Fourteen down. One to go. Why not do a reality show?
Is there any other way this offseason for the Miami Heat can grow any more outstanding - or outlandish? With 14 guaranteed contracts on the books, one short of the limit NBA teams can carry into the season, wouldn't it be cool in this reality TV-crazed society if the Heat hosted the ultimate show for its final roster spot?
I can't even take credit for the idea. It came from one of the hundreds of emails and questions that have found the email in-box in recent weeks. I laughed it off immediately.
And then, I thought. Hmm. It's not as if the Heat can do anything to further tick off anyone outside of Miami at this point. That limit has been reached. And it's not as if LeBron, Bosh and D-Wade would object to the idea. They'd embrace sitting at the table and scouting the talent in Simon, Randy and Paula fashion.
And there's only one man walking around these days who's trumped The Donald when it comes to Big Boss Man swagger this offseason: Patrick J. Riley.
And it isn't as if the TV cameras haven't been already following Bosh, LeBron and Dwyane around all summer anyway - with speculation of some end-all, be-all documentary ultimately taking shape.
The Heat has done big and bold things all summer, from bringing together the top three free agents on the market, to rolling them out like rock stars in that hyped-up press conference to dismissing its sales department after season tickets were sold out.
So why not end the summer with a bang. Go HBO Hard Knocks style?
Set up a week-long minicamp. Invite Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Jerry Stackhouse, Penny Hardaway, Rubin Patterson, Larry Hughes, Darius Miles, Earl Barron, Mikki Moore, Kwame Brown, some second-round draft picks and whoever else is out there to Miami.
It's not as if South Beach can't make room for one more ex-star-studded reality show?
Let's get these former All-Stars, comeback-minded veterans and well-beyond-their prime ballers in one gym and put them on the court with Pat Beverley, Kenny Hasbrouck, DeSean Butler, Jarvis Varnado and Garret Siler (members of the Heat's summer league team).
The last man standing gets a guaranteed contract.
Hold the workouts at AmericanAirlines Arena and open it up to the public free of charge. Donate
concession sales to the Summer Groove charities. Donate a portion of the TV rights to Haiti relief.
Is there a better way to decide the 15th and final spot on the Heat's roster? Is there a more fitting way to end the offseason for Miami and prepare for the circus that training camp is going to be from a media standpoint?
Don't think so.
Considering how this season might play out for the Heat, just ask yourself this: Would you rather be the sixth man with the Sacramento Kings or the 15th man on Miami's roster?
Thought so.
Now get ESPN, HBO, Showtime or BET on the line.
Of course, it will never happen. But how crazy would that be?
(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/WallaceNBAHeat. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)
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