The Heat came back on the Magic despite being down in the 4th quarter by nine points with just over 5 minutes to go. Dwyane Wade didn’t shoot well, 6/20, but he gave his team the presence they needed to fight to the finish.

Dwight Howard had a rough night offensively but the Heat bits did a solid job limiting hos effectiveness. Yet the Magic had several chances to take the game back. Jason Williams missed two free throws coming on a Heat desperation foul after Vince Carter hit a three to take the lead.

Seizing the moment, the Heat inbounded and got a missed shot from Wade which turned into a Michael Beasley dunk for the difference in the game. The Magic fans left quietly, going home to prepare from their Thanksgivings. But it is the Heat who will be celebrating.

We learned Michael Beasley is going to be a very good power forward in this league. We learned that Wade is very much the superstar that Lebron James is. Or rather, should that statement be reversed since it is Wade who single-handedly kept the Heat in the game at critical moments.

The Heat may have lost the game but there were many positives in that the Heat played at a high enough level to gain respect in this league. Who knows? Maybe the Heat will learn how to win these type of games in the near future.

It seemed that Riley is staunchly fixed on waiting for this offseason to re-sign Dwyane Wade and add someone else to the mix. This has forced the Heat to be very crafty in regards to its financial picture, which the Heat have been able to do. They have tons of money coming off the books as only Michael Beasley and Daequan Cook are guaranteed to be on the books after this season.

So it’s audition time for this team – and the entire franchise is trying to show Wade that this is his current and future home. What to expect?

First of all, who’s in and who’s out. In: Carlos Arroyo, Quentin Richardson and Shavlik Randolph. Out: Mark Blount, and Jamario Moon. The Heat finished 43-39 last season, and lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

What about who’s playing when and where? Expect to see the shift is on as Michael Beasley is going to start at PF while fan favorite Udonis Haslem shifts to the bench. Also, it has been rumored that Q-Rich has jostled his way into the starting lineup at SF, where Beasley was playing last season. Rounding things out will be Jermaine O’neal at C, Mario Chalmers at PG and Dwyane Wade, as always, at SG.

The bench looks intriguing. Questions abound over the role that Carlos Arroyo, Daequan Cook and even Dorell Wright will play. What kind of minutes will they get? When Chris Quinn returns, what is the point guard situation going to look like? Haslem will try his hand at coming off the bench, but it will only be successful if Beasley can show that he can rebound and defend better. Beasley, coming off a tumultous offseason, has seemingly gotten things on track in his personal life and is looking to take the next step in his professional career. Again, the growth potential of this young team is what will be assessed, and the result will be how far they can reach into the playoffs.

This is an audition of sorts. Dwyane Wade wants to be in Miami but only if it is in his best interests – he wants to win, not just make money. If this team can show growth, perhaps get into the 2nd round or deeper, then Wade should be a lock to stay. Who will remain with him, however, will remain to be seen.

Expectations: This team has enough youth to create a higher ceiling. Cook, Beasley, Chalmers – all can take drastic steps forward. The bench is stronger as there are more options to play with – let’s not forget James Jones’ ability to contribute to this team. There doesn’t, however, feel like there is too much of a difference between last year and this year so it is reasonable to expect a 40+ win season and a berth to the playoffs. The difference might be once the Heat reach the playoffs – I’m expecting at least a 2nd round appearance. Can Wade play another MVP-like season? We’ll soon find out.

The kid from Puerto Rico grew up down here and played at FIU – which now sports Isiah Thomas as their head coach these days. He is competitive and physical – something the Heat could use as they look to get back to the playoffs and improve this season.

The question is, would any of this occurred had not Chris Quinn sustained a sprained right foot? You bet. At least, I would hope so. Arroyo became eligible for free agency on Monday and the rumor has long been the Heat would give him a look. What’s not to like about his game? On a team like the Heat, in a reserve role, Arroyo will shine. The question is, will it affect Chalmer’s playing time.

Either way you look at it, you have to be happy about the Heat improving its roster this offseason and sticking to the plan that Riley has set in place – keep the finances free for this offseason to try and retain Dwyane Wade and add another free agent while also staying competitive. Riley made it look easy, trading for Quentin Richardson and now adding Arroyo to the mix. I’s also like to add that Shavlik Randolph is an intriguing prospect who had a pretty tantalizing game coming out of Duke a few years back. Who knows what he adds.

It cannot be understated that the printing press lead to unparalleled exploration by way of exposing new ideas, but by expanding the means of expression to a wider range of people. Now, with the evolution of the cell phone, we can see most anyone grab hold and state how they feel about the events of our lives. So, it is in this new dawn of excitement and communication that I set forth this essay from my phone to say we will be able to cover the heat like few others dare. And also, why not join us?

• Miami’s go to Man is Wade, whether he likes it or not. We all saw what happens when Iverson is not the man (Detroit)
• Iverson wants a starting role; Pat had already stated Chalmers was the starter.
• Pat believes in practice, and well we all know what happened on November 26^th 2006
• Iverson has brought teams down with his ego; notice what Denver did without him, and bringing in a unselfish guy like Chauncey Billups

I am not saying Iverson is a bad player. He still can do things that will make many people surprised; all I am saying is that he was not the answer and in reality he should not have even been questioned. There are many possible players Miami can still go after, such as Rashad McCants, or even bring back a familiar face in Jason Williams. They could possibly be big helps and could come with the MLE. There are many options for the Heat to go with, and thankfully Iverson was eliminated.

Jeffrey Allison, you remember him, right? The Marlins top pick in 2003. He was slated to become another Josh Beckett. He had the electric arm and was named the player of the year – a prime prospect and phenom for the game.

Then tragedy struck – his addiction to OxyContin, exetending back into high school, took over. He became a mess. He had an overdose of heroin and didn’t pitch at all in 2004. He came back and pitched for the Marlins minor league affiliate Greensboro back in 2005 but suffered a near fatal overdose in 2006.

Today is a different day for Allison, who has been able to turn things around since those dark days about three years ago. He may not have the mid 90’s fastball anymore, but he has evolved into a pitcher. He has grown wiser with time and it is that introspection that has lead him to this point in his life – a place of positivity.

Allison is still climbing the ladder within the Marlins system. He may get a callup – currently he is pitching for AA Jacksonville. After putting in 120 plus innings last year, it is about creating a routine and developing consistency. Much like Josh Hamilton, Jeff Allison is showing that professional athletes with drug addictions can get it right.

This is where Michael Beasley needs to get right – we should commend him on recognizing his addiction and that he needs help. Professional help should be sought – most people can’t even do their taxes without a professional and they certainly shouldn’t try to overcome a dangerous addiction without help and guidance.

What does this mean for Beasley’s future? Obviously, he has to get right in his own personal life – you can’t be a high profile professional athlete without being grounded in some way. The fact of the matter is young athletes are not prepared for this sort of thing. How could they be? They are lured into the hype of playing a sport at the next level, but given very little preparation for the lifestyle. The NBA has a program in place, as do the other major sports leagues. It is still up to the individual to utilize the lessons and implement them. Beasley was warned, last year, with Mario Chalmers as they both were caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Now, this is for real – Beasley has checked himself into rehab and is doing so away from Miami in a change of scenery.

The challenge for Beasley is to stay the course. How did Jeff Allison come back? He surrounded himself with the right people. “I’ve turned all the negativity into a positive,” Allison said. “I made the decision to surround myself with really nice people. I’ve got a nice and beautiful girlfriend and her family. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The other major obstacle is developing trust again – with yourself. Allison talked about not being able to trust himself and Beasley, while getting himself help, is demonstrating that same place in his life right now. “There was a time, when I was younger, when I had no direction or sense of self-worth,” said Allison. “Those were the times the organization didn’t trust me. They had good reason, because I didn’t trust myself. If you can’t trust yourself, why would anyone trust me? It’s taken a long time to trust in myself.”

That is the crux of the problem – these young players don’t have a way to sense a real value about themselves. Everything is so overblown and over-hyped that reality becomes almost cartoonish. Without a real reference point for what is of value – from monetary to emotional value – how could one expect a 20 something to understand what’s at stake? The fact that Beasley is getting help is very positive. His love of comics and Sponge Bob were red flags that ended up costing him the #1 pick overall. If he doesn’t get help now, it will be a huge mistake – not just for his career, but more importantly for his life.

Miami just changed its offseason fortunes a bit by dealing center Mark Blount to the Timberwolves for Quentin Richardson, who has been shuffled around so much the guy must be dizzy.

Both Blount and Richardson are in the final year of their contracts, so financially this fits into the scheme of things Pat Riley is trying to do – keep it financially flexible for next year’s offseason. Blount was scheduled to make 7.9M this season while Richardson is due 9.4M. For Blount it is a return to the Timberwolves, the team the Heat originally acquired him from (along with Ricky Davis) before the 2007-2008 season for Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac, Wayne Simien and a first round pick. The debate on whether or not that deal worked out rages on.

It was the 4th time Richardson has been dealt this offseason – from the Knicks to the Grizzlies, to the Clippers and then the Timberwolves. The Heat, however, seem bent on keeping Richardson for the duration of the season:

“We are very excited to add Quentin Richardson,” Heat President Pat Riley said. “Over the course of his career, he has proven to be a fierce competitor, a great locker-room presence and a very prolific three-point shooter who may be one of the strongest perimeter players in the NBA. We feel that he will be able to match up well against the top scorers in the league.”

Richardson has been eyed by the Heat brass for some time now, actually. His ability to score is going to offer the Heat more punch, but where exactly he will fit remains to be seen. Richardson can play SG or SF, and will offer some depth to the Heat’s options of Dwyane Wade and Daequan Cook. Cook’s minutes seem to be potentially the most impacted of all here and with the Heat losing Jamario Moon to the Cavs, the depth at SF just regained itself a bit with Richardson adding to the rotation of Dorell Wright, James Jones, Yakhouba Diawara and an occasional appearance from Michael Beasley.

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.

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.

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