Miami Heat Free Agency Preview
Miami Heat 2010 Salary Figures
Mario Chalmers – $847,000
James Jones - $4.6 million (If waived by June 30, only $1.8 million goes against the 2010 cap)
Michael Beasley – $4.9 million (2010-11), Team option (2011-12)
Total = $10.3 million
Projected 2010-11 Salary Cap - $56.1 million
Cap Room – Around $43 million (Assuming Jones is waived)
Number of Maximum Salary Free Agents that can be signed - Two. Three if Beasley is moved.
Top Targets: Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer
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Potential Heat Targets By Position (1 star * indicates minimal salary, while 4 stars **** indicates the highest or max)
Center
*** – Tyson Chandler(ETO), Brendan Haywood
** – Brad Miller, Joel Pryzbilla, Jermaine O’Neal
* – Joel Anthony
Power Forward
**** – Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki
*** – Carlos Boozer, David Lee
** – Udonis Haslem, Luis Scola
Small Forward
**** – Joe Johnson
*** – Rudy Gay
** – John Salmons, Mike Miller, Josh Howard, Dorell Wright, Kyle Korver
Shooting Guard
**** – Dwyane Wade
** – Ray Allen, Anthony Morrow, J.J Reddick
* – Raja Bell
Point Guard
** – Raymond Felton, Steve Blake
* – Allen Iverson, Carlos Arroyo
Potential Players That Can Be Acquired Via a Trade:
Darren Collison (PG, New Orleans) – There is no need for the Hornets to hold onto two starting point guards in Chris Paul and Collison, with the latter likely the one to be dealt. He is a young, violently quick player who would fit nicely alongside Wade because of his shooting ability and playmaking skills.
Emeka Okafor (C, New Orleans) – If the Heat were to acquire Collison they would likely have to take on the contract of Okafor ($11 million). He might not be a star, but he is an above average big man who is in the upper tier defensively.
Ty Lawson (PG, Denver) – There is a similar situation in Denver as New Orleans. Lawson is their backup behind Billups, and I see them trying to move him for the right price. Lawson would be a decent upgrade over Chalmers.
Al Jefferson (C, Minnesota) – A young, gifted center who is on the trade market. I could see Riley pushing for him hard if he wasn’t so lousy on the defensive end. This is would probably be a last resort type of trade.
Anderson Varejao (PF/C, Cleveland) – If Lebron James leaves Cleveland, which is looking more and more likely, they might have a fire sale a la the 1998 and 2004 Marlins and Varejao is the perfect defensive-minded big man Riley covets.
Danny Granger (SF, Indiana) – If Miami lands a top power forward they can fill the other forward spot with a young, versatile player like Granger, who would tear the league up as a number two or three scorer. He averaged 24.1 points a night last year for the lowly Pacers.
Analysis: Miami is going to push the James/Wade/Bosh trio early on and hard. If James isn’t showing strong interest from the beginning it is time to go into full-attack mode on Chris Bosh. Bosh is key. If Riley and Wade can tie up Bosh, the team is headed in the right direction, which could eventually later include James.
If Bosh were to join James in Chicago, Miami will be scrambling because by the time they move to plan B (Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, or Carlos Boozer) other teams (New York, L.A., New Jersey) will have already made strong pushes for those second tier guys.
The odds of the Heat landing a star power forward among Bosh, Stoudemire, and Boozer is still pretty high and any one of those guys would probably be enough to get Wade to return. There is no doubt that an elite big man is the number one priority.
For what it’s worth, Stephen A.Smith reported on his radio show today that James, Wade, and Bosh will be going to Miami. Who knows what to think from this because there is a ton of conflicting reports going around. We will know which ones are accurate very soon.
Dynasty Scenario – The dream of Bosh, Wade, and James in South Beach comes to fruition and the new look Heat become the most dominant dynasty in modern day professional sports.
Next Best Case Scenario – The Heat build around a lethal core of Wade and Bosh.
Time To Jump Scenario – Chicago lands Bosh and James while Wade says adios. Miami would likely be left with a combination of Carlos Boozer or Amare Stoudemire and Rudy Gay, not exactly a championship core. This day would end with me weeping under my bed.
I have the up most faith that Pat Riley will get something done that will make Heat fans proud. He has had too much time to analyze every possible scenario that he could run into this summer. After all, his track record is impeccable.
Although the Heat haven’t met expectations ever since their championship run four years ago, the time is coming.
The Heat will rise again.
