Miami Heat Rumors: Miami Heat Already Contenders Without Joel Przybilla

Joel Przybilla may or may not play for the Miami Heat this season. Whether he does or not will have little to do with the fate of this team as contenders. 

Gery Woelfel reporting for The Racine Journal Times writes that the Miami Heat may be a team the big man could play with during this lockout-shortened season.

While the teams have not been released, the report issues that "league sources said Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers are among them."

Now this would no doubt be a fine acquisition for the Heat who need a great deal of depth at center. The key here is to temper expectations to the reality of the situation. 

Przybilla does not make the Heat unbeatable, and that is the only thing Miami can hope for at this point. With Norris Cole showing that he can carry a decent load in the back court, the big three are content to handle the rest. 

My fear with Przybilla is of course the knees that kept him to just 36 games last season, and 30 the season before. 

This may be a short season, but it's one stuffed to the gills with back-to-backs and grueling weeks filled with potential minutes. The 32-year old just doesn't have the track record to invoke any indication that he can hang with the Heat. 

Miami likes to get up and down in transition and Przybilla will find that difficult on aching knees. Miami would no doubt benefit from what he gives to them in size, defensive ability and rebounding, but he is nowhere near the player he once was. 

This is a good move, but not the great one that some would champion it. The Heat could use a man like Przybilla, and he would no doubt enjoy a chance to get a few minutes on a contender to end his career. 

The fact is, the Heat just don't need a big center with bad knees. 

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