I know it is a long shot, but I just can’t get my mind away from this option. If the Heat were to somehow trade for Elton Brand, that would be huge for Miami – it would vault them back among the to 4 or 5 teams in the East instantly and would make them the dark horse favorites to win the East.

As a trio, the Heat would have Dwyane Wade, the game’s most dynamic and dominant perimeter force when healthy and perhaps possessing one of the greatest wills in the game (along with Kobe), Michael Beasley a forward with tremendous scoring ability, athleticism and potential, and Brand – the low post presence that Riley feels necessary to build a championship contender.

It would only cost the Heat Shawn Marion, a fine all-around player who can help any team become playoff worthy, but would he or Brand fit better with the Heat? Since Beasley was the player drafted by Miami, he could be locked in at SF which mean Marion would have to play out of position at PF (or Beasley would be an undersized PF himself).

Is it possible? Yes.

The reports are that the Clippers offered Brand a 5 year deal worth $70 million. That is $14M per season. The Warriors, desperate after loosing Baron Davis (or an effort to somehow retain Davis) are offering Brand a 5 year deal worth $90 million – which equals $18M per season.

Miami can only currently offer the $5.8 mid level exception – which is not realistic for Brand (he would probably just rather sign with the Celtics at that figure). In Shawn Marion, however, Miami gains the ability to trade for Brand.

As we reported back in June, the Heat are in negotiations with Shawn Marion. The negotiations are 3 years for a contract worth between 13-15 million per season. If the Heat up the ante a bit and give Marion 3 years at $16M, the Clippers might do it because they could risk losing Brand to Golden State with no compensation. They also would get Marion for a shorter term than they would Brand and at about what they were looking to spend on Brand. Marion’s camp would be happy because they gain more money in the long run and they also get a chance to play on a playoff team in LA with Baron Davis. The Clippers could market themselves as a run and gun team, too.

And Brand lands in Miami with some big expectations – the kind of which he has wanted to live up to all along.