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Fallout From Failed Odom Signing Could Prove Crucial For Heat Future
Now, there is a saying that there is no such thing as a must win game. Well, for the Heat, this might be a crucial offseason looking like a must win situation. The pressure may now have shifted to Pat Riley as well, who is faced with paying luxury taxes on a team that got into the playoffs last year and is faced with proving itself a good fit for Dwyane Wade’s future as he looks forward to next offseason’s big boon.
Let’s look at the Heat’s situation – they just failed in their attempt at signing Odom to the mid-level exception. It was a gamble, sure, but it didn’t work out. Heat fans might feel reminded of the Mo Williams sweepstakes just over a few seasons ago. The Heat also let Jamario Moon walk without getting any compensation. Perhaps it was overlooked by the Heat’s attempt to land Odom, but that would be too simplistic. If the Heat re-signed Moon they would be faced with paying double – since they are currently over the league’s $69.9 million dollar luxury tax line.
The Heat have several options on the table. They are reportedly looking at Jamaal Tinsley, who would be an affordable addition to the Heat’s roster as he would provide a veteran point guard at roughly $1 million – which raises the total cost to $2M when considering the luxury tax penalty. He would compete with Mario Chalmers for the starting spot and provide more depth. Milwaukee Bucks restricted free agent Ramon Sessions remains available, but reports are that the Knicks are leaning towards extending him an offer which means the Heat’s chances to nabbing Tinsley increase.
There are other free agents that could help as well. A major need for the Heat is rebounding and Memphis has let Hakim Warrick dangle out in the free agent jetstream. The Cavs have apparently extended an offer so it isn’t certain at this time that Miami is even in the conversation. A major hurdle for Miami is the luxury tax, so if Miami is to add another player it is most likely going to be a bargain basement deal so they take a minimal hit.
There is also the Carlos Boozer situation, which has cooled substantially. Don’t expect the Heat to make a deal but then again, this is precisely when Pat Riley usually shocks people with getting a deal. The Heat have tons of contracts that are expiring after this season – the Heat would just have to be willing to take back money in return. If the Heat want to sign a player, they have to free up money. If they want to trade for another player, they have these expiring contracts which would look good to teams like the Utah Jazz – who has the highest payroll in the NBA and paying a lot in luxury tax, around $20M. Who are the expiring contracts for the Heat?
- Jermaine O’neal $22.9M
- Mark Blount $7.9M
- Udonis Haslem $7.1M
- Dorell Wright $2.75M
- Jamaal Magliore $1.2M (re-signed for this upcoming season)
- Chris Quinn $1.05M (re-signed for this upcoming season)
- Yakhouba Diawara $945K
- Joel Anthony $825K (re-signed for this upcoming season)
In order for the Heat to deal these contracts, the situation would have to be deemed an improvement for Pat Riley. That means not taking on any salary that would limit the Heat’s financial flexibility for the upcoming offseason. The Heat’s goal is to re-sign Wade to a long term deal as well as add a potential marquee free agent like a Chris Bosh or, even dare, Lebron James.
Yet right now, the Heat has to shift its focus to this offseason and the upcoming season otherwise, they may have a hard time convincing anyone to come to South Beach to play basketball.
Tell us what you think – discuss the Heat’s next move on our forum.
Odom Stays Put
Um excuse me if I seem like the bitter partner here hanging hopes on scoring the hottest date right before the prom but, pshhhaa! What is he thinking!?
Lamar Odom just took less money than initially offered to stay in LA? How is he going to spin that one to his ego? Here’s how:
“I was going to fight for what I wanted first and that was being in L.A. and being a Laker. L.A. was the first place that came to my mind. That’s where my heart was at.”
I don’t buy it. He was using Miami to try and get a better deal out of LA and when Buss found out, pulled the offer. So LA, realizing it needed Odom and Odom, realizing he wasn’t going to get the $10M per season he was aiming for, took the slightly better current offer to stay in LA. It is the right choice in that he doesn’t have to move and gets to play in LA for a potential dynasty – even if the total worth of the package is not nearly that much better than Miami’s as some would want to think.
Now the Heat are left without acquiring what could have been a major coup. Should Heat fans hang their heads? No. It was a risk – to get a player like Odom at the mid-level exception could not be realistically expected. Odom wouldn’t consider doing that with any other team. He did so with Miami because he knows Miami.
If you feel a little confused about Odom’s offseason jockeying, I don’t think you’re alone. To basically put off taking the best deal and end up taking a deal of lesser value to stay put all along is probably not the shrewdest move. For Miami, its back to the drawing board as they look to shore up the roster to get deeper into the playoffs. But with all the moves other teams have been making this offseason in the Eastern conference, the theme may have to “patience” for this upcoming season.
Read More:
The Odometer: Lamar Odom’s Possible Reunion With Miami
Ok, the Odom Sweepstakes continues in what could be a pivotal move for two franchises this summer. The Miami Heat are trying to do the most with the least, as they slide forward a modest $34M offer to Lamar Odom to rejoin the franchise he helped bring back in 2003-2004. Dwyane Wade is here cheering him on from his Twitter account as well as even flying out in person to talk with big Lamar.
Hey, number 7 is still available Mr. Odom. We are always willing to make things work for you.
On the other hand there is the Lakers, who pulled their deal off the table for Odom after discovering he was, gasp, exploring his options this summer as a free agent. On the table was a deal for $36 million, over 4 years, and a maximum of $30 million over three years. It is now rumored that eventhough the Lakers and Lamar are in discussion about his future, the negotiations are strongly favoring the Lakers as they are reportedly lowering their initial offer. More importantly, a lot of pixels are being shed illustrating the meetings to be not quite characterized as negotiation.
Want proof? Read these stories:
Lamar Odom and Miami inching closer?
Lamar Odom reportedly close to choosing Heat over Lakers
Things are, pun intended, heating up. If the Lakers low-ball Odom, expect a return to Miami. He would have to just to save face. If the Lakers suck it up, and realize the value Odom has to their franchise, and they increase their deal to something more in Odom’s range of expectation, then he will stay in gold and purple. Some reports are surfacing that a $40 million deal is on the table for Odom, but nothing has confirmed that figure just yet. Stay tuned.
Allen Iverson Still a Possibility for Miami?
It would seem that Allen Iverson’s image overhaul will rely on only a few potential suitors. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers are both basically out:
So, Miami remains a realistic possibility? Considering that the Heat may be adding Lamar Odom to the roster, that is if the Lakers deal proves to be too snobby for Odom, this may not be a bad idea. After all, Jamaal Tinsley is available, but reports are that there is great concern about his physical shape – let’s face it, he was always on the flabby side. But he has long been a favorite of Pat Riley’s. Andre Miller, however, is not a possibility and has signed a deal with the Portland Trailblazers – which may also affect the Heat’s chances of signing Odom as well.
AI’s camp rejected a one year deal from Memphis which would have paid him $5M but would also require him to come off the bench. If Miami made the same stipulation, perhaps in the wake of signing Lamar Odom, it may stick. Then again, the Heat would not be able to offer as much money, but instead rely on the veteran minimum figure and perhaps would have to raise the years from one to two to land Iverson.
Lunar Eclipse: Jamario Moon Packs for Cleveland
Looks like the Shaquille O’neal trade essentially netted the Heat another O’neal, Jermaine. The other main piece in that February deal, Jamario Moon, who was traded from the Raptors for Marcus Banks and Shawn Marion, was offered a 2 year deal by the Cleveland Cavaliers last Friday.
Miami had one week to match the offer in order to retain Moon’s services, but decided to let him go. The reason? Pat Riley wants to continue to maintain payroll flexibility for this offseason as well as next. In order to re-sign Moon, the Heat would have had to use part of their mid-level exception, valued at about $5M.
The Heat are currently slightly over the luxury tax with their total payroll rising to $71.7M for this upcoming season (luxury tax is fixed at $69.9M for this upcoming season). Adding Moon would add money to the cap, but also eat up some of that MLE that the Heat are trying to set aside for a potential Lamar Odom reunion tour. Not to mention, to sign Moon to the $3M per season contract would actually cost the Heat $6M since they would be exceeding the luxury tax limit. Meanwhile, the Lakers and Odom’s camp are having talks, but some would not characterize those as negotiations even stating that the Lakers are offering Odom less than their initial deal, which Dr. Jerry Buss pulled off the table after discovering that Odom was apparently shopping his services around.
This move does potentially free up some playing time for Michael Beasley as well, whom Riley stresses is a big part of the future of this franchise – at this point, anyway. Perhaps if the right deal comes along, that changes.
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