2010 NBA Free-Agency: Nine Veterans The Miami Heat Could Turn To

The NBA Free Agency Period has been very entertaining to say the least, and the Miami Heat can already be declared the big winners

Yesterday, Penny Hardaway was reportedly looking to possibly get a contract offer from the Heat. Later on in the day, the Heat refused to comment on the issue. President Pat Riley apparently did not know of the interest.

Here are a few veterans that have expressed interest in the Heat , most of which have a better chance than Hardaway of actually getting minutes in the game.

9. Rasual Butler - SG/SF

Butler played last season with the Clippers. He reportedly would like a shot at making the Heat roster. But, why would the Heat like a guy with a career 8.8 PPG average? They have a great shooting guard with Wade and there are even better options at the position.

Outside shooting is his strength, which is probably the main reason the Heat are taking a close look at him.

8. Jawad Williams - SG/SF

LeBron James has entered the Free Agency Period looking to bring yet another Cavalier player to South Beach. The King is looking to recruit Jawad Williams to follow in his footsteps.

Williams is young, but he is a restricted free-agent. The Cavaliers would love to keep him and the relationship with the ownership and LeBron James means they might make a move to block Miami out of spite.

7. Keyon Dooling - Guard

Keyon Dooling acknowledged that New Jersey waived him to clear space for a for the summer. Dooling was on the worst team in the NBA and could be making a move to one of the top teams in the Heat.

The Heat could use him as a leader. He is very vocal and spoke out quite a bit when the team needed a leader.

6. Kwame Brown - Center

The Heat may add yet another former No. 1 overall pick to their roster. Kwame Brown was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Brown has been a bit disappointing of late and inconsistent. He was Drafted No. 1 over players like Pau Gasol and Tony Parker. He has failed to live up to the hype that comes with being No. 1 overall.

5. Jason Williams - Guard

Williams has retired and returned much like Hardaway has. He has to make up his mind on whether or not he has anything left in the tank. He could be one of those players just riding the team for a ring.

He played 82 games last year and had an average of six points per game. So there at least stats to look at, unlike Hardaway.

4. Jerry Stackhouse - SG/SF

Jerry Stackhouse hasn't seemed to let Father Time catch up to him. He was once near the top of his game and one of the best ballers in the league. As his age has increased, his talent taken a slip. However, but he can still be a great guy to have in the clubhouse.

He could definitely come off the bench for the Heat every so often. Stackhouse was able to go about 20 minutes a game this past season.

3. Eddie House - PG

House is the type of point guard that most teams want to see come off the bench and keep their red-hot offense going. He can shoot the three pointer and he has a good passing game at times.

With the Knicks and Celtics he was able to drain free-throws often, which could boost his clutch factor. The Heat have Chalmers at the point-guard position, but a man like House can just as effectively run the offense and serve as a mentor to someone young like Chalmers.

2. Tracy McGrady - SG

Simply put, the Heat would get a cheap potential All-Star. He may be on the downside of his career, but his good is better than the best in others. Who knows when Tracy McGrady will erupt and catch fire again?

Another thing, the Heat give T-Mac the best chance at making it out of the first round of the playoffs.

1. Carlos Arroyo - Point Guard

Dwayne Wade, the Miami Heat captain, said that Mario Chalmers' job is his to lose. Carlos Arroyo was on the team last year and could be looking to re-sign with the team. He came close to becoming one of the first Hispanic players to win a championship and could be looking to do it with LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Arroyo is a national treasure in Puerto Rico and helps put rear-ends in seats with Hispanic fans. Though, the Heat may not need that when they have a guy by the name of LeBron James on the court.

The Puerto Rican point guard is 30 years old and split time as the starter for the Heat, until Rafer Alston arrived. His turnover to assist ratio was only second to All-Star Chris Paul.

The Heat may want to re-sign Arroyo and go back to the splitting time between Arroyo and Chalmers.