Miami Heat: How Udonis Haslem Stole the Show

Everyone in South Florida is absolutely going bonkers over the splash the Miami Heat made in this year's free agency market. It's expected that a team who not only managed to snag not just the top one, or even top two free agents—but the top three—would draw this much attention. Locally, everyone is eating it up, while nationally the Heat just became the team everyone loves to hate.

In a less publicized move, the Heat made a huge addition to the roster this week when it resigned power forward Udonis Haslem to a five-year deal worth a total of $20 million.

On Monday's "Dan LeBatard Show" on 790 The Ticket in Miami, Haslem explained how it came about that he decided, for a second time in his career, to pass on contract offers from other teams worth $10-$14 million more than the deal he signed with his hometown Heat.

Haslem is Miami-born and raised and sees no reason to move anywhere else. "It was an opportunity to win, an opportunity to be close to my mother, with her illness, and an opportunity to be a part of something special,'' he said. "I've never been in this for the money. I would be changing my DNA if I changed just for money.''

The most meaningful part of the whole deal may have actually been orchestrated by Dwyane Wade when he approached newly signed free agents Chris Bosh and LeBron James to say they should all take less money, not to sign other free agents, but to specifically re-sign Udonis Haslem. Wade got Bosh and James to each take $3 million dollars less over the course of their contracts in order to add it to Haslem's new deal.  On his part, Wade took a total of $18 million dollars less over the course of his contract to be able to resign Udonis.

Even Udonis Haslem got in on the act simply by agreeing to the deal with Miami that will pay him between $10-$14 million dollars less than other deals he had on the table.

In the wake of the greatest free agency acquisition in history, Udonis Haslem deserves his own time in the spotlight. His decision, coupled with the decision of the other "three" to assist financially, has earned the respect of everyone in the region and should actually make an impact in other peoples' minds when considering whether or not they ought to hate on the Heat.

Haslem has solidified his standing in the local community by becoming the most adored home-grown talent to grace any of the area's four major sports teams. One day soon, his No. 40 jersey will hang right along with Alonzo Mourning's and Tim Hardaway's in the AAA rafters.