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What’s Left: Heat Free Agent Options
The Heat finalized the deal for Smush Parker, which gave them a young, athletic backup PG to replace Gary Payton who has all but retired. Verdict? Upgrade.
Miami’s ability to lure Smush might not immediately turn heads, but the Heat get a solid consolation prize while watching Steve Francis and Mo Williams go elsewhere – neither of which was the fault or failure of the Miami Heat.
This also allows the Heat to move on and focus on other needs – like a small forward to replace the soon-to-depart James Posey.
Two solid options are available still – Ruben Patterson and Ime Udoka. Both are NBA veterans and can play excellent, physical defense. Patterson is not a consistent shooter, but that could mark him down enough (along with his age) that could make him an affordable option for Miami.
Udoka could be a bit out of the Heat’s price range as they have dipped into part of the MLE for Parker already. That and Udoka has rumored to have a $3M dollar per year starting offer from the Spurs.
Then there are more interesting options.
Matt Barnes – still on the market, and unrestricted. His true market value is being displayed as he has not been a valueable commodity on the current market. However, he could be had for great value and with the Heat still having just over 2.15M left of their MLE, something might be worked out. He would provide athleticism, hustle, defense and a great shot with the ability to score big.
Jumaine Jones – another guy who could be looking to resurrect his career. Still fairly young (28) he can shoot and play defense. Could be had for less than the MLE amount remaining.
Dahntay Jones – another young wingman who, like Barnes, is looking for the right opportunity. He has size, can shoot and play physical and Duke players have a tendency to be well coached on the defensive side of the ball. Not drawing the kind of interest he might normally get considering the market and the assets still available.
There are options left for the Heat to meet their needs of a small forward that can defend and shoot. Even Eddie Jones remains on the radar.
Heat Get Smushed
Smush Parker is apparently joining the Heat.
Sources are reporting that Parker, 26, is going to sign for 2 years at $5.35M – a portion of the Heat’s MLE.
This might be a sign that the Heat have abandoned trying to acquire the rights for Juan Carlos Navarro from the Wizards or even a deal for Rafer Alston may have fallen apart.
UPDATE:
Randy Pfund addressed the media today after the signing became official. “We are excited to bring Smush to Miami,” said HEAT General Manager Randy Pfund. “He’s a talented young player who brings good size and athleticism to our point guard position. Smush has been the starting point guard of a playoff team the past two seasons and we believe he has his best years ahead of him.”
Looks like Smush will replace Gary Payton, who has still yet to retire, as the defensive PG off the bench. Smush shot in the 36% range from behind the arc and he has the ability to be an explosive player taking the ball to the rack.
Now, consider what a backcourt of DWade and Smush will look like.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmhyveVc4HQ]
Something Rotten in the State of Miami
Now, I know Miami is not a state – it’s just a quote, or rather an allusion. But everybody is talking about Mo Williams’ recent sound bite and using that as fuel to speculate about the status of Miami.
I said it years ago, Stan van Gundy would be a fine coach for this modern NBA and the Magic at least got that right. I also felt he was the best man for the job even when Riley was being rumored to come back. Yet right now, with Riley waffling over coaching, and the Heat strapped financially, there seems to be a bad stench that is keeping possible free agents away.
It is like repellent chasing everyone away, including a once bright assistant.
Not good considering I am going to be moving back to Miami myself.
Is there any truth to what Mo Williams said? Yeah, there is. Things aren’t exactly Disney-like in Miami, but it is overblown. Riley might be stressing as the head coach but in point of fact, he didn’t seem to do it enough last season. He let the players have it their way and that is why Zo said what he said. The question really should be is Riley willing to commit enough to coaching and winning? Can Riley live up to his own standards?
This down-trodden team, with a lackluster work ethic, is also being overblown. Whenever a team has two stars the magnitude of a Dwyane Wade and a Shaquille O’neal and those two players combine to miss 73 games, your team is going to take a hit. This also allowed for Jason Kapono to grab more playing time and enabled him to punch his passport for Toronto.
Something isn’t right, and it isn’t all about the money. Steve Francis apparently rejected more money from Miami to sign with Houston – yet that seems more like a heart move in that Francis wanted to return to Houston, his hometown. Mo Williams’, comments aside, was definetly going to grab money. Other than that, there really hasn’t been any high profile moves that Miami was seeking to do that they lost out on.
Yet, there are disturbing tendencies by Miami to overlook potential targets. No, not Travis Diener, but Steve Blake, Jason Hart, and now even Jannero Pargo.
Riley is right, however, that you don’t want to overpay for a player especially when faced with paying the dollar for dollar amount of the luxury tax. So essentially, paying double for Pargo or Blake is not what Riley wants to do – he would rather upgrade another way without having to overpay and that would include a trade.
Mike Bibby is available, but the Kings don’t want Jason Williams. Instead, they should be taking Udonis Haslem, which the Heat can afford to part with given the market (Alex Johnson or even Melvin Ely would be suitable replacements coupled with Bibby, would upgrade the Heat).
It just seems like Riley is shuffling his feet and looking to get out. Like in poker, he has had his bluff called.
The Open J: Sign PJ Brown?
The offseason is looking bleak for the Miami Heat, but there are still options available that could re-tool this team – as we have been stressing.
Another consideration, which may seem somewhat innovative and different, would be to get older.
The biggest problem for Miami last season was staying healthy: Shaq and Wade missed a combined 73 games last season. So it would seem getting older would only put the Heat more at risk of injury.
Yet, with very few financial tools as their disposal (as practically every team has the same tools to use at this time) the Heat have to meet the challenge of shoring up their roster in preparation of getting back on top. Orlando, Charlotte, even Washington and Atlanta have all improved their talent pools so winning the Southeastern division will be more of a challenge.
So, with all the retirees moving to South Florida, why not get one more? An old familiar face like PJ Brown.
Chicago power forward P.J. Brown remains available, but he reportedly favors a Florida team, the Magic or Heat, or possibly retirement. Arizona Central
It makes sense on many levels, not to mention continuing the trend of recycling ex-Heatians like Eddie Jones and Alonzo Mourning. What’s one more?
More importantly, PJ Brown would still have a lot to offer this team. He brings a mental toughness that would agree with Zo, as well as a desire and intensity to win that would also complement Zo’s. He can rebound, can still defend very well, and can stick that midrange jumper when needed. He would be a strong addition for a backup PF, and could even spend time at C if need be.
More importantly, he could be had for the veteran minimum $1.1M and would offer more incentive to deal Udonis Haslem to fill in at another place of need.
Sure, getting a guy who is almost 40 may seem like insanity. But this is a guy Riley can trust and he still has something to offer a team and he would get the chance to retire as a member of the Miami Heat. He could give you a solid 20 minutes a game and with the expected depth of this team, once the dust settles this offseason, he may not have to give you that much playing time and would serve as an excellent insurance policy – certainly a better option than Michael Doleac who could also be traded away as well.
Fat Lady Hasn’t Sung Yet for Miami Heat Offseason
That’s right, there is no Rosie O’Donnell mike check just yet. There are still plenty of options for the Miami Heat going forward in the offseason.
Free agents
Jannero Pargo is a worthwhile target, but it is surprising that he hasn’t been signed yet while other point guards have been taken. It will only play to undermine his salary demands and the Heat could get him on the cheap.
Brevin Knight would have to grade a bit lower as concerns about his health would be a definite issue, and with Jason Williams’ past health issues, it wouldn’t give the Heat a consistent option but it seems that Knight wants to prove the Bobcats wrong for releasing him.
Trade possibilities
Juan Carlos Navarro is being dangled by the Wizards, but it will come down to what it will cost the Heat and if it would be worth it. Playing off the Steve Francis possibility, Miami was more able to command a better stance in the deal. With that option gone, however, it will demand that Riley be as cunning as ever to get the best deal – the Wizards apparently are attaching Navarro’s rights to a bloated contract; either Etan Thomas, Brendan Haywood or Antonio Daniels.
Mike Bibby could return as a target for the Heat. They have always been after him, according to reports, and his contract is pretty sizeable – 13M and 14M over the next two seasons.
Luke Ridnour’s time in Seattle might be up. With Earl Watson and Delonte West on the roster, the Sonics may be choosing between Watson and Ridnour. Given Ridnour’s contract is slightly more (6.5M for next three seasons) the Sonics may be looking to trade him for a more valued asset.
These are options still left on the table for point guard. Don’t even get me started on the other possibilities at other positions as there are still plenty. Ime Udoka, Jumaine Jones, Dahntay Jones, Eddie Jones, Ruben Patterson, Brian Skinner, Lawrence Roberts, Alexander Johnson and Melvin Ely to name a few.
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