Allen Iverson a later-rather-than-now issue for Heat

To a degree, an Allen Iverson-Heat marriage makes sense. For years, Pat Riley has run a last-chance saloon.

But it's not going to happen the first week of free-agent negotiations. It's not going to happen at the July 8 start of the free-agent signing period. And it's not going to happen until after the July 12 window opens for Dwyane Wade to be eligible to sign an extension.

Allen Iverson Iverson makes sense because Iverson may not have many other options. But until the Knicks spend their mid-level exception, until Larry Brown gets an official rejection from Bobcats management, and until the remaining precious little cap space around the league is spent, Iverson doesn't have to move to Plan B.

With the Heat already into the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, anything paid to Iverson will be doubled on the books next season. So even with a $2 million contract, is he worth $4 million at this stage?

Then there is the matter of the Heat being guided by a coach entering his second year. Has Erik Spoelstra done anything to deserve this?

With the Heat, an Iverson contract would be for one year. Is that what Iverson wants or needs at this stage? And is that what you want to add alongside the impressionable youth of Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers and Daequan Cook?

Oh, Iverson could help. But as a reserve. Finding backcourt offense with Wade on the bench has been an ongoing concern. Yet this is the same Iverson who said coming off the bench was intolerable last season in Detroit. Considering how much Wade wants and needs the ball in his hands, an Iverson-Wade backcourt could involve plenty of drama.

So why are we talking about Iverson? Because, as a league source said, there aren't many options out there for Iverson.

Yes, he might come cheap. But perhaps that says plenty about where Iverson stands at this point in his career. Source: SunSentinel.com

Artest To Lakers? Iverson To Grizzlies? No Luck For Heat?

Ron Artest has told Ken Berger of CBSSports.com that he will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I'm definitely going to L.A. -- to sign, yeah," Artest said in a phone interview. "Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I'm in L.A. right now."

Artest said he met with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss Thursday and previously had spoken with Lakers coach Phil Jackson. He was en route to his financial manager's office, where he planned to huddle on the phone with his agent, David Bauman, to finalize details.

The parameters of the deal still need to be agreed upon, however.

"I don't really care about the money," Artest said. "I'll play there for nothing. ... L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me." Source: Source: CBSSports.com



Iverson Interested In Joining Grizzlies

Allen Iverson has made it known through his representatives that he is interested in signing with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to multiple sources.

The Grizzlies front office is said to be internally weighing the pros and cons of possibly adding Iverson to the team's youth movement. Source: Commercial Appeal

Miami Heat has contacted Iverson and Artest

Miami Heat has contacted Iverson and Artest, insiders say
Heat president Pat Riley has contacted veterans Allen Iverson and Ron Artest for exploratory discussions after saying he didn't plan any major moves this summer.

Amid a cost-conscious approach to improving the roster this summer, the Miami Heat's attempts to upgrade through free agency apparently aren't being discounted.

Allen Iverson and Ron Artest are among a group of free agents who have been contacted by Heat president Pat Riley in the opening days of free-agency negotiations, league sources said Thursday.

Although the discussions are said to be exploratory, it signals a far more aggressive approach to free agency by the Heat than the team suggested in recent weeks.

Riley entered the start of the free agency negotiating period Wednesday saying he would be reluctant to spend the $5.5 million mid-level exception because the Heat already was past the league's anticipated dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on excessive payrolls.

Riley also had been unwilling to add contracts that extend beyond next summer, when the Heat will have spending flexibility to re-sign Dwyane Wade and another top-tier free agent to maximum contracts.

The team's stance had been that a significant roster overhaul would only take place this summer if there were an earlier commitment from Wade, who is eligible to sign a three-year contract extension July 12.

But the Heat appears to be covering both bases. Miami is taking the due diligence approach of lining up potential bargain options now if Wade doesn't extend his contract, while also keeping tabs on potential blockbuster trades in the event Wade does extend.

PROVEN OFFENSIVE THREAT

Iverson, a former league MVP who has averaged 27.1 points over 13 seasons, might be willing to accept an offer of one or two seasons in what is expected to be a tight market. He turned 34 last month and is coming off a rocky season in Detroit that ended with complaints about his role. He left the team before the playoffs to treat a back injury.

Although discussions with agent Leon Rose are believed to be in the initial stages, the Heat likely would be interested only if Iverson is willing to accept less than the full mid-level amount. Miami could also offer the $2 million veteran's exception.

Iverson has maintained a low profile since he left the Pistons. But he could address his future by next week in advance of his annual kids camp in Virginia.

A TOUGHER SELL

A much larger transaction would be required to land Artest, who is coming off a productive season in which he helped lead Houston to the second round of the playoffs, where it pushed the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to seven games.

But injury concerns with center Yao Ming, who might miss all of next season with a foot injury, could force the Rockets into a rebuilding stage. That could make Artest, a free agent, available in sign-and-trade offers.

Agent David Bauman said Thursday that Artest wouldn't be interested in a one-year deal from the Heat or any suitor, which might also include Houston.

''We've talked to a handful of teams, and there's some mutual interest,'' Bauman said Thursday. ``But it would be inappropriate for me to mention everyone we're looking at.''

Artest, 29, has averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 10 seasons. He is considered one of the NBA's best two-way players at small forward because of his rugged, lock-down perimeter defense.

The Heat has long had interest in both Iverson and Artest. Miami was among the teams that inquired about Iverson when he was traded from Philadelphia to Denver three years ago, and from the Nuggets to Detroit at the start of last season.

Artest has been a Heat target at least since his time in Sacramento, where he spent three seasons before he was traded to the Rockets last year.

Whereas Artest appears to have numerous suitors, including Cleveland, Houston and Orlando, Iverson's options are reportedly more limited. Charlotte, coached by Larry Brown, has been the only other team mentioned in connection with Iverson. Brown coached Iverson in Philadelphia, where the two led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals.

PERIMETER SHOOTING WANTED

The Heat would like to get more perimeter scoring around Wade, who had the best statistical season of his career last season. He led the league in scoring at 30.2 points per game and was third in MVP voting.

But Miami was eliminated by Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs after Wade didn't get enough help from a roster that relied heavily on young players Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers and Daequan Cook.

Immediately after the season, Riley talked about addressing the team's lack of offensive punch in the playoffs. But he also cautioned that improvements might have to come from within because of the team's luxury-tax situation and desire to ''protect our [salary] room'' for 2010. Source: The Miami Herald

Is Riles burning up the 602 area code?

Stoudemire is just the kind of low-post terror that could convince a fella with options -- say, an all-world guard who was born and raised in Chicago, which will be a major player in 2010, and who will himself be a free agent in 2010 -- to stay on South Beach. A package of Michael Beasley -- whom Miami's management does not, to put it charitably, seem enamored with -- Mark Blount ($7.9 million expiring deal) and James Jones (partial guarantees in each of his three remaining seasons after this upcoming one, which would seem to be music to Suns owner Robert Sarver's ears), could get Stoudemire to Miami in time for happy hour at The Clevelander. Plus, Phoenix would get him out of the Western Conference instead of having him dunk on its collective bean in Warriors gear three or four times a year. Source: NBA.com

Did the Heat offer Beasley for No. 2?

In the wake of the NBA Draft, you start to hear rumors about what teams supposedly were attempting to do. Such after-the-fact stuff generally has little shelf life, either because the speculation is inaccurate or, by that point, meaningless.

And yet, it was not easy to simply dismiss a report in Saturday's Memphis Commercial Appeal that said the Heat, on draft night, offered Michael Beasley for the No. 2 overall selection. We generally tend to believe reports connected, even if somewhat obtusely, to Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace (pictured below), the former Heat personnel executive.

Chris Wallace But, just to make sure, we took time to get the opposing view. And here's the latest: The Heat on Saturday said it was the Grizzlies that contacted it and tried to trade the No. 2 pick for Michael Beasley, not the other way around. A Heat spokesman confirmed that it was the Grizzlies who made the overtures.

In addition, that same report in the Commercial Appeal said that the Heat offered starting point guard Mario Chalmers for the No. 27 pick. Again, a Heat spokesman quickly corrected that it was Memphis that attempted to peddle No. 27 pick for Chalmers.

That part of the corrected equation makes plenty of sense. Chalmers, according to numerous insiders, has been the star of the Heat's offseason workouts.

Still, what we know now is that the Grizzlies have interest in Beasley, that there, indeed, is a market for the forward. What we've always known is the pervading sense that Heat President Pat Riley has never been totally comfortable with Beasley, seemingly cornered into selecting him at No. 2 in 2008. Recall, in advance of that selection last June, all the posturing when it came to O.J. Mayo and even Brook Lopez. And, make no mistake, the choice would have been Derrick Rose if the point guard had not gone at No. 1 to the Bulls.

The fallout? Apparently Riley can have No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet for Beasley. Riley, in a conversation a week ago, did stress how he was, is and will remain a center guy. Remember, Riley's first rebuilding project with the Heat came behind the shot blocking and rebounding of Alonzo Mourning.

Beasley for Thabeet? Nah, wouldn't do it. Somehow, it's nice to have players who also can score the ball.

And so goes another day of NBA rumors and surprisingly swift Heat reaction. Source: Sun-Sentinel.com

Shaq Trade: How it helps Cavs - and motivates Heat

What's Shaq now, The Big Mistake By The Lake?

Funny, the guy who once couldn't wait to leave Orlando for a big market has now barked his way to Cleveland.

Still, Cleveland's completed trade for Shaq on Wednesday night is a good, final attempt to bring a title next year and keep LeBron James around after it. Shaq, at 37, isn't what he was in winning a title with the Heat three years ago with three years ago, when he wasn't the player he was with the Lakers.

But he still occupies space, still puts up decent numbers (17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds last year) and still will be a good counterbalance to James.

Most important: He'll be on his mock-good behavior, unlike at the end with the Heat (and Lakers and Suns and Magic). It'll be interesting to see if the national image of O'Neal starts to sink as he trashes (as he will) another franchise he left or his championship rings and good sense of humor will again carry him through.

Two parsels of good news for the Heat in this:

1. This is a short-term solution, not a long-term one, for James. If it works for a year, that's all Cleveland can hope. So it's not like the Cavs went out and got Chris Bosh to set up a run for years.

2. It begs the Heat to make a move to answer. Pat Riley was surely going to do something to shake up the roster this off-season. But having a turncoat like Shaq back in the East demands it. He won't burn a year to watch Shaq make a run at a title

Question is: What's the best move now?

Source: SunSentinel.com

Pat Riley: Miami Heat's immediate future rests on Dwyane Wade's decision

Source: SunSentinel.com

MIAMI - Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Thursday his team may still attempt to buy a first-round pick in next week's NBA Draft, but that any potential roster overhaul would not come until the team gets a sharper read on Dwyane Wade's future.

Wade is eligible to sign an extension starting July 12, or the team's star shooting guard otherwise could become a free agent on July 1, 2010.

"I'm going to do the best sales job I can do," Riley said. "When the time comes, we're going to make him an offer.

"What we do going forward is going to be predicated on that."

Riley said the Heat otherwise would wait until a year from now for any major overhaul, when it could have the salary-cap space to sign multiple star players.

"I don't know if I want to change this team that much," he said. "Keeping the team together might be the thing until we can make the move in '10."

As for moving up from the team's lone selections at Nos. 43 and 60 in the second round of next week's draft, Riley said, "On draft day, money talks. The possibility is there. It depends on who is on the board."

Teams may offer a maximum of $3 million in any NBA transaction.

Riley said teams mostly have been angling for future first-round picks in return for a first-round pick next week, but he said that is not a course he prefers.

"They want future picks," he said, "and I don't want to give up future picks. There may not be much activity in the draft for us."

The Heat's first-round pick is in the hands of the Timberwolves as a result of the 2007 acquisition of guard Ricky Davis.

"Was it a horrible trade?" Riley said. "Yes, it was a horrible trade."

While the draft is loaded with prospects at point guard, and while the Heat is lacking at that position, Riley said he might bypass the draft in favor free agency when it comes to support for 2008 second-round pick Mario Chalmers.

"You probably don't want to have another rookie," he said.

On other personnel moves, Riley said the Heat would extend qualifying offers to forward Jamario Moon and center Joel Anthony, allowing the team to match outside offers for the restricted free agents at the July 1 start of free agency.

Still, with the team within $300,000 of the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on excessive payrolls, Riley said the Heat might be limited to carrying only 13 players next season, as opposed to the maximum of 15.

He said unless the Wade extension is resolved, the team also would not offer free-agent contracts that extend beyond the end of next season.

Riley also downplayed forward Michael Beasley preferring to play at a weight lighter than typical power forwards.

"He is a three-four," Riley said, offering comparisons to the Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. "Michael has the same skills."

As for his own status, Riley brushed aside recent reports linking him to coaching opportunities elsewhere.

"No, I'm not interested in coaching again," he said. "I really think it'd be too much to pick up and move. I've had enough."

Bosh Interested in Miami

The Heat's interest in Chris Bosh apparently is mutual. A friend of the Toronto power forward said Bosh has interest in playing for Miami, which would love to add him via trade this summer or free agency in 2010.

Bosh assuredly will dismiss any report linking him to another team because he doesn't want to upset the Raptors and doesn't need to decide his future for 13 months. But the friend said playing in Miami appeals to him.

With Bosh announcing he will test free agency in 2010, a competing executive who spoke to Raptors president Bryan Colangelo said Toronto appears open to considering offers for Bosh and likely would consider a package that includes Michael Beasley -- if the Heat overcomes reluctance to trade Beasley.

There are good reasons not to trade Beasley. For starters, Miami has a good chance to lure Bosh in 2010 free agency. And with the salary cap expected to drop in 2010, the Heat -- if it can sign Bosh and Dwyane Wade next summer -- would not have money left to sign a third player as skilled as Beasley. The risk is that if Bosh is traded to a team other than Miami, there's a chance he might want to stay there long-term.

The 2010 maximum-contract caliber free agents (Wade, LeBron James, Bosh, Amare Stoudemire) can make about $30 million more in their next contract by re-signing with their teams. So Bosh could ask for a sign-and-trade next summer. For now, it's hard to envision Toronto accepting a Heat offer that does not include Beasley, though there are packages involving Udonis Haslem that would fit salary-cap rules.

• A friend of Wade's said he indicated privately that he wants to stay with Miami long-term. But is Wade impatient for the team to be built into a championship contender, even though it might not happen until 2010?

''I'm a Heat player under contract,'' Wade said this offseason, adding there's no choice ''but to be patient. I know everyone wants to fast-track this team, and that's what makes me excited about the future. We're taking the right steps.'' Wade has said he will not sign with New York because of the weather. Source: The Miami Herald

Heat Team Report

By: Yahoo! Sports
Getting Inside

By all accounts it was a great season for the Heat. It went from 15 wins to 43 wins, the seventh-best increase in NBA history, before earning the fifth seed in the playoffs and taking Atlanta to seven games in a first-round playoff series.

“The expectation of our team this year was to make the playoffs,” rookie coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The Heat did that. And guard Dwyane Wade(notes) turned in the best single-season performance in franchise history. He led the league in scoring and finished second in steals, eighth in assists and third in the MVP voting.

Now Miami looks to the offseason, where one of the big goals is taking a look at converting Michael Beasley(notes) from power forward to small forward.

“It’s going to be one of the major areas of focus,” Spoelstra said.

The 20-year-old Beasley came off the bench for most of the season behind forward Udonis Haslem(notes), who is a veteran team captain and a more polished player. The hope is Beasley can start at small forward alongside center Jermaine O’Neal(notes) and Haslem.

“I think he’s best at (power forward),” Spoelstra said.

But Miami needs Beasley’s offense to support Wade.

So, Beasley, who struggled mightily defensively, will work this summer on defending quicker players on the perimeter. The trick is that you can’t use your hands on the perimeter defending small forwards the way you would down low defending power forwards.

Beasley, who only played one year of college basketball at Kansas State, at least has better defensive grounding now. That’s a big change from when he entered training camp as a 19-year-old rookie in October.

“It really was like getting a junior high level defensive player,” Spoelstra said. He quickly added that’s not a knock on Beasley but rather a reflection on how his offense allowed him to get by without learning defense.

Beasley said he feels comfortable at that end of the court now.

“Toward the end of the season, it started to become second nature,” Beasley said.

If Beasley can make the switch, the Heat has a strong starting lineup of guard Mario Chalmers(notes) and Wade in the backcourt and Beasley, Haslem and O’Neal in the frontcourt. The first players off the bench could be guard Daequan Cook(notes) and forward James Jones(notes). That’s a good start.

If Beasley can’t make the switch, however, Miami has two problems: finding a quality starting small forward who is a consistent scorer, and a second consecutive season of bringing Beasley, the No. 2 pick of the draft, off the bench.

“We have four or five months to give him a look at (small forward),” Spoelstra said.

Season Highlight: G Dwyane Wade provided the best moments of the season and one of the best seasons in NBA history. There was the game at Chicago before the All-Star break when he recorded a steal in the final seconds. That set up F Shawn Marion’s(notes) game-winning dunk with 1.5 seconds left. Wade victimized Chicago again at Miami when he stole the ball in the closing seconds of double overtime and then hit a running 3-pointer to win the game as time expired. There was also the game against New York at Miami in which Wade finished with 42 points, 24 in the fourth quarter. And then there was the triple-overtime victory against Utah in which Wade recorded 50 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two blocks, the first time in NBA history a player reached those minimums. There was also the career-best 55-point game against New York. You get the idea.

Turning Point: The trade that brought C Jermaine O’Neal and F Jamario Moon(notes) to the Heat from Toronto in exchange for F Shawn Marion and G Marcus Banks(notes) helped and hurt. The trade, made during the All-Star break, landed Miami two starters and gave it financial flexibility for the future via O’Neal’s $23 million expiring contract. However, Miami never had a quality defender at small forward after Marion’s departure, and that proved hurtful. Still, it was a good trade.

Notes, Quotes

• G Dwyane Wade could negotiate a contract extension during the offseason, something the Heat would love. Or Wade could negotiate after next season, when he has an opt-out clause, joining the star-studded free agent class of 2010. Or Wade could wait until his contract expires after the 2011 season, something that almost assuredly won’t happen. Either way the Heat clearly wants Wade to return.

“He’s our franchise player,” Heat president Pat Riley said. “We’ve spent (six) years together. We won a world championship with him. We love him to death. The fans love him. He’s irreplaceable … but we also understand he has the right to wait (to re-negotiate).”

Wade said he’s thinking about negotiating an extension this summer, something that would allow the Heat to immediately select a path for future trades and free agent spending. But he didn’t commit.

“The first thing I want to do (in the offseason) is go watch my son play baseball,” Wade said.

• Rumors will fly with the Heat, from draft night all the way until the February trade deadline. F Udonis Haslem is in the final year of his $7.1 million deal, C Mark Blount(notes) is in the final year of his $7.9 million deal and C Jermaine O’Neal is in the final year of his $23 million deal.

Coach Erik Spoelstra expects his current group to return intact. “With that being said, always expect the unexpected with (president) Pat (Riley),” Spoelstra added.

The big prize out there could be Toronto F Chris Bosh(notes). His contract expires at season’s end and there’s speculation he doesn’t want to return to the Raptors. Going a step beyond that, some suspect the Raptors might want to deal Bosh before the trade deadline so they can get something in return rather than allowing him to leave for nothing via free agency.

G Dwyane Wade said he’s confident the Heat will do the right thing, whatever that entails.

“We have one of the best presidents in the game at going out and finding the right guys,” Wade said.

Quote To Note: “Don’t get me wrong. Everybody wants to be The Man, quote, unquote … The 30 points (per game), is that something I want to so every year? Not really.” —G Dwyane Wade on getting offensive help for next season.

Roster Report

Most Valuable Player: G Dwyane Wade did it all. He had the best season of his spectacular six-year career by leading the league in scoring, finishing second in blocks and eighth in assists. And Wade, who missed 31 games each of the previous two season, only missed one game due to injury. Wade ended up playing 79 games because he sat out the last two as a healthy scratch to rest for the playoffs.

Most Disappointing Player: It’s not a player, it’s a position—small forward. After the trade that sent F Shawn Marion to Toronto the Heat never had the presence it had previously. Among Jamario Moon, James Jones, Daequan Cook and Yakhouba Diawara(notes) the Heat never re-gained its edge at that spot. That’s why Michael Beasley gets a shot during the off-season.

Free Agent Focus: Miami needs a backup point guard, a backup center and a starting small forward. But it has very little cash. It has about $69 million committed for next season and the projected luxury tax is $69.5 million. In other words, F Ron Artest(notes) is out of the picture. Look more for low-key players such as G Jannero Pargo(notes), who could return from overseas.

Player Notes:

• F Udonis Haslem has a $7.1 million expiring contract, and he knows the Heat wants to develop F Michael Beasley, his backup. But Haslem, one of president Pat Riley’s favorites, said he wouldn’t allow trade talk to dominate his off-season or season.

“I just won’t read the paper at all,” he said. “I don’t watch the news. I don’t get on Twitter. I don’t do any of those things at all.”

• F Michael Beasley said his rookie season was a good one.

“I learned so much, day-to-day,” he said. “Every day you learn something new. I haven’t really though about it much. But I can be a better playmaker. I can just play harder and do the little stuff.”

Beasley will stay in Miami to work on his game.

“I’m going to be around for a while, working out,” he said. “I don’t really have any plans or schedule. Whenever I leave, I’ll leave.”

• G Daequan Cook had an up-and-down season. He won the Three-Point contest during the All-Star break but didn’t do much afterward.

“After the All-Star break the competition went up another level,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The Heat is hoping Cook can correct that during the offseason. Cook, F Michael Beasley, G Mario Chalmers and F Dorrell Wright will stay in town (the Heat isn’t participating in a Summer League) to work on their games. President Pat Riley has jokingly dubbed it “Heat Academy.”

Medical Watch:

• The Heat enters the offseason healthy.

Give Beasley more minutes? Not happening

Now that Dwyane Wade is clearly slowed by his right hip/groin injury there’s chatter about giving rookie forward Michael Beasley more minutes so he can score more points. Don’t count that on that happening.

Remember who coaches this team. Erik Spoelstra, a proud graduate of the Pat Riley, defense-first school.

Spoelstra will tell you (as he’s told me the past few weeks) offense isn’t the problem with this team. Defense is the problem.

Beasley, a truly gifted scorer, won’t help the defense, either as an individual or in the team concept.

Yes, Beasley had 21 points in the overtime loss at Boston when Wade didn’t play. And, yes, Beasley had 13 first-half points in the 96-88 loss at New Jersey and then only played three minutes in the third quarter. He ended the game with 17 points. But he played 25 minutes, which is right around his season average.

Beasley wouldn’t have slowed Jarvis Hayes (18 points), Chris Douglas-Roberts (18 points), Vince Carter (17 points) or Brook Lopez (15 points).

Unless Beasley improves his defense, or Spoelstra changes his philosophy, don’t expect Beasley’s minutes to increase.

With the Heat, it’s always defense above all else. Source: Palm Beach Post