Riley Almost Pulled off a Big Deal

This is coming from the Horshoes and Handgrenades file. Because almost doesn't count.

Maybe it is his defense facing criticism, which is well-deserved, over failing to pull off a trade with expiring assets at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, Riley mentioned what sounds like a very good trade that should illustrate two things - both good and bad - about the Heat.

1. Riley is making an identity change and shifting this team into a future with a more diverse, up-tempo, perimeter based offense
2. The Heat don't have a whole lot of attractive assets to make a deal to help themselves out

Don't even get me started on the financial deadend they are at thanks to the NBA salary structure.

Riley almost pulled off a trade for Mike Miller with the Memphis Grizzlies. It was even rumored that Kyle Lowry was going to be included in that deal or even Brian Cardinal. So was Jason Collins. In the end, Riley said the Heat would have been taking on too much salary to make that deal happen, which to me seems almost redundant because you would be acquiring players that could give you a stable core for the future. You could always find a way to jettison the bad contracts later.

With Jason Williams and Ricky Davis, you have expiring assets. Their value is now practically zero because they do not produce very well on the court and their value was tied to their expiring contracts. And if Riley thinks he can pull off a sign and trade with those players this offseason, all one has to do is point back to this past offseason where Riley failed to do that with either James Posey and Jason Kapono, two players the Heat desperately miss. Which means, they actually had perceived value while Jason Williams and Ricky Davis do not.

So, Riley saying he couldn't get the Grizzlies to reveal their dream deal really sounds like he wasn't getting his dream deal. Perhaps Riley protest too much. But if he had pulled off a deal for Mike Miller and even Kyle Lowry, it would have set up the Heat to get back into the playoffs for next season.

It also illustrates just how far away Miami is from getting back to the postseason.

Nothing to Report

Miami didn't make a move at the deadline.

That is nothing to report - yet, we find ourselves reporting something.

Riley didn't pull off any more trades but instead stood Pat. I am not getting this.

Miami has very little financial flexibility even with Jason Williams and Ricky Davis coming off the books this summer because they are way over the cap. That is why dealing for Marion was a good thing in the sense that it allows Miami to be free of that contract that Shaq was holding over the Heat for another 2 more seasons.

Still, this has to be an illustration of how bad the NBA's financial situation is. They have money - they generate lots of money. But to have your salary cap at a paltry $58M (after this season) is ridiculous. You can't even afford gas at that cost.

I think the Heat missed out on an opportunity to really overhaul and reload. Sure, they will most likely get a good pick in this summer's draft but they won't have much else to work with in terms of improving the roster.

Eddy Curry Not on Heat Radar

There is a hot rumor that Riley is pulling the trigger on a three team deal that will send Eddy Curry to the Heat, Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to New Jersey and Vince Carter to the Knicks.

There are also reports that Riley is refusing any interest in Eddy Curry. Or even a wish that the Heat deal Williams straight up for Curry.



I think Curry would give the Heat a foundation for a half court attack - which anyone in the Association worth a damn will tell you a team needs in order to win a championship. And let's face it, to keep Wade the Heat have to compete for titles.

Marion and Wade could be the focus of the new, up-tempo offense. But they are going to have to find ways to score in half court sets, too. Curry, interestingly, gives the Heat the kind of numbers they got from Shaq (.549 FG%, 9.56 FTAs per 48 mins) but at half the price.

Curry is scheduled to make:

8.9 this season
9.7 next season
10.5 and 11.2 the following 2 seasons - but those are both player options.

Hey, he's only 26 and a change of scenery would do him some good. But a deal straight up for Jason Williams would make big sense for Miami. Still, the Heat have options to play with - but I still contend it begins with trading Haslem and with Kurt Thomas being traded to the Spurs, Haslem may have just got a bit more attractive to Orlando.

Discuss with us.

Jermaine O'neal Next?

The Heat, in all likelihood, are not done dealing.

There are rumors for Mike Miller of the Grizzlies. There are still valuable pieces like Jason Williams and Ricky Davis out there to be taken (their expiring contracts would get a team off the hook of a big contract).

Then there is another option: Jermaine O'neal.

Tons of speculation has been passed around the internet as to where O'neal's next destination would be - as he currently rehabs his left knee. An apparent deal with the Nets (who are dealing everyone these days) is being left for dead due to concerns over O'neal's knee and his $44.3M contract owed him over the next 2 seasons.

Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel has tossed out the idea of the Heat trading for Jermaine O'neal, but there doesn't seem to be much likelihood of that considering the Heat's financial situation - they have some flexibility, but why would they deal for a $44M contract when they just shed a $40M deal owed to another of the O'neal clan?

Join in the discussion.

Shaq Deal Done

So it is a done deal.

Shaq is gone. Apparently, pending a physical, the relationship between Riley and Shaq has strained so much that a deal was needed. That and the Heat would be wise to part ways with that $20 million white elephant contract.

Let's not get into whether or not this deal makes sense for Phoenix. As a Heat fan, who cares? This deal makes a ton of sense for Miami.

Shawn Marion is in the final year of his contract - he has a player option on the table for next season at $17M. Maybe he doesn't like playing in Miami and opts out. Maybe he does and keeps it. The Heat, however, drop Shaq's $20M albatross off the books which was scheduled for two more seasons after this one. Regardless of how Marion performs, this deal helps the Heat financially. Tremendous.

Marcus Banks is on the books for three more seasons around $13M total (4.2, 4.5, 4.7 respectively). If he can push this into a starting role, then it could be a valuable signing for the Heat. Well, trade, I mean.

Shaq's game has diminished. Or has it? If he passes the physical, then he is in playing shape. If he suits up immediately for the Suns, then it would be fair to say he shut it down for the Heat. Which his "people" have leaked he should do. Seems like Shaq was doing just that.


At the heart of this matter is the feud that may not be publicized. There has been observations that there is a feud between the two and this latest deal might be validation. Shaq was untradeable previously - then again, so was Marion. But given the rumors of feuds between Shaq and Riley - Riley telling Shaq to get off the court during a practice - this hurts the Heat franchise in another way.

It cost us Stan Van Gundy.

It cost us Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant.

That 2003-2004 team, coached by Stan Van Gundy, may have had enough talent to win a championship. And they would still be talented enough to challenge for it today. They all liked playing in Miami. Caron Butler even named his daughter "Mia" after MIAmi.

Dwyane Wade, working in concert with Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and even Rafer Alston, may have been something to fear. We paid for that with the Shaq trade, which instantly put the Heat on the NBA map among the best franchises. A championship banner hangs atop of the AAA.

And here it is. Shaq leaves, with things busted in his wake. The warnings came from fans in LA. They said we would live to regret this deal, and although regret is still a far emotion away, Heat fans should not like the way the tenure of the Diesel fell apart.

And now the feud will be made public because the trade is going to go through. If not, then we got an even bigger mess to clean up.

Good bye Shaq. Hello Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Now, will we improve too much to not grab the top spot in the draft?

Shaq Traded?

Given the cost of fuel these days, it is no wonder that the Heat are trading away their main fuel source. After all, there isn't any heat being generated and it has a lot to do with their Diesel drying up.

In what is shaping up to be a trade deadline blockbuster deal, Miami could be sending Shaq to Phoenix to help the Suns get past the Spurs. The Miami Herald is reporting that the Heat would be getting back Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, a point guard that Riley had his eyes on a few seasons ago.

If the rumors are true, Miami just turned things around financially. This would be a tremendous lift for the franchise. Shawn Marion can opt out of his contract after this season, saving the Heat $17.1M and paving the way for the Heat to sign whatever marquee free agent they wanted. Couple that with what is looking like one of the top picks in this year's draft, and the Heat could face an immediate turnaround.

Until this deal is finalized, if there is a deal in place, we at MiamiHeatwave.com do not wish to speculate. So, stay tuned...

Shaq Being Shopped?

Nothing to see here...move along...

This is what it feels like these days. Some on the boards have started questioning this about a month ago. But where there's smoke...there is some heat? Because this team lacks fire.

Still, everyone is talking about what is NOT going on. Interesting. So Riley isn't shopping Shaq we are assured. That's funny because moving a contract like Shaq's now would be very hard to do. Then again, they said the same thing about Antoine Walker's deal and the Heat not only moved his contract off the books, but also upgraded with the acquisitions of Ricky Davis and Mark Blount (which forced us to part ways with Michael Doleac and Wayne Simien).

Could the Heat pull off something similar? Not likely, unless Mark Cuban wants to gamble. And frankly, that would make sense because that team is not going to win anything unless it gets mentally tougher. Shaq at least brings a massive ego and a confidence that champions need. Funny though how the Mavs' beat writers seem to be talking a lot of trash about the Heat these days - they and their how many championships? And they have even speculated about trading for Shaq which would help them in their search for a trophy.

Still, a deal to trade Shaq isn't happening because Pat Riley said so. Right Pat? Just like SVG was going to be coaching this team for quite a while and you were done coaching.

But here is what is positive about this - a statement. Riley has said "There's going to be a time when he's going to have to play with it. He's going to have to deal with it in the future and fight through it." That means Riley is calling Shaq out. As I have dubbed him, Whaq, his 250K per game price tag is just too much to ignore. He has his money, now it is time to produce. The Heat have held up their end of the bargain, Shaq needs to do his.

Join the discussion.