Exit Interview: Mark Blount

One of the positions the Heat will look to upgrade this offseason: Center. Your feedback and debate for previous "Exit Interviews" was great, so keep it coming.

Mark Blount, 7-0, C

Status: Signed for two more seasons and owed more than $7 million each year

2007-08 stats: 8.4 ppg, 3.8 reb, .5 blocks in 69 games (46 starts) in 22.4 mpg

Career avgs: 8.3 ppg, 4.7 reb, .9 blocks in 23.6 mpg

Looking back: Blount became the Heat's starting center by default, after Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning were injured. Blount arrived with guard Ricky Davis from Minnesota right before the season began, in the Antoine Walker trade. Blount was more of an afterthought in the trade but the Heat's need at center saw his role grown once the Heat traded O'Neal. Toward season's end, rookie Joel Anthony saw more playing time, which cut into Blount's minutes but Blount also played at power forward. Blount's rebounding perhaps was his biggest weakness. He had only three games with double-figure rebounds. He ranked among the lowest rebounding centers in the league (of those who play a good number of minutes), and even Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, Warriors point guard Baron Davis and Lakers reserve center Ronny Turiaf had a better rebounding average than Blount. He is more of a finesse center, who seemed to prefer his mid-range jumper than shooting in the paint. When motivated he showed an ability to be an effective offensive threat (he had a stretch of 10 straight games where he scored in double-digits). He's durable and one of the few Heat players that didn't get injured. His effort didn't seem consistent and when coach Pat Riley talked about putting a premium on work ethic and hard-nosed player you had to wonder where Blount fits in the team's future.

Looking ahead: Blount will be on the Heat's opening night roster barring an offseason trade. It's unclear what his role will be. Mourning has not announced whether he plans to return next season, and the Heat might try to upgrade the center position in the draft or during free agency. Blount is the only center on the roster under contract for next season. Rookie Joel Anthony (pictured below) seems to have a good shot to come  back, but even if he did it almost certainly would be in a reserve role because he's raw. If Blount is your eighth or ninth man that's fine, but the Heat probably will try to package him in a trade if it finds a willing trade partner.

Best bet: The ideal would be if the Heat signs a free-agent center such as DeSagana Diop (New Jersey Nets) or Kurt Thomas (San Antonio Spurs), Rasho Nesterovic (Toronto Raptors), P.J. Brown (Boston Celtics) or Kwame Brown (Memphis Grizzlies). If the Heat can't unload Blount, he would be fine off the bench.

U-decide: Should the Heat try to trade Blount? Keep him as the starter? Find a starting center and use Blount as a back-up?

Comments

[heat2007]

Move him if you we can in a trade.

[Ralph]

Blount's too soft. He's too big of a hit on the salary cap for the level of production he brings to the table. We're a team that now is at the bottom of the league in rebounding and need to find another grinder like Udonis who has heart and desire. Sorry Blount, it's time to pack the bags...

[Dan G.]

If you can find someone who wants him, jump at it. The only way I see someone taking him at his salary is as ballast in some major trade to make the salaries work.

As is discussed in the post, if you have to keep him (as seems likely), he is fine for 20 minutes a game, playing off a more rugged big man with his pick-and-pop game.

The thing that frustrates about Blount is that he could actually be a good player if he wanted it (like in his contract year with the Celtics).

[HeatBoy]

He's way too soft and he doesn't seem to want to change that. Give me a second tier center like Ben Wallace who may not score, but who is tough and I'd be happy. Otherwise, if you're going to be soft, at least cancel out the production of you counterpart by scoring as much and again, he's too soft to do that because you can knock him off his game if you get the tiniest bit physical with him, so you can't count on his scoring in that sense. Actually since he's bound by contract, I would actually take a chance on Curry (DO NOT BRING KWAME TO MIAMI...he doesn't seem to care if he wins or lose, and i do think kwame has talent, but no interest since he hit the NBA jackpot) or a PF type center.

[nba basketball]

He has a low basketball IQ. Doesn't really help a team. And he's consistently a not-nice guy. Other than that he's fantastic.

[tone]

i think if they can find a trade partner to take Blounts contract off the books that'd be great. but it wont happen. personally i'd like to c them sign kwame brown to a friendly contract and see if playing for riley(indirectly)can get him motivated. he showed flashes in LA before his injury gave way to Bynum to steal the show. Also he wasnt a fit for the Triangle cuz he isnt a throw me the ball in the post player like shaq or Gasol. i think in the new up tempo offense we are establishing will fit his skills best. and with the likelyhood of us selecting Rose, Brown can play the role of tyson chandler to rose's cris paul.

[Smush Parker]

Kwame Brown?

Signing a Laker reject sounds like a great idea...

[roberto]

trade blount he cant rebound,block shots, score down low and he's not going to get better. we should get ronny turiaf he plays hard, block shots and runs the floor which is perfect for the heats new offense.

[Saad A.]

Please ship Mark Blount as far away as possible from Miami. He's one of the worst players i've ever seen, the guy doesn't try on defense or even try to jump for rebounds.

[tone]

forget the name and see the talent. and brown would fit the system. ronny turiaf would be a nice fit but it would bare a trade to bring him here. and i dont even think he could play starters minutes with that kind of energy. also remeber if we bring brown in it would be as a FA and the FA market for big men is thin. id rather have his athletism n potential rather than someone like dasanga diop whos a bench player at best. at least brown is better than blount who is our current starter

[thejuandiggler]

Mark Blount sucks....but nobody would take him...we should have never made that trade...Ricky Davis and Blount both have no future and we are stuck with Blount's $$, for this I would welcome Walker back, at least he could be a weapon off the bench !

[james paul]

GOODBYE,,,,,,,,and as quickley as can be possibly done.........previos bloggers said it all.......softer than charmin,,the guys seven feet tall and rondo avg,s more boards?please the the guy is at best a 8th or 9th man on someones bench......some one who doesnt care about rebounding or blocking shots......for that matter just visiting the paint to say hello evry now and again........and more than anything the guy has NO FIRE,, PASSION,,, OR DESIRE............GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE{its a shame cause the guy lives here in Florida you,d think he would want to stay home,and he is 7 feet tall and can hit a jumper........but he,s never going to change who he is as a previous blogger wrote}IF YOU CAN MOVE HIM THEN DO IT NOW PLEASE.....if not please dont count on this guy at either a starting 4 or 5 .............a 8th man or 9th man spot would be the best use for him if we are unfortunatly saddled with him for the year{PRAY MIAMI,, THIS GUY...... HAS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

[james paul]

GOODBYE,,,,,,,,and as quickley as can be possibly done.........previos bloggers said it all.......softer than charmin,,the guys seven feet tall and rondo avg,s more boards?please the the guy is at best a 8th or 9th man on someones bench......some one who doesnt care about rebounding or blocking shots......for that matter just visiting the paint to say hello evry now and again........and more than anything the guy has NO FIRE,, PASSION,,, OR DESIRE............GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE{its a shame cause the guy lives here in Florida you,d think he would want to stay home,and he is 7 feet tall and can hit a jumper........but he,s never going to change who he is as a previous blogger wrote}IF YOU CAN MOVE HIM THEN DO IT NOW PLEASE.....if not please dont count on this guy at either a starting 4 or 5 .............a 8th man or 9th man spot would be the best use for him if we are unfortunatly saddled with him for the year{PRAY MIAMI,, THIS GUY...... HAS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

[CP12]

Blounts a solid bench player. Great shooting touch. Overpriced.

[op]

MAN KWAME BROWN IN DA HEAT PRETTY SIC......
YEAH BAC 2 BLOUNT TRADE EM!!!!!!!!!!