Q Dog? Really?
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.
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.
Loading ...
Heat Making Heads Turn
The Heat are coming; they are starting to play some pretty good basketball.
Too bad we didn’t see it against the Celtics at the start of this homestand, but then again that is the Celtics who are the defending world champs. It is hard to argue against the Heat, however, making the playoffs and perhaps making a strong showing in the postseason.
Tonight, the Heat defeated the Hawks, another team in their division ranked ahead of them. In fact, it was the 2nd contest in as many nights as the Heat dispatched the Magic only a few nights previous, Dwight Howard finding an ejection in the closing minutes rife with frustration.
The Heat went with a different look tonight, launching Jamal Magloire to start at the center spot while bringing Mark Blount off the bench to help give the Heat a more dynamic offensive presence. For Blount, it has been a re-emergence of sorts after having not played in the previous 17 games. Spoelstra had in mind to use Blount’s range and athleticism to keep Dwight Howard honest and draw him outside the painted area. Against the Hawks, a kind of athletic “tweener” team, Blount’s services were again needed.
And for Magloire, it was an arrival – getting his first start in a Heat uniform. There was a resurrection expected (and talked about) at the start of the season for Magloire who was an all-star back in the ’04 season with the Hornets (then still in the Eastern conference). Tonight, he flashed some of that skill contributing 6 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in just under 17 minutes of play. One of those baskets came on a dunk, where Magloire put his hands over his eyes in a Dee Brown fit of imitation. “Just having fun”, Magloire said.
As were the Heat tonight. And it is hard not to embrace this young, brash team. They play with a quiet confidence that is best illustrated in a Daequan Cook three point shot in the clutch, or the way Mario Chalmers continues to lock down his opposition on the defensive end each night. This team is executing and with Dwyane Wade playing at such a tremendously high level right now – the kind of level we haven’t seen in these parts since July of 2006 – there is little to doubt about this team.
This team is still growing. Consider how good Michael Beasley could be in a month or two; how good James Jones is going to be in a month being back healthy.
And Miami is doing some surprising things without Shawn Marion on the floor. What if the Heat actually trade him and upgrade their roster? Where is the ceiling then?