Artest and Bibby or Pietrus and Stoudemire?

First of all, Happy New Year everyone - here's to 2008 and goodbye to 2007. For the Heat, 2007 was a horrible year, going 39-48 during the calendar. Hopefully things change.

But don't be foolish and expect things to change just because the 7 was replaced by an 8. Keeping the same players around and expecting a different result is just moronic. Riley must know this and that is why there will be a deal sooner rather than later. If not, they will continue to spiral downward and the season will be lost.

So what possibilities are there? Well, Mickeal Pietrus remains a strong possibility to be dealt - that is, if we can believe his agent. They are pushing for a deal so that Pietrus can get the playing time he needs in order to score a big contract. He has commented on playing "closer to the West Indies" which is a very obvious way of saying Miami. Miami continues to show interest.

Then there is another option slowly churning in the background - Damon Stoudemire. The Grizzlies, loaded with PGs (Juan Carlos Navarro, Kyle Lowery, Mike Conley and Damon Stoudemire) are looking to shore up the rotation. They have committed to Conley (6th pick in the draft) and it seems sensible to move Stoudemire's contract although it is not certain they are trying to free up cap space (speculation about trading for Mike Miller has several teams tossed around including Miami). Golden State may attempt to land Stoudemire as a backup PG, which would undercut Miami's bid to land Pietrus and to trade for Stoudemire, a player Riley has shown interest in the past (plus the fact that the Heat have been able to work out trades with the Grizzlies in the past).

The other possibility, which is much more positive, is a trade with the Kings to get Artest, Bibby and possibly even Kenny Thomas. The Heat have been interested in this move for some time, and it seems that the Kings might actually start becoming more amicable to a deal with Artest getting bone chips removed and possibly missing a few weeks. With Beno Udrih, Bibby is not needed and Kenny Thomas does not get any playing time for new coach Reggie Theus. This deal would have to start with expiring contracts - the likes of Ricky Davis and Jason Williams. The Heat might even have to toss in a Udonis Haslem or even a Dorell Wright.

This is why I would pull the Kings trade before all others - it would make the Heat matter again instantly. They would get two excellent scoring options in Artest and Bibby who can play off of Wade or even help set things up for Shaq. But in Kenny Thomas they get a hard-nosed player who can slide in at PF and start if UD left. You have a starting five right there that could really make it interesting for the Heat in the second half.

If there is a deal looming, we will find out sooner rather than later. If Riley wants to save this season, it will have to be now. If not, no deal will be made and the season will be surrendered and scrapped for next year when the 8 changes into a 9.