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.

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.