Juan Carlos Navarro and Eddie Jones Escape

Any potential deal for Juan Carlos Navarro is all but dead and now Eddie Jones has left the building, once again. The Heat continue to be off in the offseason as it seems.

Coming into the offseason, the Heat needed to address two major areas - point guard depth and small forward depth. The Heat needed to get more athletic and dynamic, seeing as the Bulls were able to pick apart Miami's defense and steal pretty much every matchup at will.

With the signing of Smush Parker, the Heat did meet those requirements even if the signing is practically unheralded. With the Heat being strapped financially, most likely any deal of significance would come via a trade. Juan Carlos Navarro was one such target, but it never emerged.

I have to disagree with Ira Winderman about Juan Carlos Navarro. He would have been an excellent pickup for the Heat to play alongside Wade. What the Heat need is not a point guard - that is just an archaic title that doesn't apply to NBA players in today's game. Navarro is a combo guard; he can shoot, he can pass and create, he can run the offense or sit back and be a complimentary player in that he can stick the open shot and work the floor. Basically, Navarro is what the Heat need from Jason Williams - and he's young (27) and has plenty of hard core international experience, some of it against Team USA. That is, until the championship rounds where the American teams have not made it.

Navarro would have been an excellent complementary player for Wade and Shaq, spreading the floor and taking over ball-handling duties as well as being able to be marketed to the South Florida Spanish-speaking crowd. Sure he wouldn't play lock down defense, but that is what Smush is for in the first place - to be Gary's replacement off the bench.

However, the Wizards were asking a lot and the Heat's first round pick would have been very similar to the Grizzlies offer and it wouldn't necessitate the Wizz to deal within their own division. Yes, I think Navarro is going to be an excellent NBA player - he has the skill set to score and create on offense. So it would be wise for the Wizards to not risk getting torched by the guy they traded away.

But let's hope that is the reason why Navarro slipped through the Heat's fingers. Pat Riley did go all the way to Spain to meet with Navarro to see if he was interested in playing in Miami. Turns out it was a trip for the tapas and a hangout with Woody Allen, too (who was also in Spain and met up with Navarro - I have no idea why). Because the Heat missed out on Mo Williams due to money, and Francis due to his desire to play in Houston. Let's hope Navarro isn't going elsewhere because Riley couldn't muscle up to the table.

As for Eddie Jones, this is a blow in terms of depth potential. Realistically, EJ would be a perimeter defender off the bench and shouldn't offer too much more. He would have basically slipped into the Shandon Anderson role, but EJ could drop some buckets on opponents when needed. Still, one can help but feel that the Heat did not miss out here - Riley would have most likely been overly dependent on EJ and would have given him tons of PT instead of focusing on getting Wright those crucial minutes. Also, the last time EJ was on the Heat before, they missed going to the Finals and exited early (ECF in 2004-2005). Maybe he is the black curse for the Heat.

Well, it's a thought.

There are potential replacements for both targets, however, and maybe this is the true message: the Heat may not have valued Navarro anymore than they value Sarunas Jasikevicius. He is about to be let go by the Warriors and maybe the Heat really do know the market.

Same goes for EJ - why re-sign him when they could get younger and more athletic by way of a Dahntay Jones? Or perhaps Jumaine Jones? All have the same brand-name last name...

Eventhough it is tempting for us Heat fans to get down on these latest moves, or lack thereof, we also should be mindful that there are plenty of other options still remaining and the Heat are just biding their time until they can find what they want at the price they want.

Kind of like a garage sale.

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.

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.

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.

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.