2011 NBA Free Agency: The Top 25 Offseason Targets for the Miami Heat
We may still have a month of playoff basketball ahead of us but, as most NBA fans can attest, there's always an eye toward the offseason.
Whether you're in the lottery or putting together a deep playoff run, unless the team is complete and without weakness, there's someone out there you'd love to get your hands on for next season.
For the Miami Heat, with gaping holes at center and point guard, the focus must be on Boston. With Miami leading the best-of-seven series 2-0, and halfway to a spot in the Eastern Conference finals, it's tough to put your gaze elsewhere.
But as Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers fail to impress and Zydrunas Ilgauskas appears to be nothing more than a body to play in the middle when Joel Anthony's on the bench, there's that gnawing thought in the back of our heads.
This team is already scary when the defense is clicking and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade bring their best. To think what they would be like with legitimate starting options at center and point guard, makes us wonder what Jeff Van Gundy's predictions for this team would be in 2011-2012.
Miami will be bargain-shopping this offseason, though. The team is without an ounce of cap space, no draft picks or tradable assets, and only the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions and the veteran's minimum to work with.
That's assuming the new collective bargaining agreement doesn't do away with the offseason perks of teams over the salary cap—which for now is the basis we'll work of off.
Even with relatively little to toss at free agents financially, the allure of South Beach and the Big Three, as well as the absence of state income taxes, gives Miami a chance to bring in a lot more than your average team could in this situation.
The Ungettables: Nene Hilario, C
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The first group of free agents Miami will pursue will be those the Heat simply have no shot at bringing in. They'll offer the full mid-level and, when that comes up short, Miami will gracefully bow out.
These are the guys the Heat covet more than anyone and will do their due diligence pursuing, but it's a futile effort.
Leading the field here is Denver Nuggets center Nene Hilario.
Nene is scheduled to earn $11.6 million next season, but has an opt-out clause in his contract that he may utilize. Denver would love to lock him up long term and it wouldn't be surprising to never see his name pop up in free agency this summer.
A nimble center who can run the floor and score at over a 60 percent clip around the basket, there won't be a free agent out there who fits in better with Miami's system.
The Ungettables: Tyson Chandler, C
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A year ago, Tyson Chandler was an injury-prone center many felt was on his last legs. Earning over $12 million this season he came into the year as one of the most overpaid players in the league.
Fast forward a year and Chandler is on his way to earning a massive contract this summer. He's played in 81 games this season, including the playoffs, and is putting up some of the best numbers of his career.
Chandler has been a crucial part of Dallas' success on both ends of the court and is arguably the Mavericks second most valuable player after Dirk Nowitzki.
Dallas will do whatever it takes to re-sign him but, even if he hits the open market, the mid-level exception is barely worth Pat Riley picking up the phone to offer.
The Ungettables: Marc Gasol, C
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Marc Gasol has been a model of consistency throughout his three-year career with an average of 12.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 1.8 bpg that essentially mirrors what he'll give you most nights.
A restricted free agent this summer, there's been speculation that notoriously cheap Memphis would let him walk but, as the year went on, it became increasingly clear the Grizzlies intended to keep their starting center.
After the Grizzlies stunning upset of the San Antonio Spurs, the notion that Gasol would escape Memphis—for the mid-level at that—went right out the window.
Gasol has been an animal this postseason and has played himself well out of the Heat's price range and made it a forgone conclusion that the Grizzlies will match anything NBA teams throw at him this summer.
The Ungettables: Ray Allen, SG
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Ray Allen has a $10 million player option for next season that he's surely going to utilize. At 35-years-old, you have to believe Boston is his last stop.
And in the very unlikely event that Allen hits the open market, is there really any hope he'll land in Miami?
Miami and Boston simply don't like each other. It goes beyond this playoff series, beyond this season. There's legitimate bad blood between them. Allen would burst into flames were he to don a Heat jersey. Not literally of course, but you get the idea.
So while Heat fans are free to dream of what it would be like to see the best three-point shooter in NBA history spotting up in the corner next to LeBron and Wade, there isn't a shred of doubt it'll never happen.
The Ungettables: Rodney Stuckey, PG
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Rodney Stuckey isn't a name that draws much buzz in free agent discussions, but that shouldn't be the case at all. If he were to hit the market, he'd be the best point guard available and would draw considerable attention.
For the Detroit Pistons, the question now is whether a team that went 30-52 this past season can afford to tie up a significant amount of cap space on a good, but not great player.
The Pistons already have $45 million on the books for next season and, after Joe Dumars made the mistake of handing out huge contracts to Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva two summers ago, he may balk at doing the same with Stuckey.
Reports out of Detroit indicate he has every intention of re-signing Stuckey though. So, as intriguing as the combo guard with great defensive skills and a solid all-around offensive game may be, it just seems too unlikely he'll shake free of the Pistons' grip to list him outside of the "ungettable" category.
The Ungettables: Aaron Brooks, PG
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Phoenix traded backup point guard Goran Dragic to Houston at the trade deadline in exchange for Aaron Brooks, so you have to imagine he's in the Suns' longterm plans.
Behind Rodney Stuckey, he's the best point guard option available this summer and could serve as a very intriguing trading chip for the Suns as he's a restricted free agent primed for a sign-and-trade.
Suns owner Robert Starver doesn't open his wallet often and, after letting Amar'e Stoudemire walk last summer, it's possible he won't want to invest in Brooks as well.
However, with Steve Nash in the twilight of his career, Phoenix will look to maximize Brooks' value either by biting the bullet and re-signing him or going the sign-and-trade route.
Either way, Miami will be left out of the loop considering the Heat have nothing to offer in a trade.
The Ungettables: Yao Ming, C
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Unlike everyone else we pegged as an ungettable, Yao Ming is somewhat intriguing. The once-mighty center has seen his massive size turn from his greatest asset into the root of serious injuries.
Yao might never play again. That's something we all have to consider for a second. His feet just don't seem able to bear the weight of his 7'6" 310-pound frame.
At 30-years-old, age isn't really a factor. If he can stay healthy, Yao can play at an All-Star level and be as good as any center short of Dwight Howard.
Mid-Level Exception Targets: Samuel Dalembert, C
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Once you get past the really enticing names, Samuel Dalembert is the first legitimate option out there for Miami.
His minutes are down over the last three seasons, which goes a long way toward explaining the drop-off in production over that span.
Still, Dalembert is averaging a respectable 8.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 1.5 bpg shooting .473 from the field.
He can run the floor, has great length to lend on the defensive side of the ball, does a nice job picking up the garbage around the rim and given greater time on the court would get back to averaging a double-double.
In Miami, Dalembert would open things up for Chris Bosh and LeBron in the post and would give the Heat yet another shot-blocker to add to an already stifling defense.
Mid-Level Exception Targets: Greg Oden, C
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Greg Oden is a name that's floated in and out of the discussion of free agent options for Miami.
The former No. 1 overall pick has had one of the worst runs of luck you can imagine over his short and injury-riddled career. Oden has appeared in only 82 games since entering the league in 2007, missing 246 contents due to injury.
Still, at only 23-years-old, there's no denying Oden has the talent to develop into the type of dominant center the Portland Trail Blazers envisioned when drafting him. He just needs to find a way to stay healthy, which may never happen.
A restricted free agent this summer, Oden is expected to draw a considerable amount of interest. With the Blazers already committed to over $45 million in salary to Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby, even if the team opts to let Andre Miller walk, it's still possible they wouldn't match offers for Oden.
Partial Mid-Level or Bi-Anual Targets: Shane Battier, SF
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Miam will go after every quality center on the market this summer, but if that doesn't pan out the Heat will look for a defensive stopper to add to the system and then work to split the mid-level and bi-anual exceptions amongst a few players.
There really isn't a point guard out there worth full mid-level money that the Heat have a shot at and once you get beyond Dalembert and Oden the options at center take a steep dive toward mediocrity.
If Miami strikes out with those two, forget about a sizable upgrade at center. But it doesn't mean the Heat can't improve. There are a ton of lesser options available that fit somewhere between mid-level money and the veteran's minimum.
One of the best amongst them is Shane Battier. Not quite the defensive warden he was a few years ago, Battier is still an extremely smart and active player who won't make mistakes and can add another solid layer of intensity to Miami's defense while spotting up for open jumpers on offense.
Partial Mid-Level or Bi-Anual Targets: Tayshaun Prince, SF
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Tayshaun Prince is an option for Miami that might not immediately draw much interest from the fanbase, but it's one you can bet Pat Riley and the front office staff will explore as an alternative option should things fall through with Dalembert.
Prince was once a thorn in this franchise's side back when Detroit was relevant and Miami met the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row.
Sure, five years have passed since then and Prince isn't the same player he used to be, but there's still great value here.
Prince is versatile, he can line up at power forward if needed and can defend bigger shooting guards as long as their quickness doesn't get the best of them. A decent shooter with long, pesky arms he's the type of player you can plug in between LeBron and Wade with scary results on the defensive side of the ball.
Partial Mid-Level or Bi-Anual Targets: Mickael Pietrus, SF
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After the 2008-2009 playoffs Mickael Pietrus looked like a player primed to take the next step in his career, but it didn't quite happen.
He's still a solid defender and role player who can hit threes with some of the best of them, but he's mistake prone and too-often tries to be a bigger part of the offense - particularly by recklessly driving to the basket - and the reality is it tends to make him stray oh so far from his strong suits.
If Eric Spoelstra can convince Pietrus to embrace a role as a defensive stopper and spot up shooter sparks could fly. Pietrus could be what James Posey was to the 2006 Championship-winning squad.
Partial Mid-Level or Bi-Anual Targets: Matt Barnes, SF
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Matt Barnes signed with the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason with hopes of playing the role Trevor Ariza did in 2009-2010, but instead injuries and general chemistry issues have limited him to 19 minutes a game and kept him out of 29 regular season contents.
He's been used sparingly thus far in the postseason and with a player option for next season you have to imagine he'll seriously consider abandoning ship. Slatted to earn just under $2 million in 2011-2012 Barnes could find equal, if not better, pay on the open market.
Miami had serious interest at the beginning of the year and you can't imagine too much has changed on the Heat's end.
The problem is Barnes might end up relegated to the backend of Miami's rotation much as Eddie House did and considering he'd presumably leave LA to escape that type of environment the chances of this union could be diminished.
Partial Mid-Level or Bi-Anual Targets: Andrei Kirilenko, SF
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At this point in his career, Kirilenko is miles away from the $17 million he earned this season and would be lucky to garner half of the full mid-level in free agency.
Utah is in the process of starting over and Kirilenko has no future with the Jazz. There will be interest out there, but in the bargain bin.
Kirlienko's injury history has simply destroyed his value. He's basically a lock to miss 20 or so games a year and while he can still score at a decent clip and hasn't lost his value on the defensive side of the ball, teams know the bidding won't be high.
He doesn't have the versatility of Battier or Prince and there's a feeling that he'd get squeezed out of the rotation as a result, but if Miami can make it work chemistry-wise, Kirlienko could bring a lot to the table in a reserve role.
Partial Mid-Level or Bi-Anual Targets: Jose Juan Barea, PG
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With Jason Kidd turning 39 next year you have to believe Dallas will do what it takes to keep Jose Juan Barea off the market.
The 26-year-old backup point guard might not dazzle, but he does pretty much everything well on the offensive side of the ball and while he's on the small side and struggles with bigger point guards on defense, he's a capable player on that end of the court.
Dallas isn't a team that shies away from spending money and with no other viable point guards he's as close to a "must re-sign" as a career backup can be.
Considering how weak the free agent market for point guards is expected to be, Barea could see some larger than expected bills thrown his way. Miami will likely take a look here, but expectations that anything could develop from that must be tempered.
Veteran's Minimum Targets: Kwame Brown, C
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Before you scoff just yet, consider that Kwame Brown had arguably the best game of his career against Miami this season.
He went off for 23 points and 13 rebounds on 10-15 shooting and for a moment we saw a glimmer of the player Michael Jordan thought he was drafting with the first overall pick back in 2001.
Ok that may be pushing it, but Brown, who nearly played himself out of the league over the last couple of years, seems to have finally found his footing at age 29.
He's by no means the answer to Miami's problems at center, but with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Erick Dampier not expected back next season the Heat need warm bodies.
Should they fail to land one of the better centers on the market, Brown is a better option than you might think.
Veteran's Minimum Targets: Grant Hill, SF
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Even at 38 years old Grant Hill still gets it done. He averaged 13.2 ppg on .484 shooting this season and now faces a crossroads in life.
Does he retire after a 15-year career satisfied with the results or does he hook up with a contender and give it one more shot at that NBA Championship that's eluded him throughout his career?
He might want to have a chat Gary Payton.
It took Payton 16 years to win his first and only championship. It came in 2006 with Miami. Hill and Payton are incomparable talents, but one thing they have in common is both are Hall of Famers that step up when it matters.
You want Grant Hill on your team.
Veteran's Minimum Targets: Earl Watson, PG
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If Miami is going to add a point guard in free agency this summer it'll be Earl Watson. Some have pointed towards Earl Boykins, but at 5'5" he's already a defensive liability and requires the ball in his hands too much of the time.
On a team like the Heat that already struggles to defend opposing point guards it just seems like a poor fit even before you consider Boykins turns 35 in June.
Watson on the other hand is a solid defender who can handle either guard position and does a good job of pressuring the ball and forcing his opponent into making a mistake.
He can't shoot nearly well as Boykins, but that wouldn't be what the Heat would ask of him. Miami would stick him on the court for 20 minutes a game and have him wear down the likes of Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo and Jameer Nelson.
Veteran's Minimum Targets: Jeff Foster, C
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Jeff Foster is the type of blue collar guy Miami loves. He'll come in, do the dirty work, ruffle a few feathers with your opponent and be a solid presence in the locker room.
When Miami couldn't buy a game against Indiana for all those years, Foster always seemed to be the one picking up a late offensive rebound, scoping up his opponents misses for easy buckets and sealing the door on the Heat.
At the very least, signing Foster would take him off your opponent's roster and over the years that's been something Miami hasn't enjoyed.
Foster is well into the backend of his career, but he can still rebound and defend and while he's more of a power forward than a center at this point, he'd bring great value to the team on and off the court.
Veteran's Minimum Targets: Peja Stojakovic, SF
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Peja Stojakovic revitalized his career to a certain degree once he signed with Dallas as a free agent midseason.
The sharpshooter has been hitting at a solid clip this year, but at 33-years-old that's basically where the discussion begins and ends with him.
Stojakovic is more an option to pursue in the event that Miami is unable to re-sign James Jones and doesn't have faith in Mike Miller.
If both of those players are in place, Stajakovic doesn't really have a place in Miami's rotation - just ask Eddie House.
In all likelihood he'll re-sign with Dallas as that's the location he chose for himself just a couple of months ago and there's really no reason to think that will change much.
Veteran's Minimum Targets: Troy Murphy, PF
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When Troy Murphy was released from New Jersey at midseason his decision came down to two teams, Miami and Boston.
Both needed help in their front court rotation, Miami with Udonis Haslem sidelined and Boston after the Kendrick Perkins trade.
Murphy went with Boston and has been limited to 10 minutes a game, producing very little statistically. It's gotten to to the point where you have to wonder if the Celtics were even interested in him in the first place or were merely trying to block the Heat from bringing him on board.
Doc Rivers will never let you know either way, but Murphy will be available again this summer and there's no way he's staying in Boson. Miami coud use a big with his rebounding skills and long range shooting to stretch the defense.
Veteran's Minimum Targets: Nazr Mohammed, C
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We'll be blunt here. If Miami ends up having to sign Nazr Mohammed it means everything went wrong.
He's the type of talent you sign out of necessity, not desire.
At 6'10" and 250 lbs he's a bit undersized as a center and struggles to defend bigger opponents. Take him away from the basket and the results are even worse.
It's not all bad with Mohammed though. He's a decent rebounder and shot blocker and will score at a decent clip from close range.
If Miami gets desperate his name will begin to surface.
Players to Re-Sign: James Jones, SF
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With so many players on the roster on minimum deals the Heat has a long list of impending free agents.
Big Z and Juwan Howard are expected to retire, Dampier and Jamaal Magloire won't be re-signed, Eddie House may decide to walk after sitting on the bench most of the season, but James Jones along with Mario Chalmers and Mike Bibby are too important to let walk.
In Jones case, he's proven to be the team's most reliable and consistent 3-point shooter. HIs 25-point performance against Boston in Game One says all you need to know.
Mike Miller has been a shell of his former self with a series of injuries relegating him to the end of the rotation. That leaves Jones as best shooter on the team and a guy Miami can't afford to go into next season without.
Players to Re-Sign: Mario Chalmers, PG
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Chalmers and Bibby are the only point guards Miami is carrying on the roster and with both scheduled to be free agents after the season there's no denying that the Heat have to keep one, if not both, of them.
Chalmers is the younger of the two, the better shooter of late and by far the better defender. If Miami had to pick, he'd stay and Bibby would walk.
He's flawed, there's no denying that, but with limited options in free agency it's simply not going to get any better than Chalmers at the point.
Should Miami not retain him, it could turn into a serious issue.
Players to Re-Sign: Mike Bibby, PG
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Based on the release of Carlos Arroyo upon Miami's addition of Bibby you have to believe the Heat don't intend to carry more than two point guards on the roster considering how much LeBron and Wade handle the ball on a nightly basis.
That said, Bibby is likely to return next season in the event the team is unable to find a sizeable upgrade - which frankly doesn't exist in the Heat's price range.
Bibby can still shoot the three at a solid clip and his passing skills haven't diminished much, but he's not the same player he was a couple of years ago in Atlanta.
He turns 33 later this month and is a terrible defensive liability, but the grass isn't always greener on the other side and it's very likely that anyone you bring in as a replacement will come with just as many faults.
That someone just might not shoot the ball quite as well though. And with Bibby, you know you have that. At least for now.
Pipe Dream Trade Addition: Ricky Rubio, PG
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We thought we'd throw this one in there for all of the Heat fans out there who are drooling over the Spanish sensation.
But we won't get your hopes up. It's not going to happen.
Sure, people in his camp say he'll never play for Minnesota and would rather go to Miami, Boston or New York. That's all great in theory, except that the Timberwolves own his rights and don't look willing to negotiate on that.
Minnesota seems convinced Ricky Rubio will come and, if that fails, he's going to be sold to the highest bidder.
So exactly what will Miami build it's trade package around? Giving the Timberwolves back their second round pick from the Michael Beasley trade?
