Devil May Care; Heat Don't

There is something very appalling about losing to a team by 20+ points. Then again, there is something even more sickening about losing to a team by 20+ points when you previously were beating them by 20+ points - in their own building.

And then, there is something just down-right disturbing about a team that goes through that, in the same game, and then doesn't seem to care about it.

Sure, Udonis Haslem, Shawn Marion, and others may care. But the rest of this team seems immune to it. Desensitized. Just another loss on the season - pile it on. Ho hum.

This might be the biggest challenge for Pat Riley to overcome as he pushes forward with the reclamation project.

Heat teams of the past had, what Riley refers to, as a culture of winning. Guys who knew how to win, expected to win, and would settle for nothing less than perfection. The biggest asset in this regard? Alonzo Mourning, who alone has exemplified the Riley era here in Miami. He was lost this season early on to knee injuries. Some suspected he was done, but in all honesty, because of the way he went out, he might actually want to come back.

Count that as a big blessing for Miami if he does. Because this team lacks a leader. Sure, Dwyane Wade is the star, the franchise. He has the commercials and the notability. And he no longer has to live under Shaq's shadow - which is quickly diminishing under the sun out in Phoenix. But Wade has to learn how to lead now. He has to go through the same maturation process most star players, on the verge of becoming great, must do. Kobe is showing you what that transition looks like on the other side coming out of the selfish, self-centered opposite end he once resided on. It split up Shaq and his tenure. Here in Miami, it is a much different circumstance.

Riley, as the architect, has to find a way to surround players that will compliment Wade's game. That process in underway. But another consideration must be to surround him with like-minded players; players who won't back away from a challenge but will fight and rise through it. Marion definitely is one. So is Haslem, although I still question his height. Who else on this roster would fit?

After this latest loss, it is disturbing to contemplate.

Yell at us.

Trading Udonis Haslem a Good Idea

His quiet demeanor and his cornrows are a contrast.

So his where Udonis Haslem came from and where he is now.

Just like his photos from his Gator days and his current Heat days.

The guy has changed so much and turned things around in a big way - all of it with hard work and dedication. Which is why, now more than ever, the Heat would not want to trade Udonis Haslem. But it is also why he is needed elsewhere.

Haslem makes a good salary with the Heat, but is not going to fit in with this team. Much like in 2003-2004 when the Heat had a young, run-and-gun core, there won't be much of a role for UD. Sure, his yeoman brand of basketball is refreshing, often drawing comparisons to Heat great Grant Long, but with the Heat's new offense heading in the direction it is - despite Riley's warnings - Udonis Haslem won't be able to help much.

The Heat need speed. They need players who are able to make quick decisions and score from anywhere on the floor. Haslem has the ability to hit an open jumper with regularity, but his offense is also limited to being in the right spot for someone to kick the ball to him. Other than that, he has to score on cleanups and hustle plays - the kinds of situations where Haslem will find less frequent without a giant center to dictate the orbit of everyone in the paint. With Shaq gone, Haslem's game will be exposed - he is undersized, lacks length and as the main rebounding threat for the Heat he could be easily neutralized.

Orlando, however, is looking for a power forward and this seems to make sense for both teams. Stan Van Gundy coached UD when he was coming up in the Heat's house and is familiar with his game and work ethic. He knows his game and as a result, SVG could be pushing for Haslem as a target. The Magic are poised to make a big step forward - they just need a missing ingredient to tie it all together and it is precisely the kind of thing Udonis could bring to the Magic. He is a champion and a hard worker. He will sacrifice for the good of his team and teammates and could be a quiet clubhouse leader on a team where he will be able to forge his own identity. Also, his game would compliment Dwight Howard's much the same way as it did Shaq's.

For the Heat, they could target Carlos Arroyo, JJ Redick, or even Pat Garrity. Arroyo and Garrity have contracts that expire after this season - which gives the Heat even more financial flexibility (to go out and sign...say, an Elton Brand?). Plus, they could even audition Arroyo, an FIU grad and Miami resident, for their future PG needs. Garrity would offer an expiring contract - nothing more.

Redick would be an interesting target and could offer the Heat a young and cheap shooter with big upside. Of course, Otis Smith, GM for the Magic, is saying he is not dealing Redick - but we've heard that kind of talk before. Redick would offer the Heat another young, brash shooter to go along with Daequan Cook.

Trading Udonis would be bitter sweet but necessary. These days, the entire city of Miami seems to be dealing with losing their fan favorites, but it is a sign of change. It is inevitable, although not an enviable situation. If Miami is able to trade Udonis Haslem for some expiring contracts, they could free up another $6M+ in salary that could be spent this summer. It just makes sense. Or cents.

By the way, add Ira Winderman to the growing list of people in support of dealing Haslem.

Tell us what you think.

Wade Drops 14 in All Star Game; Heat Need to Deal

With his tired old body, at age 26, Wade reached down and found a way to run with the youngins. Shooting 7/12 on the night, Wade had 14 points and a huge block that was one of the night's highlights.

"D-Wade had the unbelievable block," said Lebron James, who now has the highest All-Star Game scoring average of 24.7 per game, with Oscar Roberston second at 20.5. Which brings me to another point - 22 shots? What is with the ball hogging, Lebron? No one likes that aspect of the game. He played 30 minutes and jacked up 22 shots. Thank God he hit 12 of them because otherwise it looked like a Kobe performance - just trying to manipulate the stats for self-serving ends.

In the end, the East got the win over the West. They avenged last season's whoopin' where the West devastated the East 153-132 in Las Vegas.

Heat Need to Deal

Thursday's trade deadline is quickly approaching - but will it involve another Heat deal? It seems that it the Heat are going to make the most out of their expiring contracts, they better do it now. Jason Williams and Ricky Davis are clearly not going to be in the picture for the future of this franchise. And for Riley not to get anything in return for their expiring contracts would be a mistake.

The situation has to be right. The Heat have to get back a player they think they could develop or who just needs the right situation. Usually this means taking on a bloated contract. The Bibby deal to Atlanta was at one time something the Heat were aiming to do; must mean Riley didn't feel right about it as it is doubtful the Hawks put together a better package.

This means that Udonis Haslem or even Mark Blount could be brought into the equation also. Both players have digestable contracts, and could provide valuable depth to teams looking to get over the hump in the playoffs. Haslem, with Marion in house, is not going to be a necessary part of the equation for Miami's turnaround.

Could the Heat Trade for Jermaine O'neal?

Apparently, Jermaine O'neal wants out of Indy and a trip to LA. That's nice. But since we are speculating here, why not see if Miami could be a suitable option for the other O'neal?

The rumor is that the Lakers have been pushing for JLo, as I like to call him due to his incessant on-court whining, but have been only offering Andrew Bynum and Kwame Brown as integral parts of the deal. The Pacers want Odom, but the Lakers want to keep Lamar to integrate further into their triangle which is the crux of Phil Jackson's "genius" label, eventhough it comes from Tex Winters.

Can the Heat trump that deal? Possibly.

Jermaine O'neal is scheduled to make 19.7M, 21.3M and 22.9M over the next three years. That is pretty sizeable.

The Heat could counter with Jason Williams (8.9M) and Antoine Walker (8.5M) for a total of 17.4M.

This leaves the Heat about 2.3M short in the financial aspect of the deal. So, throw in Udonis Haslem (6.0M) and the Heat are roughly up 3.7M. The Pacers could counter with Jamaal Tinsley, who makes 6.3M this upcoming season: Heat would be -2.6M.

Now the Heat could counter with offering Dorell Wright (1.7M) or they could take one of the aforementioned players off the board (Udonis Haslem, or even Jason Williams or Antoine Walker) and instead use James Posey as a sign-and-trade to make the numbers stick.

The question remains, is this a more attractive offer for the Pacers than Bynum and Brown? It could be because they would be getting O'neal's contract off the books and getting solid value in return. Jason Williams would come off their books and free the Pacers up to spend roughly 8M more next season. They could also get Walker off the books via a buyout or ride it out one more season and get him off the books in 2008-2009. The Pacers would also get rid of Jamaal Tinsley's risky contract - he has 4 more years left (6.3M, 6.7M, 7.2M, and 7.5M) and with injury concerns.

For the Heat, it would be an interesting move that would generate some more buzz to counter the Boston trade for Kevin Garnett. The Heat would gain that legit third star they need to take pressure off of Shaq and Dwade and it might be enough to vault them back into championship contention immediately. The Heat would also gain a floor leader whose skill set would complement Wade and Shaq's much better - a strong defender who can handle the ball and move the offense. With Jermaine O'neal, the Heat wouldn't require Tinsley to score but he could stick the open shot when needed.

Ultimately, the Heat would give up:
Jason Williams
Antoine Walker
Udonis Haslem
Dorell Wright
and/or James Posey

and recieve from the Pacers in return:
Jermaine O'neal
Jamaal Tinsley

Of course, that is 4 or possibly 3 players that the Pacers would recieve in exchange for two and roster moves would have to be made to make room.

The real question is, why couldn't the Heat get involved in trade talks with the Pacers? Couldn't they offer just as much if not more than the Lakers? Would they be willing to do so? Would it cost the Heat too much down the road? The answer to that last question is not really. Sure, they would have three players with around a combined 55M payroll, but the contracts would last until Shaq's final season 2009-2010. Both O'neals would come off the books and Wade would have a player option in place should he choose to invoke it.

It's too much of a risk to not try and make that move. Especially as how much better the East has gotten this past offseason.

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.

The Open J: Sign PJ Brown?

The offseason is looking bleak for the Miami Heat, but there are still options available that could re-tool this team - as we have been stressing.

Another consideration, which may seem somewhat innovative and different, would be to get older.

The biggest problem for Miami last season was staying healthy: Shaq and Wade missed a combined 73 games last season. So it would seem getting older would only put the Heat more at risk of injury.

Yet, with very few financial tools as their disposal (as practically every team has the same tools to use at this time) the Heat have to meet the challenge of shoring up their roster in preparation of getting back on top. Orlando, Charlotte, even Washington and Atlanta have all improved their talent pools so winning the Southeastern division will be more of a challenge.

So, with all the retirees moving to South Florida, why not get one more? An old familiar face like PJ Brown.

Chicago power forward P.J. Brown remains available, but he reportedly favors a Florida team, the Magic or Heat, or possibly retirement. Arizona Central

It makes sense on many levels, not to mention continuing the trend of recycling ex-Heatians like Eddie Jones and Alonzo Mourning. What's one more?

More importantly, PJ Brown would still have a lot to offer this team. He brings a mental toughness that would agree with Zo, as well as a desire and intensity to win that would also complement Zo's. He can rebound, can still defend very well, and can stick that midrange jumper when needed. He would be a strong addition for a backup PF, and could even spend time at C if need be.



More importantly, he could be had for the veteran minimum $1.1M and would offer more incentive to deal Udonis Haslem to fill in at another place of need.

Sure, getting a guy who is almost 40 may seem like insanity. But this is a guy Riley can trust and he still has something to offer a team and he would get the chance to retire as a member of the Miami Heat. He could give you a solid 20 minutes a game and with the expected depth of this team, once the dust settles this offseason, he may not have to give you that much playing time and would serve as an excellent insurance policy - certainly a better option than Michael Doleac who could also be traded away as well.

The Open J: Trade Udonis Haslem

Look it is nothing personal. I love Udonis Haslem - his hustle, his grit, even his cornrows. You can keep the Gator history though (sorry, I'm a Nole). But right now, the way the market is and with the Heat trying to retool towards another championship, the time is nigh and every option needs to be explored.

Udonis Haslem is a valuable asset that is not irreplaceable. That means trade him.

It was nice for Udonis to come out in the papers yesterday and talk about how much he wants to stay in Miami and finish out his career, and also that he understands that this is a business. We would all like to keep you, if it wasn't for this darned lousy offense we have.

Udonis Haslem has a three year deal that will see him get paid 6M, 6.5M and 7.1M over that span. It's a solid deal that most teams would like to have on their rosters and he is only 27 years old. He can rebound, play defense both in the post and out on the wing, and can stick both the midrange jumper and his free throws. And he's a champion.

Irreplaceable? No.

Right now there are options on the open market that could fill in - Alexander Johnson, Melvin Ely and even Lawrence Roberts. Neither one of those options would create a hole, and even could upgrade the offense from the 4 position. Haslem is limited into a complementary role despite Riley's best efforts to try and free up Udonis - according to Riley, at least.

More pressing needs at the guard and small forward positions require the Heat to account for those needs as they are a higher priority. With limited salary options due to the cap and luxury tax cap, the Heat are faced with making a trade or two to fill those needs. Of all the assets on this roster, Udonis Haslem makes a lot of sense to deal because the market has similar talent available and at a fraction of the cost. Not to mention that dealing Jason Williams doesn't make sense because it would create a hole at PG and create more of a problem for Miami's goal of retooling the roster.

You never want to deal out of desperation.

Also, the Heat have options on the current roster that could fill-in for Haslem: Wayne Simien, Earl Barron and Antoine Walker. Sure Walker is streaky, but he can man the PF if you decided not to sign anyone and he could create matchup problems - however, he is best suited to coming off the bench. Wayne Simien has a similar skill set to Udonis, but is bigger (6'9"), longer (wingspan 7') and has better offensive moves - he just has to stay healthy. Then there is also Earl Barron, who has plenty of offense but questions remain whether or not he would be a good defender - for a center. Move him to PF and it could click as he would be able to guard PFs more easily as well as take them outside with his midrange game and outside shot.

The free agent market has options and the Heat have options on their current roster that they could use to replace Udonis Haslem. He is not irreplaceable and the Heat have more pressing needs elsewhere. Unfortunately, if the Heat are going to win again, they are going to have to be willing to surrender everything, even their own heart.

Free Agent Watch: Best Options for Miami Heat

With all the talk about landing big name free agents circulating in relation to the Miami Heat, I wanted to take a second and remind everyone that the likelihood of it happening is very very small.

The Heat have virtually no wiggle room due to big ticket items like Dwyane Wade (12.5M) and Shaq (20M) and are forced into finding more cost effective alternatives due to their financial constraints.

The Heat have a payroll for the upcoming season that is estimated to cost $64M for 9 players - the most attractive assets are Jason Williams and his 8.9M expiring deal and possibly James Posey's sign-and-trade potential as the Heat can offer him a better deal than his new team could and there is expected to be competition for his services. The Heat, realistically, cannot match offers from other teams to keep Posey (yet, as this article will show they really shouldn't anyway).

The rest:

Antoine Walker has 2 years at 8.5M with a team option in 2009-2010
Udonis Haslem has 3 more years at 6M rising to 7M in 2009-2010
Micheal Doleac is in his final year at 3.1M
Zo is in his final year at 2.7M but it is only speculated that he is returning
Dorell Wright is in his final year at 1.7M but Heat can match offers next season
Wayne Simien will make 997K with a team option for 1.8M next season

Now, owner Mickey Arison has stated he will pay luxury tax dollars for a player that is worth it - so that is the main reason for public speculation about the Heat acquiring another big name. Yet the reality is, there are teams with slightly more to offer and the chances for the Heat are not as good as some in the media might dare to portray.

Yet, there is plenty of hope left for the Heat to re-tool their lineup. In fact, the options that are out there can be much more enticing.

I am going to outline a couple of unrestricted free agent options that could immediately help this team get better and deepen its talent pool in the areas it needs help. What are those areas? Good question, and a great place to start.

Let's play GM:

Point Guard.

The Heat need point guard depth as Gary Payton is retiring (not official yet...but 99% chance he does not return with the Heat), Jason Williams has question marks over each knee and Chris Quinn is solid, but not proven enough to build with.

Options.

- Steve Blake. He is a hometown kid with a pass first mentality and his motor runs but never blows a gasket out there. He knows his limits and plays safe, smart basketball. He has pretty good handles, can penetrate and can stick the open three. Not going to offer too much defensively, but for the price would be a much more valuable alternative to Jason Williams. As such, would free up the Heat to deal Williams and his expiring contract.

- Jason Hart. Despite being 31, has a lot of minutes still in him, but just needs a place to play. A very good defender for his position, not a huge scorer but a solid passer and can shoot the open three - the only question is can he knock it down consistently? Can run an offense and do what is asked and for the price, could be another valuable alternative to Gary Payton - may only take the veteran minimum depending on the market.

- Brevin Knight. Probably the best defender at his position on the market, but concerns about his durability is what got him on the open market in the first place. Basically, he's fragile, but when he is healthy he is one of the better floor generals and playmakers at his position. Great assist man and offers low turnovers. Can't shoot to save his life, but can get to the rim and create. Not a scorer, but has his nights. Could be had for the veteran minimum and could start on the Heat because Wade will do most of the heavy lifting on offense and Knight could hold it down defensively.

- Jannero Pargo. Another rangy guard that has great quickness and athleticism, but needs a place to play. He can shoot the three and can run an offense; defensively he can get busy while bouncing in and out of lanes and has the physical tools to guard his man. May cost a little bit more because he has a perceived potential that could result in a higher ceiling of the guards available. Like Blake, may be looking for the entire MLE (mid-level exception worth about $5.6M).

Small Foward.

The Heat have another hole forming at small forward due to the free agent status of James Posey and the now-departed Jason Kapono. The Heat at least have Dorell Wright, a building piece in that spot, and can play Antoine Walker at the small forward position (where he started, incidentally, for the championship team in 2006) although it isn't recommended.

Options.

- Ime Udoka. Very good perimeter defender as well as solid shooter: he can hit the three, he can hit his free throws and he won't try to do too much on offense. An excellent candidate to replace James Posey and he will do so at a much cheaper price (made 744K last season). Starter caliber SF with excellent defense and spot up shooting as well as tough and physical and will battle for loose balls and rebounds. His age (turning 30) could price him down which makes him a bargain for the cash-strapped Heat. Only 3 years as a pro in the NBA which means, like Hart, has a lot of game left in his legs at this point.

- Jumaine Jones. Another tough perimeter defender that could lock down the SF position but has a little more experience scoring the ball with other teams. Actually younger than Udoka, but has more experience in the NBA. Just a very good and solid all around game, he also can replace Posey at a fraction of the cost - only made 744K last season as well.

- Devean George. This guy always seems like he has more potential, extremely gifted athlete and can defend at SF, PF and even SG. Has a nice shooting touch and can score the ball from time to time and will have his break out games as well. Has experience and has played with Shaq back in his Laker days. Might cost a bit more than Udoka and Jones, however, as he has had a more consistent NBA career. Opted out of a guaranteed $2M contract for next season, so not as much value especially considering his disappointing performance last season with the Mavs.

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Not only would these options answer questions for the Heat and address needs, they would also offer a strong package of complementary pieces that could build around Wade and Shaq for the next three years. Each player listed should be signed using the MLE and the only ones looking to use the entire MLE are Blake and possibly Pargo.

Signing these players also frees the Heat up to move other pieces and contracts that are on the books. For example, finding a replacement for Jason Williams allows the Heat to deal Williams; finding a replacement for James Posey allows the Heat to deal Pose. What this means is the Heat could sign-and-trade Posey, coupled with Williams' expiring contract, and get back a bigger piece to obtain that third scoring option they so badly need. This does not require the Heat to deal Udonis Haslem or Antoine Walker, which they also cold do provided they get back a PF in the deal to account for Haslem's loss - such a PF does not have to be an all-world talent, instead he just has to rebound and help spread the floor. It is debatable at this time if Simien could do this himself, although it remains a very good possibility.

The Heat don't have to rebuild, just reload. They can do this affordably given the options on the market but it would be advisable that they move quickly as teams are looking to make that quick deal in the beginning of the free agent period so that teams don't have a chance to sign-and-trade with their own free agents.