Miami Heat Ready To Wheel and Deal

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Today Pat Riley spoke with Heat fans and his message was very clear. It is the same message that he has been trying to get across to Dwayne Wade. Stay with us and we will win now and later. Riley is ready to make a big move, and another, and possibly another.

According to ESPN, the Heat could be close to signing Lamar Odom to a deal that would net him close to the $9 million he wanted from the L.A. Lakers and is expecting that Portland will give him now that Utah matched there offer to Paul Millsap. Lamar Odom's feud with the Lakers is enough evidence to me that he will sign with someone that is going to make a run for the championship.

Odom loved Miami and did not want to leave when he was dealt to the Lakers back in 2004. He never had any ill will to the Heat or Pat Riley for trading him. The Heat also hold one more advantage in this situation. The State of Florida has not state tax when you get paid from your employer. For someone like myself, it would only equate to dollars per year, but to someone making millions this is a huge advantage.

After Odom, or possibly even before, the Heat are also looking at adding Carlos Boozer. First they are checking to make sure that he is fully healthy. The deal on the table right now is for Carlos Boozer along with C.J. Miles. Memphis would receive Dorell Wright from Miami. Utah would get Udonis Haslem and a trade exception to cover the rest of the salary difference. Udonis Haslem would be a big loss for the Heat as he has been a co-captain along side of Wade and has helped get this team to a championship. They will need scorers in the front court and right now Udonis is not one of them. Haslem scores most of his points off of open jumpers and put-backs.

Both of these moves seem to show that Miami is ready to compete with the rest of the East again. Last year was a great turnaround for the Heat, but now it is time to build off of that. With a starting lineup of Jermaine O'Neal, Carlos Boozer, Lamar Odom, Dwayne Wade, and Mario Chalmers this team would be unstoppable. Michael Beasley could slide into the lineup with Odom handling the ball at the point and Chalmers coming off the bench.

The Heat will be officially, ON!

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?