The Meaning of Magloire

After the formal introduction and press conference were done Tuesday, new Heat center Jamaal Magloire left the room at AmericanAirlines Arena saying he hoped "to be here for the next 10 years."

At age 30 and having just signed a one-year, minimum-level contract, Magloire was joking of course.

But the predicament the Heat was in at the center position before Magloire came aboard was no laughing matter. Even after Tuesday's signing, there are still legitimate questions that face Magloire and this team. It has taken just three seasons for Magloire to go from All-Star to all stiff.

It wasn't all that long ago when Magloire was arguably one of the top three centers in the East (when in Charlotte and during the franchise's transition to New Orleans). So it's fair to wonder what in the heck happened to him so fast.

Magloire on Tuesday chalked up his lack of production the past couple of seasons on inconsistent playing time, inconsistent definitions of his role from coaches and nagging injuries. And it's fair to question if the Heat truly even found an upgrade over the offensive-minded but defensively-challenged Mark Blount.

But this was a good investment for the Heat. At worst, Magloire is going to be a big body in the middle who can bang defensively against the opposing bigs and eat up six fouls (fouls that otherwise might have flown Udonis Haslem's way had he started and played significant minutes at center).

At best, Magloire is capable of being somewhere close to the low double-double caliber player he was as recently as three seasons ago. Either way, at the veteran's minimum on a one-year contract, this is a worthwhile gamble for the Heat.

Sure, Magloire was only joking about staying on for 10 years. But if he can simply give the Heat a solid 10 months (starting now, with a potential run through the postseason), it would do.

Just hope this gamble pays off a bit better than last year's failed investments/experiments: Penny Hardaway and Smush Parker.

Comments

[ebag]

i think its a decent pickup. hopefully blount and maglore can hold down the center spot until zo comes back. it ain't elton brand, but its at least as good as washington or cleveland

[heatstroked]

[I]t's fair to question if the Heat truly even found an upgrade over the offensive-minded but defensively-challenged Mark Blount...At worst, Magloire is going to be a big body in the middle who can bang defensively against the opposing bigs and eat up six fouls (fouls that otherwise might have flown Udonis Haslem's way had he started and played significant minutes at center). At best, Magloire is capable of being somewhere close to the low double-double caliber player he was as recently as 3 seasons ago.
---

Agreed. But forget his All-Star year (2003-04). I'd settle for Magloire's soph season (2001-02) at CHA, when Magloire averaged 19 mpg, 6 rebs, 8 ppg for a PER career-high of 18.8 -- or a projected avg of 11 rpg + 16 ppg over 36 mpg.

How special was that season? There are only 8 bigs (6-10+) since 2000 who had soph seasons as productive + efficient as Magloire's [ http://tinyurl.com/62wcmk ].

1 Yao Ming
2 Pau Gasol
3 Amare Stoudemire
4 Dwight Howard
5 Lamar Odom
6 Jamaal Magloire
7 LaMarcus Aldridge
8 Mehmet Okur

But talk is cheap. Magloire has 3 weeks to prove how "re-energized" he is. 3 weeks to get a jump on the pre-camp conditioning he'll need to become the "vicious" player he once was. 3 weeks to seek out a Tim Grover or equivalent to pretune Magloire's cardio + wheels.

Magloire blaming minutes, coaches, anyone and everything but himself for his recent decline is a red flag. Walking the walk behind his talk by getting a serious head start on pre-camp conditioning would go a long way to replace red with checkered.

[Shawn]

We could of done a lot better than Magloire at Center. After the draft, for months are glaring need was for a solid, defensive center. maybe next year...

9/11 was an inside job

checkout wtc7.net & watch the collapse videos

learn the truth

[genius]

shawn, enough already! recent panel has PROVED that building #7 collapsed from fires started by debris from twin towers!

and it's could HAVE, not could OF..learn!

and no, we COULD NOT have done better, or we WOULD have. unless we wanted to gamble $4M on Kwame Brown suddenly being good. the front office checked out all the other possibles and rejected them as inadequate. At least Magloire showed the talent once, he is not injured ir burned out physically, and has a real big body.
he does not have to get back to all-star status, just be 70% of what he was, and in tandem with a MOTIVATED Blount we will
have a nice offense/defense combo. If he turns out to be a total stiff, he hasn't cost us much. that's important.

[Dom]

Magloire's signing is low risk-high reward. If he's a dud, fine vet's minimum. If he's a stud even better, vet's minimum. It's not like he has to come in and dominate the paint offensively for us to win ball games i.e. like 04-05 Shaq. All we need is solid rebounding and some toughness inside i.e. 08-09 Shaq in Phoenix. I think he was the best FA big available with EXPERIENCE. Joel Anthony is the project at center, like Wright is the project at forward, like Cook is the project at guard. That being said, Mbenga or Brown we're not better choices. With the type of team we have now Magloire's could be the perfect center for what we need our center to do. Rebound, play solid defense, bring toughness and presence inside. All the intangible's. With D-Wade, The Matrix and B-Easy handling most of the scoring responsibilities. Once he gets into his South Beach Pat Riley Conditioning Program he'll be fine. I expect nothing more than 8ppg, 8rebs, 1blk and a big body guarding the basket waiting to use of his 6 fouls and that to me is a very productive season.

[george]

Remarkably BUM and BOMB sound alike. You could use either to discribe Magloire. I just don't see it being productive. Give the Blount and Anthony a chance to play and get experience. As I had stated a month ago we should go with Haslem, Beasley, Marion, Chalmers and Wade. That line-up could compete with anyone in the east. Additionally, I strongly suggest Riley consider signing Shaun Livingston. He deserves the chance and will contribute to legitimate run at the East title.

[ebag]

if we stick udonis at center, we don't have anyone in our starting five over 6'8. There is no way we can compete with teams like boston, philly, or toronto with a front line that small.
now we can run on bigger teams with a starting frontcourt of blount, beasley, and marion, while still having udonis and magloire to come of the bench and bang bodies in the paint.
and i agree that there was nobody else out there worth wasting cap space on. we got a role player for the veterans minimum. as decent a pickup as you can expect at this point

[Scott]

How did we not get Marcus Camby (given away for free)? Or even that big guy from Iran? The Iranian may not have skill, but everybody keeps saying Magloire is only a big body for us.

[Scott]

Oh yeah... and we should definitely pursue Livingston. He is a steal right now.
And does anybody know how to fix this Restricted Free Agency? It is not working. Players hate it, Fans hate it, Teams hate it.

[Danny]

I say good pick up for the Heat at their current position. It was obvious Riley wasn't going to be trading anyone at least until the training camp closes. Magloire is a decent pick up and like many people said before he's a low risk high rewrd type of player so good pick up. But now it seems we have to shift our focus to PG with Banks and Chalmers the only ones at the helm. BUT now ESPN is saying that Chalmers, along with Darrell Arthur, were caught smoking week in a hotel. Wtf is that Chalmers?? You are going to be expected to be our top PG this year and you go off and do something as stupid as smoke marijuana. I might be taking this a bit out of proportion, but it really pisses me off when guys come into the NBA thinking their garbage doesn't stink and act like their invincible. Chalmers, I still like ya buddy, but you better knock it off!

[Micky]

Everyone disses Riles for this offseason but I think he has done a fabulous job, draft night was a steal.. even tho today Chalmers got high and got caught who cares! Like the addition J Jones, Diawara and now Magloire.. nice role players.. everyone get behind the heat I can see them havin an encouraging year makin playoffs and havin a run.. fingers crossed no injuries!! Especially to D-Wade.. Go Heat! Looking forwrad to the season! Chalmers, D-Wade, Matrix, Beasley & Magloire with J Jones, U.D and Blount off bench.. definitely a contender.. Wade for MVP.. U Heard it! M.V.P

[Rick]

Typical Mo Money, Mo ho's, Mo Bling...I don't want this hood playing for my team.

[thejuandiggler]

marcus camby was served on a silver platter and we didnt even look at the menu......
I love what Riles has done for the future of this team , but not getting involved when la clipps offered merely money for Camby is a lack of...........................
DUE DILLIGENCE !
Since Riles has said that havent you noticed that everyone now in sports is saying it. It has become an automatic rsponse..eg. sparano, gruden,girardi,francona etc....

[heatstroked]

In re Chalmers. At first I thought -- "overreaction."

Girls? Weed? Surely dumb, thoughtless behavior at a seminar specifically designed to counsel smart thoughtful choices re girls, weed etc. *for their own good*. But why were the police involved?

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal [ http://tinyurl.com/5hzcoz ], Arthur & Chalmers triggered police involvement when they refused room access to NBA & hotel security personnel called to investigate the report.

So not only do they flip off peers and NBA elders obviously trying to help their careers, they panic, blow off NBA security personnel *and* attract police involvement in a lame attempt to presumably "cover up."

The reflex upcoast is no big deal because the Heat need all the "talent" it can get.

DUH.

And what good is "talent" if said talent isn't focused, isn't disciplined, isn't mentally or physically COMMITTED TO WINNING and all that winning entails (i.e., see seminar)?

double DUH.

[genius]

"thejuandiggler" what does this mean?

"Since Riles has said that havent you noticed that everyone now in sports is saying it. It has become an automatic rsponse..eg. sparano, gruden,girardi,francona etc...."

since Riles said WHAT? no reference in this
blog about anything Riles said as far as I can see. what did he say?