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?
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