Heating Up

What are the ramifications of the Heat's expected signing of free agent swingman James Jones? Things likely are just heating up for Miami. Heat president Pat Riley told reporters in Orlando Monday that the team would seek to fill its needs at center and point guard. As free agents could sign starting just after midnight Wednesday, the Heat still lacks depth at both positions.

The Heat has a plethora of perimeter players, suggesting the Heat is positioning itself to make a trade. The Heat has first-round draft pick power forward Michael Beasley, forwards Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem under contract and Jones can play small forward. Then the Heat has forwards Stephane Lasme and Kasib Powell, NBA Development League holdovers from the end of the Heat season, under conditional contracts that essentially means Miami wanted them around at least through the summer. Don't forget Heat swingman Dorell Wright, a restricted free agent. The Heat tendered a $2.4 million qualifying offer last month, giving the team the right to match offers from other teams. If you count expected addition Jones that gives the Heat seven forwards. Shooting guard Daequan Cook could become expendable, but perhaps the Heat's most attractive potential trade chip is Marion, who has an expiring contract after electing not to opt out from $17.8 million from the Heat next season.

The Heat might have trouble finding a starting center via free agency, since it has so little salary cap space and the open market features few options that would be a significant improvement over Mark Blount. Memphis' Kwame Brown is on the Heat's radar, his agent Mark Bartelstein said. But Brown would be more of a stopgap player than solution. Relying on center Alonzo Mourning, after his major knee surgery, would not be wise. While he could be valuable as a reserve if he can come back healthy, he should not carry the burden of being the savior.

The most interesting issue is Marion's situation. On paper a roster with Marion, Dwyane Wade and Beasley with a supporting cast sounds better than one without Marion. Sure, the Heat needs to add depth at center and point guard, but teams seem far more formidable with three great players. Look no further than several winning teams last season: the Celtics (Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett); the Hornets (Chris Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler); Orlando (Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis); and the Los Angeles Lakers (Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol/Andrew Bynum [when he was healthy], Lamar Odom).

No matter what happens the Heat appears poised to rebound from last season's miserable 15-67, as long as the injuries don't mount like they did in 07-08).

Stay tuned. And in the meantime I'm emptying some tidibts from my notebook after a busy Tuesday, with space limited for the print story appearing in Wednesdays editions.

Agent Bob Myers, who represents Wright and Heat unrestricted free agent point guard Jason Williams said the following:

*Among the six outside teams interested in Wright are Denver, Philadelphia and San Antonio. Teams are "intrigued by his upside and his youth." Wright is 22.

*Wright has "appreciated the opportunity he's been given" by the Heat  and grateful for the organization's commitment. "He's happy here."

*As for whether other teams are likely to try to offer more than $2.4 million, "only a week's passed (since negotiations began for free agents) and it's still too early to really gauge where he is in the marketplace."   

*J-Will apparently is open to returning to the Heat if the offer is appealing (side note: does not seem like Williams will end up here at least from cap space standpoint and Heat's direction).

*The Heat told Williams' camp the team would "prioritize a couple players at the position, but if those efforts were unsuccessful they wouldn't rule out circling back to Jason."   

*Five or six teams expressed interest in Williams, but also indicated they would take a wait-and-see approach and consider other options. "He's valuable to a lot of teams," Myers said, while adding, "there's a decent buzz around him because he is viewed as a capable starter."

What are your thoughts on the Heat's direction so far?

Comments

[Beastly]

Somebody's on the move, Haslem or Marion will be traded for a center and back-up PG.

I still love SportsCenter....Rose had another crappy game...9pts, 7rbds, 6assts, 3to's (2-9 Fgs). Yet they made the highlight look like he was balling only showing his two made shots. Love it!

[Pawlak (Brazil)]

Marion for Artest and Miller!!!

C Miller
PF Beasley
SF Artest
SG Wade
PG Chalmers/Banks

Mourning
Haslem
Jones
Banks/Chalmers

[Phil]

As much as i like the mans game, I believe that with the roster we have, Haslem should be the odd man out. Beasley,Wade, and marion sounds better than with Haslem and No Marion. Marion can defend, play defense, and play both SF and PF. Halem is strictly a small PF, he really has no size for Center. I believe that if we package Haslem/Blount/Bank we can get a valuable Center and land a decent PG. and still be able to get Kwame Brown for defensive purposes of the bench.

Wade/Cook/James
Dooling/Chalmers/Quinn
Marion/Wright/K. Powell
K.Brown/ZO/
Beasley/S.Lasme/

I believe that we need to trade Udonis/Blount/Banks to Warrior's for their center and a big powerforward or maybe if we get lucky Monta ellis

[Phil]

Marion is proven, can defend and can shoot the 3 as well as rebound, and ply PF/SF and with Wright developing like he is we have insurance with a player that is so cimilar to Marion in defense and can play both PF/SF he just needs to work on his ffense. Marion should be talked to and rework his contract for a smaller and longer contract. Besides if Beasley struggles at first we need Marion to help Wade with the offense. By the way great addition of James Jones. Should help the offense a lot with a proven andreliable shoter. Pared up with wade should give him extra look at the rim. ask Damon Jones.

[Phil]

Miami needs to be carefull because if they are too quiet and slow they will lose out like last year. They need to be a little more agressive. With PF like HASLEM and adding Banks with him as trade bait if we sign K.Dooling quickly getting a capable center should not be a problem. We can not rely on ZO because he will never be the same and he won't be ready till late December and we can not afford to start slow. I would just like to see us make the playoffs next year and try to convince Wade on resigning and maybe get him resigned early so that we don't go through a circus out their.

[heatman]

As much as i like udonis haslem, i think that he's the guy we need to trade. But i think we should trade him for a good center only rather than a decent center and a mediocre point guard.

[BIMBOCOLESKEVINEDWARDSSHERMANDOUGLAS]

Shhhhhhh, did anyone hear that..... Shhhhhhhhh, there it goes again....I think I think it's saying E-M-E.....Shutup, I can't hear, hold on. Oh there it goes, it says Emeka Okafor is going to be a member of the Heat.

[Dan]

where did you hear the heat are getting Emeka okafor

[dskz]

Lets see what happens, I think Beasley/Haslem compliment each other perfectly as does Marion/Jones/Wright at the 3.

I trust whatever moves they make but I like the team alot better already.

[Robert]

I don't get why everyone wants Marion and Haslem out of Miami like if they were worthless. Marion is the Heats best defender and he can shoot, rebound and drive to the basket. Haslem brings energy and leadership to the team. He is also a great rebounder, a good defender and he can shoot the ball. Udonis could come off the bench as the back up power forward and center. The Heat should try to trade Markus Banks and Mark Blount for Jamal Tinsley. This is what the Heat would look like:

Pg- Jamal Tinsley/ Mario Chalmers
Sg- Dwayne Wade/ Deaquan Cook
Sf- Shawn Marion/ James Jones
Pf- Micheal Beasley/ Udonis Haslem
C- Alonzo Mourning/ Udonis Haslem/

[phil]

I like the line-up you put up, but Zo is not a starter anymore, and may not even play till December. Udonis would be a waste off the bench when his value is so high for us to get a quality trade for him at PG and at Center. I really believe that we should work it so that Marion stays with the team for the next five years. If we can get a couple of expiring contracts for Banks and Blount we would be in good shape to re-sign Marion and get us a quality defensive big man. Loking at our roster we don't need offence from the middle we need defense, and that is why Kwame Brown may be a good option with a Beasley, Marion,Wade, Chalmers line-up and Jones, Udonis coming off the bench no Consistent Offense would be needed from the Center, just need somebody to Block shots, Grab rebounds, do a quick put back and run the floor and take a few charges and make some great picks. the other positions would take care of the rest.

[Danny Z]

You are ALL wrong. What we need to do is bring back at C Alan Ogg and at PF Alec Kessler.

Here is the lineup:
PG Bimbo Coles
SG Wade
SF Marion
PF Kessler
C Ogg

Now who is coming with me?

zero point zero!

[Scoops]

Lets not trade anybody lets just wait and c what happens 2 Tinsley and Marbury, sign Wright,Quinn,Barron and Cook. We can wait during the season 2 trade anybody and then we all will kno exactly what we need help in.But so far i have 2 say this team already looks better then the '06 team.

[miami1on1]

they can get any player they like so long as cook/blount/banks are out!

chalmers/quinn
wade
marion/wright
beasley/haslem
insert center (but not Kbrown!)