. After all, there are smarter, more valuable options still available (Dahntay Jones, for example).

In fact, this might all but assure Eddie Jones gets another year with the Heat.

Or perhaps the Heat will pull it together and finally pull the trigger on a deal for Mike Bibby. Soon, we'll know.

The Open J: Trade Udonis Haslem

Look it is nothing personal. I love Udonis Haslem - his hustle, his grit, even his cornrows. You can keep the Gator history though (sorry, I'm a Nole). But right now, the way the market is and with the Heat trying to retool towards another championship, the time is nigh and every option needs to be explored.

Udonis Haslem is a valuable asset that is not irreplaceable. That means trade him.

It was nice for Udonis to come out in the papers yesterday and talk about how much he wants to stay in Miami and finish out his career, and also that he understands that this is a business. We would all like to keep you, if it wasn't for this darned lousy offense we have.

Udonis Haslem has a three year deal that will see him get paid 6M, 6.5M and 7.1M over that span. It's a solid deal that most teams would like to have on their rosters and he is only 27 years old. He can rebound, play defense both in the post and out on the wing, and can stick both the midrange jumper and his free throws. And he's a champion.

Irreplaceable? No.

Right now there are options on the open market that could fill in - Alexander Johnson, Melvin Ely and even Lawrence Roberts. Neither one of those options would create a hole, and even could upgrade the offense from the 4 position. Haslem is limited into a complementary role despite Riley's best efforts to try and free up Udonis - according to Riley, at least.

More pressing needs at the guard and small forward positions require the Heat to account for those needs as they are a higher priority. With limited salary options due to the cap and luxury tax cap, the Heat are faced with making a trade or two to fill those needs. Of all the assets on this roster, Udonis Haslem makes a lot of sense to deal because the market has similar talent available and at a fraction of the cost. Not to mention that dealing Jason Williams doesn't make sense because it would create a hole at PG and create more of a problem for Miami's goal of retooling the roster.

You never want to deal out of desperation.

Also, the Heat have options on the current roster that could fill-in for Haslem: Wayne Simien, Earl Barron and Antoine Walker. Sure Walker is streaky, but he can man the PF if you decided not to sign anyone and he could create matchup problems - however, he is best suited to coming off the bench. Wayne Simien has a similar skill set to Udonis, but is bigger (6'9"), longer (wingspan 7') and has better offensive moves - he just has to stay healthy. Then there is also Earl Barron, who has plenty of offense but questions remain whether or not he would be a good defender - for a center. Move him to PF and it could click as he would be able to guard PFs more easily as well as take them outside with his midrange game and outside shot.

The free agent market has options and the Heat have options on their current roster that they could use to replace Udonis Haslem. He is not irreplaceable and the Heat have more pressing needs elsewhere. Unfortunately, if the Heat are going to win again, they are going to have to be willing to surrender everything, even their own heart.

Free Agent Watch: Steve Francis

Soon, Steve Francis will pick what team he will play for for the upcoming 2007-2008 NBA season.

Will it be Houston, his once proud hometown?

Will it be Los Angeles, with best friend in the world Cuttino Mobley? I smell a sitcom!

Will it be Miami, his most realistic chance at a championship? (That's right, I said it.)

Say what you will about Steve Francis, but he does still have a valuable skill set. He can penetrate off the dribble and although he is streaky, his midrange jumper can be effective. The guy was a big time scorer in his hey-day, but he is still only 30 years old - hardly over the hill. Could he play with Wade? Yes. Would it be recommended to have two soft defensive guards on the floor with inconsistent jumpers at the same time? Probably not too often. Yet for the price, Francis would be a big lift to any team.

"It gives us the luxury of really being able review these circumstances from a basketball-fit perspective as opposed to strictly a financial one," Fried said.

That's a good sign for the Heat's chances because President Pat Riley has said he won't overpay for lower-tier free agents. Francis has spoken with Riley about his potential role with the Heat, Fried said. LINK

Francis will be making his decision soon. We'll see if he is going to punch tickets to Miami - and away from his hometown and his BFF Cuttino.

Is Mickael Pietrus or Matt Barnes Coming to Miami?

Reports out of France are that Pietrus was on TV talking about how much he wanted to join the Miami Heat for the upcoming NBA season.

Meanwhile, the Heat have shown interest in the 6'6" French swingman, but what would set off Pietrus to practically demand a move to Miami? It could be that he learned Golden State and Miami were in discussions - his agent was the one who most likely informed him of this:

Golden State restricted free agent Mickael Pietrus, perhaps the best small forward still available, wants to play for Miami, agent Bill McCandless said, but it will only happen through a sign-and-trade. Talks between the Heat and Warriors are ongoing, but it's unclear if a deal will get done, McCandless said Tuesday. Miami Herald

The Sign & Trade? Most likely James Posey.

The Warriors have offered a 3.5M contract to Pietrus and any team that offers him a deal will have to exceed that amount to get him. Most likely the Warriors will match any offer, since the most Pietrus could get is the full MLE (5.3M) from teams still on the free agent hunt. Knowing this, they also know Pietrus has value and the Warriors also have a 9M trade exception they could use due to the draft day deal of Jason Richardson.

Will Mickael Pietrus land in Miami? He definetly wants to be here but the Warriors are playing hardball. Of course, the sign-and-trade could be Posey for Matt Barnes, too. Check out the San Jose Mercury News as they report that talks with Miami are ongoing, but that it is Barnes that should be the target and not Pietrus. Posey is viewed as an improvement over Barnes, in this case.

The Open J: What I'd do for Heat this offseason

Ira Winderman has unleashed his master plan of what he would do if he was in charge of the Heat. I am kind of glad he isn't.

Going after Steve Francis is smart, if it is almost assuredly going to end in mediocrity. Why? Well, the Heat have the following payment options they could tender:

1. The minimum level exception (MLE): $5.3 million
2. The bi-annual cap exception: $1.8 million
3. The veteran minimum (unlimited offers): 1.1 million

Now Francis has been bought out by Portland meaning he just got $30M for doing literally nothing. On top of that, 50% of whatever he gets in a new deal goes to Portland as part of the buyout agreement. Like Ira said, money is not an issue so Miami is competing with other teams not in how much money is to be offered, but in the situation. The Heat could get Francis for roughly 1.1 million and this would be a cost effective risk to take. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't cost the Heat much and Francis would most likely still be an asset to trade. Yet he is good friends with Shaq and his game could be an interesting complement to Wade's in that his skill set is very similar - not a great three point shot, aggressive game. Francis is a volume scorer, however, (see Walker) and if not getting the ball enough might not be able to get into the flow of the game. Still, at the cost, it is worth kicking the tires and taking Francis for a spin.

I think Mickael Pietrus is going to come to Miami. I can't figure out why the Warriors would let this guy go but hey, I am not going to quibble with that. His skill set would be a great fit in Miami - great rebounder, athletic, tough, can shoot, young. He could play the 2 or the 3 and offer the Heat a solid third option on the floor with Shaq and Wade. He can D up the tough assignments but also create enough havoc on the offensive side to help the Heat push those matchups. His flexibility would be ideal since Wade will be flopping from shooting guard to point guard and Pietrus could allow for Wright to develop into the starter we are all hoping to see. So far, so good.

Even Juan Carlos Navarro I agree with. But we have to swallow Etan Thomas or Brendan Haywood, that is for sure. Thomas is going to be make between 6.3M and 7.3M over the next three seasons while Haywood is going to earn between 5M and 6M - I would rather the latter. If the Heat were to make a deal with the Wizards it would be along those lines, it's true. I think Navarro and Haywood would offer more value because Haywood is younger and still has some ceiling left - let's face it, Washington doesn't have a game plan that would utilize Haywood's skill set as much as they are perimeter oriented. In Miami, Haywood would practice with Shaq and Zo everyday and something would just have to click, wouldn't it? Of course, that means we would have to deal Doleac as we would have no need for 4 centers on this team.

So far, that would net us:

• Francis $1.1M
  
• Pietrus $3.5M+
  
• Navarro $3M (plus buyout 2-3M)
• Haywood $5M

That is getting expensive, but of course it would be offset by a trade (Posey for Pietrus, Haslem for Navarro and Haywood?) and it would still leave us with part of the MLE, the 1.8M exception and as many 1.1M vet contracts as we can use.

I don't think dealing Doleac for Anthony Johnson is a bad move, but it might not be necessary. We would be investing in too many point guards at a certain point when what we really needa are longer defenders to mix up with other teams like the Bulls. So, these are the guys I would sign to round out the Heat roster:

• Sign Ime Udoka. He could be had for roughly $3M. Allegedly he has an offer for 3 years at $12M total - that figure is likely to include raises over the subsequent seasons and Miami could match that. Consider him a young Bruce Bowen with more offense - he can shoot the three, can lock down on anyone defensively, and is a very good rebounder.
• Sign Travis Diener. A solid PG prospect, he could replace JWill if he goes down with an injury or for some reason walks at the end of this season. I agree with Ira that there is a feeling that Williams will show up big time this season but it will depend on Riley letting him play. Diener, on the other hand, played alongside Wade in college and can do a lot of the same things Williams can do, just not quite as flashy. Cheap, probably $1.1M or less.
• Sign Alexander Johnson. If we are going to trade away Haslem, we need to get some PF depth back. If any of these deals go through, Johnson could provide a very strong option at PF and for a great cost - less than 1M. He's young and has a great power game (see previous blog entry).
• Sign Dahntay Jones. at 6'6" we get more size; he can matchup defensively with more players and can also knock down his shots (41% from three). He is athletic and just looking for a good chance and Miami would be a great fit for his game. He can play alongside Wade or go small at SF, too. Made 1.8M last season, offer him the bi-annual exception to play with the Heat.
  
• Re-sign EJ. $1.1M should get it done, and Eddie is reliable, professional, and could play in key situations when you need something done along the way.

Where does that put things under my plan?

• Udoka $4M
• Diener -$1M
• Johnson -$1M
• Jones $1.8M
• EJ $1.1M

That means for the MLE you get Udoka, Diener and Johnson while for the bi-annual you get Dahntay Jones and for a veteran minimum contract you keep EJ. That is five players that can contribute right away and you are still free to explore Francis (at 1.1M), a trade with the Warriors for Pietrus (sign-and-trade) and possibly even still explore the Navarro situation (he would have to take less money in this case, but he would be freed from his Barcelona club) as a trade could still make that happen.

You also gain more flexibility as you also must keep an eye on Trey Johnson and Jeremy Richardson from the Summer League, but if these acquisitions are made you really only need Trey Johnson.

Final Roster:

G Jason Williams
G Dwyane Wade
G Steve Francis
G Daequan Cook
G Trey Johnson
G Travis Diener
G/F Dahntay Jones
G/F Mickael Pietrus
G/F Eddie Jones
G/F Ime Udoka
F Antoine Walker
PF Alexander Johnson
PF Udonis Haslem
PF Wayne Simien
C Shaquille O'neal
C Alonzo Mounring
C Micheal Doleac

Of course, that is over 15 players, but not all moves would need to be made. There are plenty of options still out there that could be had for the Heat that could drastically improve their roster and it doesn't mean they should go after the tried and true veteran players that are looking to latch on with a winner because they have health concerns or bought out contracts.

The Heat have to be smart and go for value and with the market the way it is, there are plenty of options that could be had well below percieved value (Pietrus, see also Matt Barnes).

Free Agent Watch: Rumblings

The Miami Heat are digging in and working behind the scenes - at least that is what all the signs are pointing towards.

Riley should face criticism for his handling of the Mo Williams situation. That was not a college recruiting trip, but instead a real-live free agent patdown which resulted in the Heat panting too heavily and the Bucks, only trying to cheap their way out of retaining Williams, were forced into upping the deal.

It was never a realistic possibility, once the texting with Riley started, and it was a waste of time. Yet, you can't really blame anyone in trying to explore options. What's left?

Plenty, despite what the finicky media says.

Mark Bartelstein, the agent for James Posey, has stated that several teams are interested in acquiring his services. The team on top of the radar is the Golden State Warriors. In this case, competition is good as it will force a team into working with the Heat on a sign-and-trade to guarantee Posey's services. Look for Golden State to possibly counter with Matt Barnes or Mickeal Pietrus. They are over the cap and only have the MLE and a bi-annual exception (1.83M) to use and both players are seeking money that could total out those sums. The Warriors, reportedly, are hesitant to offer that money to Barnes and Pietrus. Instead, they are letting the market dry up and force these players to realize what their worth is.





The fact of the matter is, there are few teams with money to spend and the market is drying up quickly for these free agents. Golden State could be a player for Posey, and at the same time Pietrus would go a long way towards improving the Heat as would Matt Barnes. Thanks to Kelenna Azubuike, who just signed a two year deal with the Warriors at 1.5M, the two FAs are looking to slash their initial demands.


Then there is Jannero Pargo, another client of the ever-busy Mark Bartelstein (who is also the agent for Mo Williams). The Heat are interested and have inquired about his availability. This would be a great fit for Miami - Pargo can stick the three (38%) and he can defend the point guard position as well as handle the rock and break down his man with his dribble. This is all the Heat really need from a PG candidate to play alongside Wade - defense, stick his jumpers.

These are just a couple of examples that could become real possibilities in the coming days. Juan Carlos Navarro is a possibility, but the Heat are currently weighing whether or not the cost would be worth it - JCN's buyout is around 2.5M.

Another possibility is Dahntay Jones, the ex-Duke guard. Both he and Alexander Johnson were let go by the Grizzlies and both played some significant minutes for their former club last season. Jones shot 47% from the field and 41% from behind three point range; he can also play some nice D and could be a solid alternative to thicken up the talent pool at the guard spot.

Alexander Johnson is very young still, leaving early from FSU for the NBA, and is still a project. However, he has a long wingspan and is a very strong physical player with a solid postgame. He could be an upgrade over the oft-injured Wayne Simien and could even press Udonis Haslem for minutes down the road. He would add youth and depth to the Heat's front line and could be had for a very low cost.

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In the meantime, two summer league prospects that look like good bets to make the team are Trey Johnson and Jeremy Richardson. Obvious, Daequan Cook is going to make the team, but these two candidates have demonstrated consistent offensive production as well as excellent intangibles and defense. Johnson is an intense competitor and Richardson has shown flashes of excellence in his recent NBA/NBDL stints.

Zo Returns

Return of the Heat King

Alonzo Mourning will be back.

The Heat center made the announcement Sunday at his annual Summer Groove charity event, which brings great relief to Heat fans. The offseason has been a confusing one, seeing many targeted free agents get snatched up elsewhere but Riley has been contending all along that they will not overpay for a possible player.

In this case, the Heat will be getting unquestionable value on their investment.

Zo will back up Shaq again and this has proven to be a boon for Miami. Always professional and an intense leader, Zo continues not only to deliver continuity but to build on his legacy as a Heat player. He has the skills and the mentality to make it through another NBA season and be as productive as ever.

This was always going to be a crucial point for the Heat this offseason, losing Zo would be unthinkable as it would force the Heat to adapt Micheal Doleac to their backup center role - now they may have found another huge asset that could be liquidated.

Zo's return means that Doleac, in his last season and commanding a modest $3M contract in his final year, could be used as trade bait to shore up more pressing needs on this Heat roster.

As it stands now, keep an eye on Juan Carlos Navarro - Riley is meeting with the young Spanish point guard while on his way to Africa for a little R&R (in fact, Riley has not publicly stated he will return as coach, but with Zo signing on chances are pretty good that not only will Riley return to the bench, but that a move is going to happen that Zo also finds satisfactory). With Zo's return, he must feel pretty good about committing to another season.

Also, James Posey has been meeting with several teams, one of which is Golden State who is loaded with guards and small forwards and needs to deepen their front court depth. Posey would be an upgrade defensively, but throwing in a guy like Doleac could also give the Warriors a solid veteran to boost up their front court with. And Posey has stated he is open to a sign and trade possibility - and the Heat are looking at Mickeal Pietrus.

Zo's return is good for the Heat on the court, and also can serve as a barometer for what is going on behind the scenes - namely that Riley should return as coach and that there is possibly a deal in place that will give the Heat what they need going forward into this NBA season.

At any rate, welcome back Zo. It is going to be nice to have you back.

No Mo

The Heat have apparently lost out on Mo Williams who has decided to re-up with his current ballclub, the Milwaukee Bucks for 6 years at $51M.

Hate to say I told you so, Riles.

Sure, the Heat needed to explore this option to the fullest but the irony is that Riley may have actually driven up Mo Williams' price by increasing his demand. Making Williams a priority only put him further out of reach.

Now, the Heat have to face the reality that they really are limited in what they can do in terms of acquiring free agents. It was never the way. The best bet for them was to meet their needs in the draft, via trades, and by targeting undervalued pools of talent like veteran European players.

Going after Juan Carlos Navarro is a step in the right direction.

Don't Lose Hope: Heat Offseason Still Has Options

Steven Blake, gone.

Chucky Atkins, gone.

Mo Williams?

Who cares. He is, and we have been saying this all along, playing the system to squeeze out the most money. His interest in playing in Miami and winning was not definite but one thing is clear, it has helped him pinch the Bucks for more money.

Still in the background is how Yi Jianlian's future will affect all of this and if Mo is serious about playing time, he would ask for more definite answers in that regard. As it seems, he is really only interested in getting paid and considering that the Blazers brought back Blake at around the full MLE, Williams should net more.

Nothing wrong with that.

Yet, as the Heat continue to put their eggs in one basket, options dry up - yet still one remains that could prove to be more lucrative than any option, Juan Carlos Navarro.

Europe's best PG and arguably one of the world's best, is free from Barcelona but just has to pay for his buyout from the team. That is considered a formality as both Navarro and his Barcelona club have agreed to allow Navarro to explore his dream of playing in the NBA. The real obstacle is going to be brokering a deal with the Washington Wizards, who hold his rights.

The climate has turned for Navarro. He is highly regarded by the Wizards but their focus is on re-signing Deshawn Stevenson which is close to happening. After that happens, the Wiz won't have enough money under the luxury cap to sign Navarro without splashing into the penalty - something they prefer not to do.

The Heat, however, would. They have been after JCN for some time now. And considering the way the market has broken down, this might be their only real option of making a splash this offseason.

In fact, a Barcelona paper is reporting that Pat Riley is going to visit with Navarro in Spain. This is getting serious.

Another option still is Mike Bibby. The Kings want to deal him and rightfully so - he is shooting 44% and is owed 13.5M next season and 14.5M the season after that. Perhaps Antoine Walker for Bibby could be viewed as favorable? The Kings want to slash payroll and Walker is not making anything close to that quite yet and has a team option after 2008-2009.

There are plenty of other options as well, but would have to come via a trade, too. Seattle's Luke Ridnour would be an excellent acquisition as his skill set would complement the Heat's game plan with his ball handling and ability to shoot outside.

Jarret Jack could be an option too. With Blake signing on in Portland, Jack could be on his way out. He might be a pretty good alternative to Mo Williams - he can penetrate, can shoot, is very athletic.

Free agent wise there is always Travis Diener, another MiamiHeatwave favorite.

Even if Mo Williams take mo' money to stay in Milwaukee, all is not lost. There are several pretty big options out there that just might happen for the Heat.

Summer League: Day 4

Finally, a Heat win. Not that that means anything, but 78-66, the Heat finally broke through.

And we also saw breakthroughs from Daequan Cook, Trey Johnson, Marcus Slaughter and even James Lang. Chris Quinn continues to show that he is ready for training camp.

Cook hit 8 of 16 of his shots for 21 points, including 2 of 4 from three point range. He is definetly not afraid to shoot, and any good shooter in the NBA is going to have to have that kind of voluntary amnesia to make it.

Trey Johnson, the NCAA's 2nd leading scorer this season, got some PT and put it to good use. He dropped 14 on the Pacers shooting 5 of 10 and 1 for 2 from downtown. His defensive energy was very good, constantly moving and staying on his man. He has some upside, a very good shot from anywhere on the floor, and knows how to score without the ball getting good positioning. Basically, a clone of Cook's game yet arguably, more mature (he graduated from Jackson State). Another lock to make it to camp?

Marcus Slaughter showed bounce. He reminds me of the "Pogoman" Mark Strickland, just a guy who can run and jump. Very good potential for defense, but his midrange game needs more consistency and his outside game is virtually non-existent. Could be a solid addition to the bench, but might prove tough to make the final roster. Looking like another camp invitee.

James Lang showed more than his size yesterday, going 3 of 4 from the field. He has a good, physical presence in the paint and that is to be expected when you weigh in over 300lbs. He is pretty agile, kind of like a Robert "Tractor" Traylor but not as finely tuned. He could work on finishing around the basket more, it seemed like he got some pretty good chances at times but couldn't generate a shot. A bit of a project, but showed some promise.

Quinn continues to pace the summer league with his skills. He is solid, not flashy, and can get it done at the next level. If he can continue to improve on his defense and show a consistent outside shot, he could make the final roster of this squad.

Game 5 is today, check it out at HERE and discuss it on our boards.

Day 4 Box Score

Offseason for Heat is Cooling Off

Make no mistake, Mo Williams' decision will be the barometer for the Heat's offseason as they continue their search for some stability at point guard.

If Mo signs with the Heat, instantly there is a lot of talk about how good of a move this is and how it will rejuvenate the Heat and their title hopes. And you can bet Zo will jump back on the bandwagon and opt to stick around.

If Mo doesn't sign, the Heat are all of a sudden hit with a cold reality - their roster is good but not great and there is not enough talent on the roster to complement Wade and Shaq and push them back into the Finals.

There are conflicting reports out there - some media outlets have reported that Mo Williams is going to sign with the Heat (such as annual Heat hater Marc Stein), and there is the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that is trying so hard to report that Mo has opted to stay put.

Yet, let's look at alternatives that are some realistic possibilities for the Heat.

There are reports out of Sacramento that the Bucks and Kings might be considering a swap for Yi Jianlian, whose representation has stated he wouldn't play in Milwaukee. If the Kings and Bucks work out a deal, it could possibly include a talent like Mike Bibby - who has had problems playing alongside Ron Artest. This means that the Bucks might be shifting gears in anticipation of losing Mo Williams. How would a move like that affect Mo's playing time? Something more for Mo Williams to consider.

Speaking of Bibby, the Heat have long been interested in the point guard and he could still be a backup plan of sorts if the Heat lose out in the Mo Williams saga. There even was a rumor that the Heat were willing to deal Udonis Haslem for Bibby or Artest. The fact that the Artest trade talks have died down may indicate that the Kings are looking to deal Bibby instead.

There is also a possibility the Heat revisit Rafer Alston, who currently plays in Houston and could be available.

Steve Blake, a Miami native, also has been involved in talks with the Heat. Blake is asking for at least the full mid-level exception, 5.3M, but questions abound whether or not he is worth that much. The Lakers and Heat were the favorites, now it looks like LA is backing off (after signing Derrick Fisher) and the Nuggets instead have stepped up.

Also available, suddenly, is Orlando's Travis Diener. Due to the Rashard Lewis signing, the fallout for the Magic is they will have to stand losing Grant Hill (to Phoenix), Darko Milicic (to Memphis) and will not be able to re-sign Diener and Bo Outlaw. Diener has some upside, a nice outside shot and good handles plus he has played with Dwyane Wade back in their Marquette days.

Still on the market are Brevin Knight and Jason Hart, two defensively-minded point guards that have experience running offenses in the NBA and could be had for a reasonable sum.

Also, keep an eye on Orien Greene currently playing for the Heat in summer league. Always a strong defender, he has some size (6'4") and can handle the ball - but he has to improve his outside shooting. Greene can take his man off the dribble and can penetrate, but what he does after that point is another place he needs to improve his game.

Summer League: Day 3

Well, the strange coincidences continue to line up. For some reason, whenever the Heat are playing their game in Orlando, the web casts tend to have problems.

Couldn't be because they are in-state rivals with the Magic, is it?

Nah. The Magic are a classy organization. [insert sarcasm]

Still, it always pays to be there but when you can't, don't depend on the NBA marrying technology with functionality. Surprised they even know what blogs are.

Blackout or not, the Heat weren't really worth watching anyway. They shot 33% (19-57) but were better from three point range (44% or 4/9). That has to be encouraging, right Pat?

There were some positives though:

Marcus Slaughter showed an all-around game, putting up 9 points on 2/7 shooting - most of his points came from the free throw line going 5-8. He also grabbed 8 rebounds, 3 assists and two steals. Solid performance, but showing he is willing to mix it up inside.

Jeremy Richardson continues to impress. He plays smooth, very quick off the dribble and has shown that he can play and get to the rim as well as shoot the rock. He dropped in 12 points on 4/8 (2/3 three pointers) and also generated 4 FTAs.

Junior Harrington was enthusiastic today, seeing some PT finally. He was only 1-4 but generated 11 FTAs today and sank 7 of them. Could get more of a look tomorrow - but will we be able to watch?

Trey Johnson and Joel Anthony didn't get to play today, which is better than what could be said for Daequan Cook.

Cook only was 1 out of 7 today, fouled out and got no FTAs. It just isn't clicking for Cook right now who is showing how talented he can be in small stretches, but his shot is just not there right now.

Overall, another loss for the Heat that comes on bad offense - no one is hitting their shots consistently except Quinn and Richardson. "Senator" John Edwards looks to be more than just a bulk out there, but is probably on the cusp of getting invited to an NBA camp.

Mo Williams Opting for Heat?

Going for less money and mo' profile?

There have been several rumors floating around the internet about who Mo Williams is going to sign for - and most point towards the Heat.

Chad Ford's Daily Dish podcast

Forward to the 12:50 mark and listen. Mark Stein claims the Heat will get Mo Williams' services.

Chris Broussard, ESPN, has also commented that he hears Mo Williams is going to Miami, and Ira Winderman even admitted that Mo Williams is geniunely intrigued by the possibility of playing for the Heat, too.

Stay tuned...

Mo Williams Signing Depends on MLE

There are rumors circulating right now that Mo Williams is going to opt to take less money and play for the Miami Heat.

It seems more reasonable to assume that Mo Williams won't sign with anyone until the final cap figures are known.

That will be announced sometime within the next 24 hours.

Why the wait? Basically, how much less money Mo Williams would take to sign with the Heat is unknown. Papers out of Milwaukee report that the Bucks have offered a 5 year deal worth $40M total, while the most Miami could offer is 5 years for $30M.

Then you have the South Florida papers stating the Heat figure could be as much as $35M.

Why the discrepancy? Well, it isn't anything sinister, so don't get your hopes up. Of course, both papers are going to slant their stories to their advantage but the fact remains that the final figure for the cap, as well as the minimum level exception (MLE), have not been determined.

Currently, the MLE is $5.6M. If the cap is raised (which is should be) then the MLE figure should be raised as well. It has been speculated to be around $6M, and if that is the case, it could be enough money to satisfy Mo Williams' interest in playing for the Heat.

Also of note, Mo Williams might be taking less money, but he would not pay state income tax in Florida. There could be added incentives like a player option after 3 seasons (when Shaq and Wade's contracts are up) which could also allow him to reevaluate where the team is at that point and still be young enough (28) to dictate a pretty good contract.

Riley Swallowing Bait

Pat Riley is a fool.

Or at least, he is playing the fool a little too well.

This offseason is not going as well as it could be, and Riley's stubborn approach to it seems to be making it worse.

I cannot stress, things can change dramatically within the next few days as the free agent moratorium ends on July 11th - but it doesn't look like it.

In a previous blog, we stressed that Miami has to re-tool the team's roster by facing the challenge of going after undervalued talent. Why? Because the Heat do not have a whole lot of room under the new cap (which will be officially announced as of July 11th) - currently they are at $64.5M for 9 players.

The Heat need to round out their roster of 15 with 6 more players. Where are they going to come from?

As for payroll flexibility, they only have the MLE (mid-level exception) which is around $5.6M dollars and an unlimited amount of veteran minimum contracts ($1.3M). So that leaves little chance of signing a big-ticket free agent.

There is a possibility that the Heat work out a sign-and-trade with James Posey, signing him to a larger sum than another team might be able to, and trade him to that team for a player in return. Yet, the situation has to make sense and the contracts have to match up.

Pat Riley, meanwhile, has properly assessed the situation with James Posey as staying where it is - it hasn't progressed. Now, of course that could all be apart of Riley pulling the wool over everyone's eyes as he is working on a deal, but this feels like he is telling the truth.

If the Heat's sign-and-trade possibilities are done, then what is next? After all, what is the point of bringing in Mo Williams, the best PG on the market?

A few days ago, Riley was downplaying the Heat's need for a PG, saying that the media was over exaggerating while Riley turned to stressing Jason Williams' value to the team. More "coach-speak"? Was this just to downplay the desperation that is apparent to everyone that looks at the Heat's roster?

Say one thing, do another. It might work if you are trying to create subterfuge, but the fact that the Heat is being confusing should only assert the desperation of this team in the first place.

Then there is the stance of Riley and the MLE, he doesn't believe in giving it all up unless the right player comes along.

"If he's a player that his production has been such over the past three or four years that he's a double-digit [scorer], a starter, a heavy-minute rotation player and has contributed on a winning situation, you might think about it." Riley said.

But that is really all the Heat can do - think about it. They have very little possibility for pulling off a deal. Sure Mo Williams loves Miami and sure it would make sense for him to play with Wade and Shaq; but it doesn't make the right kind of "cents". If Milwaukee ups the pot by a few million, it would offset any benefits of getting the entire MLE in the state of Florida (with no state income tax) for Mo.

Simply put, Mo wants mo'. And the Heat cannot offer it.

Some would argue that Riley's mid-night recruiting of Mo Williams was a mistake. Although it went well, the Heat never really had too much of a chance to sign Mo and in fact, that trip could be used as leverage for Milwaukee to up their pay - which puts Mo further out of reach for the Heat.

Right now, the Heat are secretly hoping the Bucks are more concerned with Yi Jianlian, their draft pick who is trying to get traded, so they can sneak Mo Williams onto the Heat's roster.

Although this is to be expected, you want your team president/GM to take every opportunity to better the team, one has to be concerned that there is not proper attention being paid to the solutions that are available.

The Heat need a point guard and they will need a small forward to replace James Posey as well as Jason Kapono. There are options available. And just as a guy like Theo Papaloukas was a possibility, many predicted - rightly - that he was never a real possibility to play in the NBA and that he was just using interest in the NBA to drive up his pay. Mo Williams is looking to do the same thing here and Riley would be better spent trying to identify the solutions that are available and are not long shots - before those options have dried up and are no longer possibilities.

It is reported that Ime Udoka has an offer on the table for 3 years for $12M. Even at $4M per season, he is still cheaper than James Posey would be over that time span - and arguably just as effective if not more so.

Both the Lakers and the Heat are the favorites to sign point guard free agent, and Hollywood native, Steve Blake - and both are not willing to give the entire MLE to pull it off. That is something the Heat are getting right - but they better make up their mind.

Either Mo or nothing. Or Blake and someone else.

The Heat have 6 roster spots up for grabs. Daequan Cook looks to have one of them wrapped up and Wayne Simien, already under contract, could have another one. That leaves 4. There are a couple of options on the Summer League roster that could surprise and get invites to training camp.

Outside of that, the Heat look very unwilling to find other options. No trade leads, no serious free agent signings.

Did Riley swallow the bait and just out-maneuver himself by entertaining Mo Williams? It sure seems so. Meanwhile, he hasn't seem to pay enough attention to options that are on the table - at this point.

Why not put in the effort to convincing a guy like Trajan Langdon to come practice with the Heat? Or another European free agent like 6'5" PG Dimitrios Diamantidis, or 6'4" PG Terrell Everett - who was exiled to Europe because of marijuana charges.

Again, everything could change come July 11th. It just doesn't seem like it will as Riley seems to have the same old mentality about getting NBA veterans. Going for him, however, is the old Anthony Mason/John Starks/Udonis Haslem history. Looks like the Heat's chances will be left to the talents found within the Summer League then?

Will that be enough to convince Zo to return?

Riley Needs to Make Changes

Offseason is going poorly

Now, it is not time to panic - that would be July 12th when all the free agents have been snatched up. Still, this offseason for us Heat fans has not been going well at all.

First we have regressed. No matter how you slice it, losing Jason Kapono is subtraction to a team with very little to bring to the equation to begin with. The Heat were not going to be able to re-sign him, but getting their plans of sign-and-trade snatched out from under them hurt.

Then there is the pace at which negotiations with James Posey are going. There was talk of pulling off a sign-and-trade with him, and Posey's agent has admitted as much. Yet, it doesn't look like anything s developing on that front as Riley, addressing the media yesterday at the start of Summer League practices, suggested that the Heat are not in a position to move Posey as planned. Also, Riley told the media that the Heat's need for a point guard is getting blown out of proportion.

I would agree with that if the plan was to make Wade the starting point guard and plug in a shooting guard who could defend and play off of Wade. Yet, that option doesn't seem to be being explored.

It could be the reason why the Heat opted to draft Daequan Cook, as we have suggested here before, or even why a guy like Trey Johnson was brought into camp (2nd leading scorer in NCAA this season).

Despite all of this, it is simply trying to formulate reason out of the chaos; Heat fans right now are left trying to attach meaning to the actions of the front office and it is like grabbing at straws.

There are options in place the Heat should be exploring - namely trying to sign a SF that can be affordable and could start, like Ime Udoka, Jumaine Jones or even Travis Outlaw. After all, the Blazers can't have a 20 man roster, at least last I checked.

The Heat don't have to make an impact the way teams like Orlando or the Lakers do, they just have to shore up their roster and fit it with guys who can complement Wade and Shaq. Riley talked about not paying too much for a player, not using the entire MLE and trying to stay within the strict boundaries dictated by the "value" label and Riley also talked about acquiring a player that could create his own shot.

Well, something has to give. Or rather, someone.

The Heat are not going to find a guy who can create his own shot and be an effective third scoring option unless they get extremely lucky. They could take a shot at landing Juan Carlos Navarro, one of the best point guards in the world and a guy who can shoot and run the point. All that would take is convincing the Wizards to give up his rights to a division rival. Or they could work out a deal for Mo Williams, which would require both the Heat and the Bucks to work out a sign-and-trade.

In other words, there are options, but most of them are long shots. What Riley has to do is build a team with players that fit a particular identity. It doesn't seem evident, however, that Riley has figured out that identity short of saying it needs to be able to beat the Bulls and not shoot so many threes. Well, it shouldn't shoot so many bad three point attempts; not shooting threes would be a bit of a mistake considering the amount of space given to shooters by Shaq and Wade. Just ask Jason Kapono (and ask him again in three months how effective his game is).

This could all change on July 12th, too. The Heat may have already made a deal and are playing dumb so that they can line up something else. We all hope so, because right now it is looking like this team is going to have the challenge of trying to get out of the East for another championship with a team that is older and losing players like Posey and Kapono. And if that is the case, they will most definetly lose Zo, too.

Summer League Heating Up

Looks like the Summer League for the Heat is going to be a crucial part of the Heat's offseason plans. Short of pulling off a miracle sign-and-trade, the Heat are most likely going to add talent to their roster via the guys they bring in. One of those guys is going to be Daequan Cook, who is starting to be expected to have more of a role on this team than previously thought.

Vincent Grier and Chris Quinn return. Wayne Simien was supposed to, but he blew out his knee and will be out 4-6 weeks.

Keep an eye on Trey Johnson. He is looking like at worst a Daequan Cook clone - a sleek shooter with teh ability to score from all over the floor. He is athletic and can defend but he has more experience at the college level and a more proven game at this point.

Let's get started.

Further Reading:
Heat Summer League Roster
Summer League Practice Part I
Summer League Practice Part II

Add Joel Anthony and Jeremy Richardson

...to the Heat's flurry of signings. Taken from the Heat's official site:

MIAMI, July 5 – The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed center Joel Anthony, guard Jeremy Richardson and forward Marcus Slaughter. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Anthony (6-9, 240-pounds), appeared in 68 games (nine starts) in two seasons for the University of Nevada (Las Vegas) after transferring from Pensacola Junior College. During his senior season, Anthony appeared in 37 games (six starts) for UNLV and averaged 5.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks while shooting 59.7 percent from the field. He was named as the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year after setting an MWC record for most blocks in a game with 13 vs. TCU on Feb. 6, 2007. Anthony finished his collegiate career second in school history for total blocks during a single-season with 109.

Richardson (6-7, 190-pounds), appeared in six NBA regular season games, five with the Atlanta Hawks and one with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2006-07 campaign, and averaged 1.3 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.17 steals and 3.7 minutes while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three-point range. During his stint in the NBA Development League, Richardson appeared in 33 games (30 starts) for the Fort Worth Flyers after being drafted with the ninth pick of the second round in the 2006 NBA Development League Draft and averaged 17.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 30.8 minutes while shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 81.9 percent from the foul line. While at Delta State University during his senior and junior seasons, after transferring from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, he appeared in 61 games (60 starts) for the Statesmen and averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.15 steals. Richardson finished fifth all-time in school history in three-point field goals made (120) and ranks 14th on the all-time scoring list with 1,001 points.

Slaughter (6-8, 223-pounds), appeared in 29 games with Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir of the Turkish League during the 2006-07 season and averaged 13.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.30 steals and 1.3 assists while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. Slaughter was named to the Eurobasket.com Turkish League All-Defensive Team and to the Eurobasket.com Turkish League Second Team. After being selected to play in the Turkish League All-Star Game, Slaughter was named as the All-Star Game MVP after posting 18 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 17 minutes while shooting 9-of-10 from the field. Marcus also placed second in the Turkish League All-Star Game dunk contest. After three seasons at San Diego State University, Slaughter went un-drafted after becoming an early entry candidate in the 2006 NBA Draft. In his collegiate career, he appeared in 87 games (74 starts) and averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.23 steals while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Slaughter finished third all-time in school history in rebounds (775), sixth all-time in school history in blocks (78) and 10th as the Aztecs all-time scoring leader (1,211).

Heat.com

Looks like the rebuild continues. Rather, re-load.

Anthony looks like a tough defender with some athleticism. Great shot blocker and post defender, offense needs improvement but can certainly dunk and play physical. Check it out for yourself:



Richardson looks like a scorer that can play at the SF position, good shooter. Very young still, but has seen time in the NBA and NBDL. Got some potential.

Marcus Slaughter Signs with Heat

6'9" 220lb ex San Diego State Aztec turned Turkish league baller, Marcus Slaughter signed a contract with the Miami Heat that could be worth two years if he makes the team. The deadline for that possibility is August 21st.

The rangy, athletic forward is being asked to "run, play defense and rebound". With his length and athleticism, and knack for finishing around the basket, he can easily do this. An area for improvement will be his outside game; he has a solid mid-range jumper but scouts don't trust him outside of 12 feet.

This is a very good move for Miami as they get more athletic at the swing position and gaing a perimeter defender - and it might not cost them much at all and could be huge value if Slaughter can contribute. All of a sudden, that Summer League team in Orlando is looking interesting with Slaughter and Trey Johnson on the roster.

Juan Carlos Navarro?

You probably don't know who he is, but you really should. He is arguably the best point guard in Europe, and one of the better ones in the world.

And he could be playing for the Miami Heat.

Juan Carlos Navarro has had a dream to play in the NBA - and his European ballclub FC Barcelona has made that a possibility a reality by releasing him from his contract. The Washington Wizards, who control his NBA rights, are apparently working out a deal with the Miami Heat that could send James Posey to the Wizards for Carlos Navarro. (Hope your Spanish is up to snuff):

Los Wizards habían mantenido contactos con el jugador, pero como mucho estaban dispuestos a abonar unos 500.000 dólares al Barcelona. También el verano pasado, Miami Heat se interesó por los servicios de Navarro, aunque en ningún caso se llegó a un acuerdo, debido a la situación contractual del jugador.

This would be a coup for the Heat as they acquire the 6'3" 27 year old Spaniard. He is an excellent scorer and ballhandler, and has played against some of the best competition in the world and helped Spain make some noise last summer in the FIBA worlds.

Also, keep an eye on the Grizzlies as Pau Gasol is good friends with Carlos Navarro.

Further Reading:
DraftExpress scouting report
DraftExpress Interiew 5/07

Free Agent Watch: Best Options for Miami Heat

With all the talk about landing big name free agents circulating in relation to the Miami Heat, I wanted to take a second and remind everyone that the likelihood of it happening is very very small.

The Heat have virtually no wiggle room due to big ticket items like Dwyane Wade (12.5M) and Shaq (20M) and are forced into finding more cost effective alternatives due to their financial constraints.

The Heat have a payroll for the upcoming season that is estimated to cost $64M for 9 players - the most attractive assets are Jason Williams and his 8.9M expiring deal and possibly James Posey's sign-and-trade potential as the Heat can offer him a better deal than his new team could and there is expected to be competition for his services. The Heat, realistically, cannot match offers from other teams to keep Posey (yet, as this article will show they really shouldn't anyway).

The rest:

Antoine Walker has 2 years at 8.5M with a team option in 2009-2010
Udonis Haslem has 3 more years at 6M rising to 7M in 2009-2010
Micheal Doleac is in his final year at 3.1M
Zo is in his final year at 2.7M but it is only speculated that he is returning
Dorell Wright is in his final year at 1.7M but Heat can match offers next season
Wayne Simien will make 997K with a team option for 1.8M next season

Now, owner Mickey Arison has stated he will pay luxury tax dollars for a player that is worth it - so that is the main reason for public speculation about the Heat acquiring another big name. Yet the reality is, there are teams with slightly more to offer and the chances for the Heat are not as good as some in the media might dare to portray.

Yet, there is plenty of hope left for the Heat to re-tool their lineup. In fact, the options that are out there can be much more enticing.

I am going to outline a couple of unrestricted free agent options that could immediately help this team get better and deepen its talent pool in the areas it needs help. What are those areas? Good question, and a great place to start.

Let's play GM:

Point Guard.

The Heat need point guard depth as Gary Payton is retiring (not official yet...but 99% chance he does not return with the Heat), Jason Williams has question marks over each knee and Chris Quinn is solid, but not proven enough to build with.

Options.

- Steve Blake. He is a hometown kid with a pass first mentality and his motor runs but never blows a gasket out there. He knows his limits and plays safe, smart basketball. He has pretty good handles, can penetrate and can stick the open three. Not going to offer too much defensively, but for the price would be a much more valuable alternative to Jason Williams. As such, would free up the Heat to deal Williams and his expiring contract.

- Jason Hart. Despite being 31, has a lot of minutes still in him, but just needs a place to play. A very good defender for his position, not a huge scorer but a solid passer and can shoot the open three - the only question is can he knock it down consistently? Can run an offense and do what is asked and for the price, could be another valuable alternative to Gary Payton - may only take the veteran minimum depending on the market.

- Brevin Knight. Probably the best defender at his position on the market, but concerns about his durability is what got him on the open market in the first place. Basically, he's fragile, but when he is healthy he is one of the better floor generals and playmakers at his position. Great assist man and offers low turnovers. Can't shoot to save his life, but can get to the rim and create. Not a scorer, but has his nights. Could be had for the veteran minimum and could start on the Heat because Wade will do most of the heavy lifting on offense and Knight could hold it down defensively.

- Jannero Pargo. Another rangy guard that has great quickness and athleticism, but needs a place to play. He can shoot the three and can run an offense; defensively he can get busy while bouncing in and out of lanes and has the physical tools to guard his man. May cost a little bit more because he has a perceived potential that could result in a higher ceiling of the guards available. Like Blake, may be looking for the entire MLE (mid-level exception worth about $5.6M).

Small Foward.

The Heat have another hole forming at small forward due to the free agent status of James Posey and the now-departed Jason Kapono. The Heat at least have Dorell Wright, a building piece in that spot, and can play Antoine Walker at the small forward position (where he started, incidentally, for the championship team in 2006) although it isn't recommended.

Options.

- Ime Udoka. Very good perimeter defender as well as solid shooter: he can hit the three, he can hit his free throws and he won't try to do too much on offense. An excellent candidate to replace James Posey and he will do so at a much cheaper price (made 744K last season). Starter caliber SF with excellent defense and spot up shooting as well as tough and physical and will battle for loose balls and rebounds. His age (turning 30) could price him down which makes him a bargain for the cash-strapped Heat. Only 3 years as a pro in the NBA which means, like Hart, has a lot of game left in his legs at this point.

- Jumaine Jones. Another tough perimeter defender that could lock down the SF position but has a little more experience scoring the ball with other teams. Actually younger than Udoka, but has more experience in the NBA. Just a very good and solid all around game, he also can replace Posey at a fraction of the cost - only made 744K last season as well.

- Devean George. This guy always seems like he has more potential, extremely gifted athlete and can defend at SF, PF and even SG. Has a nice shooting touch and can score the ball from time to time and will have his break out games as well. Has experience and has played with Shaq back in his Laker days. Might cost a bit more than Udoka and Jones, however, as he has had a more consistent NBA career. Opted out of a guaranteed $2M contract for next season, so not as much value especially considering his disappointing performance last season with the Mavs.

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Not only would these options answer questions for the Heat and address needs, they would also offer a strong package of complementary pieces that could build around Wade and Shaq for the next three years. Each player listed should be signed using the MLE and the only ones looking to use the entire MLE are Blake and possibly Pargo.

Signing these players also frees the Heat up to move other pieces and contracts that are on the books. For example, finding a replacement for Jason Williams allows the Heat to deal Williams; finding a replacement for James Posey allows the Heat to deal Pose. What this means is the Heat could sign-and-trade Posey, coupled with Williams' expiring contract, and get back a bigger piece to obtain that third scoring option they so badly need. This does not require the Heat to deal Udonis Haslem or Antoine Walker, which they also cold do provided they get back a PF in the deal to account for Haslem's loss - such a PF does not have to be an all-world talent, instead he just has to rebound and help spread the floor. It is debatable at this time if Simien could do this himself, although it remains a very good possibility.

The Heat don't have to rebuild, just reload. They can do this affordably given the options on the market but it would be advisable that they move quickly as teams are looking to make that quick deal in the beginning of the free agent period so that teams don't have a chance to sign-and-trade with their own free agents.

Free Agent Watch: Rashard Lewis Performing Magic

Looks like the Heat won't be getting Rashard Lewis in a Heat jersey anytime soon. As some of the south Florida media kept insisting that Miami was a player in the Lewis sweeps, it just looks like they were getting played. The Magic had the space available to get Lewis the contract he wants (around 10M per annum).

The NBA's most sought-after free agent is going to the Magic Kingdom.

Rashard Lewis has given the Orlando Magic a verbal commitment to leave the Seattle SuperSonics and sign a max contract on July 11, according to NBA front-office sources.

That's the first day free agents are allowed to officially sign new contracts.

Unless a sign-and-trade arrangement is worked out with Lewis' old team or unless it can otherwise shed payroll between now and July 11, Orlando will have to renounce the rights to restricted free agent Darko Milicic to create the salary-cap space needed to sign Lewis to a deal believed to be in the $15 million-a-year range.

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However, if the Magic have to part with Milicic, there could be something there for the Heat. Maybe the Heat can pull off something for Milicic, or get involved with the Magic in order to orchestrate a sign-and-trade in order for the Magic to get something for Milicic while the Heat get a little something for themselves.

Firestarter: Why not Walter Hermann?

Apparently there is some league interest in Walter Hermann, the Argentinian forward that caught on with the Bobcats last season. Here's why - the 6'9" 225lb forward shot .461 from three point range in 48 games last season. It was his rookie season.

Hermann also displayed the ability to rebound, block shots, and play physical as well as score from anywhere on the floor. In 19.5 minutes per game last season, Hermann scored 9.2 points per contest on .527 shooting from the floor.

Why is this talent available? He is a restricted free agent, which means the Bobcats can match any offer. But the Bobcats have bigger cats to skin; Gerald Wallace is a free agent and the newly acquired Jason Richardson is going to put a dent in their pocketbook (4 years at 11M, 12M, 13M, and 14M following). If they are going to re-sign Wallace, they are going to have to put a similar deal on the table.

The Bobcats are in pretty good shape capwise, coming in at around $35M as of right now with 12 players signed. That leaves roughly 20-25M to play with.

So they don't necessarily need to hold onto Hermann - nor do they need to deal him. They may, however, want to add some players to shore up their talent pool and do have needs at PG (they released Knight) and SF (they plan on re-signing Wallace) and center.

Michael Doleac, who is in the final year of his contract with the Heat, could be a possibility. The Bobcats could use some depth behind Primoz Brezec and Doleac offers just that and very little in the way of commitment. Hermann has a team option on the table at 1.9M., so the Heat could eat up some of Doleac's salary to make it more lucrative for the Bobcats.

However it gets done, the Heat could benefit from adding a talent like Hermann for several reasons - the Heat aren't looking to get younger and more athletic, they are looking for more diversity from their talent pool so they can favor matchups in the playoffs. The #1 reason why Miami lost to Chicago, apathy and poor work ethic aside, was because the Heat couldn't adapt to the matchups. Hermann gives the Heat a player that could play SF or PF, can shoot it outside or catch it in the post. He can create space as well as benefit from having defenders give him space while being occupied with Wade or Shaq. He is an intense competitor as well as a smart basketball player.

He might be had at the right price, and for the Heat with their cap issues, it could be a perfect solution. Now, you just have to convince the Bobcats to make that deal within their own division.

Kapono A No No

Goodbye, Kap'n Kapono. We'll miss your deft three point shooting, your jokes, and your golf game.

Jason Kapono just inked (well, not officially as the moratorium on signing free agents won't be lifted until July 11th) a deal with the Toronto Raptors for a reportedly $24M over 4 years. That will take care of his student loans.

Pat Riley foretold the Heat would be losing James Posey and/or Jason Kapono, the two Heat free agents that matter, this offseason. The fact that the Raptors swooped in early only demonstrates that they wanted to sign him before the Heat could use Kapono in a sign-and-trade and force Toronto out. Is the Kap'n worth $6M per annum? Not likely. He is an excellent outside shooter with surprisingly "effective" defense. The fact of the matter is the Heat spotted talent and made it work. So kudos to the Heat staff and kudos to J-Kap for taking advantage of the situation and getting paid.