NBA Rumor: Miami Heat Interested in Troy Murphy and Mike Bibby

The Heat, coming off a disheartening loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday, are still second in the up-and-coming Eastern Conference.

Although they are currently behind the Celtics for the top spot, the Heat have had their fair share of struggles this season.

Point guard and center have been the main issues.

Quite frankly, both positions cannot seem to score nor anything else. It is rare that we have seen Mario Chalmers, Erick Dampier, Joel Anthony, and the others contribute greatly to the team that is primarily known as the second coming of the "Big Three."

Let's face it, LeBron, D-Wade, and Bosh cannot do it all by themselves.

Those three players are not going to net a team a championship. There needs to be more intricate pieces added to the puzzle for them to win.

And as of right now, they do not have those pieces.

However, they seem to be working on that feature.

According to multiple reports, the Heat have been rumored to be interested in forward-center Troy Murphy and point guard Mike Bibby.

This season, Murphy is currently looking to be added to his third time in just as many weeks.

Starting off the season with the Nets, Murphy was traded to the Warriors on Feb. 23. He was bought out by the Warriors just four days later.

With the forward currently on the free agent market, most contending teams are scrounging to pick up role players that would hopefully contribute to a late-season run.

That's where Murphy could come in for the Heat. Miami, along with Boston and others, have already expressed interest in the big man.

It is likely that Murphy will sign with a contending team and not end up back with a team like the Nets or Warriors.

He is currently averaging 3.6 points per game, a career-low. He is also averaging 4.2 rebounds in just a total of 18 games and four starts.

Another veteran could possibly be joining Murphy on the free agent market.

Enter Mike Bibby.

Bibby, who started off the season with the Atlanta Hawks, was dealt to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline.

There have been rumors swirling that the Wizards will buy out Bibby, but those rumors haven't been justified.

Like Murphy, it is presumed that if Bibby does in fact get bought out, he will also go to a contending team.

It has already been rumored that the Heat would go after the point guard, if bought out.

If these two ended up eventually signing with the Heat, what would it mean for the team as a whole?

Overall, both would be great pickups for Miami. Despite both players getting older, they could still contribute more than some people think.

Murphy is still a double-double machine and Bibby is still a great ball distributor. Bibby's stats may not reflect that, but if you watch him on the court, you will see that.

I doubt Bibby would start for Miami, but Murphy possibly could.

Standing at 6'11", Murphy could start at center, supplanting the offensively-challenged Anthony and Dampier.

Murphy is definitely an upgrade over the aforementioned Dampier and Anthony.

Bibby's stats and skills have diminished over the past couple of seasons, so it would be likely that coach Erik Spoelstra would start three-year pro Mario Chalmers.

But, Bibby could be a solid back-up to Chalmers. Not only that, but Bibby could be a great teacher to the young guard. It's a signing that would work out in more ways than one.

If the Heat could nab both of these players, I believe that their title hopes will strengthen.

I'm not saying that they're going to win the championship with these two players, but I think the odds will get much better for the Heat.

Look for the Heat to make some moves in the upcoming days or weeks.

Not only that, but these possible moves could make them a much better team.