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.

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.

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.