Miami Heat Rumors: Roundup of Top Trade and 2011 Free Agent Targets

The Miami Heat had massive expectations upon the signings of LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade in South Beach.

After the trio's first season together resulted in a finals loss, the team is going to have to find a way to get over the hump in an effort to ascend to where the club would like to be.

With most of the team's financial commitments tied up in the big three, there is no doubt Miami will have to find a method to be creative if the team is serious about adding a piece or two to the fold who can legitimately add value to the current roster.

Nene, PF/C, Free Agent

The team is expected to reach out to Nene as one of their first targets during free agency, but that does not mean that the interest will be reciprocated.

Although he has already stated that winning is going to be a major factor to him at this stage of his career, it is unlikely he would opt out of his previous deal in Denver to take an extraordinarily large pay cut to join the Heat.

With all of the clubs likely to contend for his services as one of the clear-cut free agents on the open market, the Heat certainly won't be able to bank on Nene's arrival onto the roster going forward.

Grant Hill, SF, Free Agent

Hill has been linked to the team for an extended period of time, and despite some suggestions that he'll remain in Phoenix, it is very possible he may want to contend for a title during the final years of his career.

There is thought to be a mutual interest between Hill and Miami, and after really playing well for the Suns last year, there is no doubt that he could definitely add serious value to the club.

It should be an interesting decision for Hill, as the desire to win a championship may very well overcome his inclination to remain in Phoenix, a team clearly rebuilding for the future.

Eddy Curry, C, Free Agent

Curry has not seen the NBA hardwood since the 2009-10 season when he played in just seven games for New York, but it has been a lot longer than that since he has looked like he belonged.

His best season came during 2006-07 (19.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) when he played in all but one regular season contest, and the big man showed the potential which got him drafted fourth overall back in 2001.

Constant conditioning issues have been a serious deterrent in his attempted return to the league, but the Heat have promised to take a long and careful look at him as long as he meets the team's weight requirement.

Tracy McGrady, G/F, Free Agent

McGrady is going to be a popular target for teams looking to compete for a title, and after showing that he was healthy in Detroit last year while illustrating his versatility, it is easy to see why that is the case.

He is probably going to have to settle for a one-year contract before anyone will readily buy into his ability to stay on the court for an extended period of time, but that should work out favorably to both the team and McGrady if he can remain healthy.

His name has already been mentioned as a possible addition for Miami, and after playing extended minutes at the point guard position for the Pistons last season, perhaps the Heat are willing to see more of that experiment and get him out on the court simultaneously with James, Wade and Bosh.

Shane Battier, SF, Free Agent

Battier is another veteran free agent who could make for a solid addition to bolster Miami's reserve group, but he is going to be in high demand.

He'd serve as a defensive stopper and locker room leader for the Heat, and while he would have a chance to ascertain a championship, he has similar opportunities elsewhere and could probably make more money outside of Miami.

Despite the team expressing interest in bringing him aboard, Battier is clearly comfortable in Memphis, and it would be surprising if he spurns an opportunity to stay if the team presents him the opportunity to do so.

Tayshaun Prince, F, Free Agent

Prince is another veteran who has been mentioned as a potential target for the team, and it's one of the more intriguing names which has been kicked around the rumor mill.

After coming off a season in Detroit where he flew largely under the radar, the market for Prince is really unestablished, and it will be interesting to see what type of contract he commands as a free agent.

It is unlikely that his value has dropped off enough where he'd have to "settle" for a one-year deal or a low base salary, but perhaps he could join Miami in an effort to to play with a far more talented group than he ran with during his recent tenure with the Pistons.

Michael Redd, SG, Free Agent

Redd is healthy following back-to-back ACL tears in the same knee, and despite the fact that he's finally feeling better, his market as an unrestricted free agent is going to be a limited one.

Most teams are going to be scared off by his knee, and there's no way he'll broach his previous pay check, but that doesn't mean he's incapable of contributing to a club willing to roll the dice on his chances of success.

A report from Milwaukee beat writer Gery Woelfel suggests that he's likely to sign with an Eastern Conference contender, and there are only a handful of clubs that accurately fit that description.

Samuel Dalembert, C, Free Agent

Dalembert's name has been linked to the Heat since the team had its initial struggles with production from the big man position, and those rumors have not died down.

Despite making a very large chunk of money on his previous deal, Dalembert could see Miami as a very appealing landing spot even if the team cannot afford to pay him the same salary as some other potential suitors.

Like Nene, Dalembert should be one of the first people that the team reaches out to in free agency, and it would not be surprising to see an agreement come together quickly if the veteran center is serious about winning a ring.

J.J. Barea, PG, Free Agent

Barea mentioned Miami, Los Angeles and New York as potential destinations in case he could not re-sign in Dallas, but it's hard to imagine him joining the Heat.

He was one of the driving forces behind Dallas beating Miami in the finals, and his efforts proved integral throughout the postseason long before that.

He is simply not as valuable to other clubs as he is to the Mavericks as he serves a very specific role on the club. Also, with Roddy Beaubois' foot an ongoing problem for all of last season, it is tough to imagine Barea finding a more appealing offer elsewhere.

Free Agent Target Speculation: Jeff Foster, F/C

Foster has spent his entire career in Indiana with the Pacers, and even if the team is interested in re-signing him, it's possible that Foster could look for stronger opportunities elsewhere.

He's never exactly served a a linchpin of the rotation, but he is a very reliable big man who shows no fear in banging around beneath the basket with the opposition.

Miami needs to focus on having big men on the roster capable of actually contributing rather than simply taking up seats on the bench, and Foster fits that role well at a minimal cost.

Free Agent Target Speculation: Anthony Parker, G/F

Miami is going to need some additional help in the second unit after the underwhelming performance of Mike Miller last season, and Parker is an interesting candidate to say the least.

At this stage in his career, Parker is likely to be more fixated on winning a championship than making additional money, and it is possible that he feels his best chance of doing so is joining a contender.

The veteran should appeal to a number of contending teams looking to strengthen the reserve unit, but not all of those clubs offer the same allure as Miami.

Free Agent Target Speculation: Mike Dunleavy, G/F

Dunleavy's name might not be a popular one among some fans after recurrent knee woes have sapped some of his previous productivity, but Miami is going to have to gamble with limited financial flexibility.

After averaging double-digit scoring, shooting better than 40 percent from the three-point arc and shooting a solid 80 percent from the foul line, there are certainly elements of Dunleavy's approach that could improve the Miami attack.

It is imperative that the team can stretch the floor in an effort to create space in the lane for Wade and James to drive through, and Dunleavy could certainly help achieve exactly that if (and only if) he is healthy.

Trade Target Speculation: Jason Thompson, PF/C

After Sacramento traded Omri Casspi for J.J. Hickson just prior to the lockout, it added a significant talent to an already crowded front line for the Kings.

With Hickson, DeMarcus Cousins, Darnell Jackson, Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Honeycutt all down low, an inconsistently utilized Jason Thompson could be the most logical candidate to be dealt if the Kings pursue a trade.

He is a restricted free agent after the season, and if the Kings don't think he is a piece of the long-term puzzle, it makes sense to see what the club could get for him on the open market.

Trade Target Speculation: Ronnie Brewer, SG

Brewer signed in Chicago before the start of last season, but he never really seemed to fill that role that the team had in mind for him.

With a logjam at the shooting guard position and the club already having been rumored to be looking to bring in another player, Brewer could be the most valuable trade chip the Bulls have at the negotiating table.

He makes a lot of sense for Miami as a defensive-minded guard off of the bench, and he would really strengthen the team's bench, something that should be at the forefront of the priorities throughout the offseason.

Trade Target Speculation: Ramon Sessions, PG

Sessions is going to be a name fans will hear often on the trade market, and it only makes sense considering he is buried on Cleveland's depth chart and carries a reasonable contract.

While the plans at the point guard position are highly fluid for this particular team, much of it will depend on who the team is able to attract via free agency before delving into the trade market.

He showed that he is very capable of producing when given the opportunity to play. Plus, with the trouble that the team had garnering production from the position last season, his addition could very well be a welcomed by one some already on the roster.