Agent: Head chooses Miami

Luther Head, the combo guard who was recently bought out by the Houston Rockets, will sign with the Miami Heat, according to his agent.

Head will sign once he clears waivers Wednesday morning. He was courted by Dallas, New Jersey, Charlotte, Milwaukee and San Antonio but chose Miami because of the chance for playing time, the opportunity to make a nice playoff run and the possibility of staying with the Heat over the long haul.

Head averaged 4.8 points and 1.6 assists in 22 games with the Rockets this season.

Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. ESPN.com

Heat inquired about Luther Head

Agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed that the Heat is one "of about a dozen" teams that has inquired about guard Luther Head, who received a buyout over the weekend from the Rockets and now is playoff-eligible for another team as a free agent.

"We've talked to the Heat a little bit," said Bartelstein, whose client will clear waivers Wednesday. "There are about four or five teams that we feel might be a good fit." Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Wade sparks huge Heat rally against Knicks

MIAMI (AP)—The New York Knicks made Dwyane Wade bleed.

So he made them pay.

Telling the packed arena more than once that “this is my house,” Wade scored 46 points, 15 of them coming in a dramatic 19-0 spurt that erased a huge deficit in the final nine minutes and carried the Miami Heat to a 120-115 win over the Knicks on Saturday night.

And think that Knicks-Heat rivalry from years ago is over? Think again.

“When I’m angry, I attack,” said Wade, who tied a franchise record with 24 points in the fourth quarter. “That’s what I did.”

Miami trailed 103-88 after Wade received a bloody lip that needed three stitches after the game and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra earned a technical for arguing why no foul was called. Wade was popped by New York’s Danilo Galinari with an elbow, which the officiating crew saw as the Heat star taking a dive.

Big mistake.

“He had that look in his eye that we hadn’t seen since Dallas,” Spoelstra said.

No, this wasn’t the 2006 NBA finals. But it was just as dramatic in many respects.

“It was a simple game plan in the fourth quarter: Just get them to take a shot at Dwyane and make him bleed,” Spoelstra said. “At that point, it (ticked) him off and it (ticked) off the rest of the team. Our intensity level went through the roof.”

Wade scored the game’s next six points, and the comeback was on. The Knicks missed eight straight shots, eventually battled back into a tie at 114, but Wade gave the Heat the lead for good by hitting a jumper with 1:04 left.

“A punch in the stomach,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Just gut wrenching.”

Wade also had 10 assists, Jermaine O’Neal scored 18 points and Jamario Moon added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat.

Nate Robinson led the Knicks with 29 points off the bench, but missed the 3-pointer that would have tied it in the final seconds. Larry Hughes and Chris Duhon each scored 19 and David Lee had an 18-point, 13-rebound night for New York.

“D-Wade is D-Wade,” Robinson said. “You see what he can do.”

If they didn’t before, the Knicks surely do now.

It got testy plenty of times, including with 5:40 left when Robinson said something to O’Neal, the new Heat center took a step toward him, and double-technicals were called.

By then, Wade was in take-over mode anyway.

He was 7-for-11 from the floor in the fourth, 8-for-8 from the line, even doing so without his now-infamous Band-Wade on his cheek.

He might need one for his lip now.

“It doesn’t go right on the lip,” Wade said afterward, talking slowly and with his lip puffed to double its normal size.

Simply put, the Heat were reeling until the final minutes. Robinson and Duhon were scoring at will, the Heat looked tired and on the brink of their second loss in as many nights.
New york Knicks center David Lee (42) is fouled by Miami Heat Udonis Haslem, right, in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game in Miami Saturday Feb. 28, 2009. The Heat won 120-115.
New york Knicks center David L…
AP - Feb 28, 11:00 pm EST

Then Wade got going, adding another chapter to his already-storied Heat legacy.

“It was just something that happened,” Gallinari said of the elbow. “The problem is that after that he turned it up quite a bit.”

The Knicks hit triple-figures in scoring for the 20th consecutive game, and it was obvious early they were going to get there. Duhon got it started, going 5-for-5 from the field—4-for-4 from 3-point range—in the first 8 minutes, as the Knicks sprinted to a quick 22-14 lead.

When Robinson checked in, the Heat had absolutely no answer.

He hit 3-pointers, set up teammates, even outjumped people a foot taller than him. By halftime, in only 16 minutes, Robinson had 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting.

New York led by as many as 15 in the opening half, and Robinson’s 15-footer with 1.7 seconds left gave the Knicks a 67-59 edge at intermission. Miami got within 76-73 after the first five minutes of the third quarter, getting consistent stops for the first time and attacking the Knicks in the paint.
New york Knicks forward Al Harrington, center, loses control of the ball as Miami Heat center Jermaine O'Neal, left, defends in the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game in Miami Saturday Feb. 28, 2009. The Heat won 120-115.
New york Knicks forward Al Har…
AP - Feb 28, 10:56 pm EST

Then Robinson returned—and the game turned quickly back in New York’s favor.

The Knicks closed the third on a 22-10 run, taking a 98-83 lead into the final 12 minutes. Hughes made a trio of 3-pointers in the final 4 1/2 minutes of the third, giving New York more separation.

Then Wade took a shot in the mouth, Spoelstra let the emotions show, and everything changed.

“A very, very good win,” said Heat captain Udonis Haslem, who had a bandage protecting a cut wrist he suffered during another in-game scrum. “We found out a lot about ourselves tonight.”

Notes

Miami allowed more than 100 points for the 20th time this season, and is 5-15 in those contests. It was only the fifth time the Heat have given up triple figures in their last 22 games. … The Knicks are 22-7 when leading after three quarters, 1-27 when trailing. … New York has gotten at least 39 points from its bench in 13 of its last 18 games. … O’Neal had to take off his hard plastic knee brace midway through the second quarter after the Knicks complained the hinges were too sharp. He put it back on, with a different wrap, for the second half. Yahoo! Sports

Cook now a marked man

For Daequan Cook, the acclaim that comes with being the All-Star three-point shooting champion also is a drawback. The secret is out, so every team the Heat faces is focusing on this second-year guard.

Coming out of the All-Star break, Cook struggled and it appeared he had left his winning stroke in Phoenix. But Cook broke out of his minislump in a victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Aware that Cook, 21, has never experienced this kind of attention from opponents, the Heat has been reminding Cook that he can be effective without scoring.

'You have to let him know, `Dae-Dae, you're a good rebounder for us, you're an excellent defender for us, and just you being on the court is helping us,' '' Dwyane Wade said.

' `If you're not getting shots, that means the defense is leaving a guy on you and that's opening the court for other guys.' ''

This season, Cook is averaging nearly six three-point attempts a game. In the past four games, he is averaging about four a game.

He has become such an integral part of the offense that when he had no field-goal attempts in Saturday's victory over Philadelphia, it was a topic of conversation.

The team told Cook not to get frustrated.

''Hopefully going forward he continues to understand that he's not getting shots because we don't want him to get them, but other teams are taking them away from him,'' Wade said.

Cook acknowledged that being a marked man will force him to expand his offensive repertoire. It also is requiring him to be more patient.

Said Wade: ``The main thing with Dae-Dae is to keep his head up.

''There's going to come a time when he's going to help us win,'' he said.

It's happening already, and it could continue without Cook even shooting. Read more at The Miami Herald

Other Related News

The Heat spoke with Portland about Jerryd Bayless and Channing Frye, but the Blazers wanted more than Marion.

Stephon Marbury, who had been linked to the Heat, has committed to join the Celtics, the Boston Globe reported. Miami has shown no interest in Jason Williams, who wants to end his retirement. The Miami Herald

Phoenix approached the Heat

• Some post NBA trade deadline nuggets: Before the Shawn Marion trade, Phoenix approached the Heat about the idea of dealing Shaquille O'Neal back to Miami, according to an official directly involved. (The Suns considered moving Shaq because of his $20 million 2009-10 salary.) The Suns discussed taking back what they traded for Shaq -- Shawn Marion (who could have been rerouted by Phoenix to another team) and Marcus Banks. Miami had no interest in reacquiring Shaq. . . .The Miami Herald

Two immediate needs: Daequan Cook, rebounds

Heat opponents took note of Daequan Cook winning the three-point contest at All-Star weekend. They stick to him like glue. He’s 4-for-14 from the field in the three games since the All-Star break. He’s 2-for-9 on three-pointers. The days of open shots are gone for now.

Coach Erik Spoelstra thinks Cook needs to focus on his overall game and his three-point shooting will follow.

“He’s going to have to work harder to make an impact on the game, and it doesn’t have to be shooting,” Spoelstra said. “He can make an impact without scoring. He’s been consistently one of our better defenders and he needs to get back to making an impact right away with his energy. If you do that using the karma of the game you’ll find open spots to make shots, or make a play, or make an extra pass for somebody else.”

As for the rebounding problems, the Heat ranks 28th in the 30-team league at 39 rebounds per game. Miami was out-rebounded by Minnesota, 49-24, and by Orlando, 53-28. Jermaine O’Neal should help. Losing Shawn Marion (8.7 rebounds per game) hurts.

The bigger issue, however, is the Heat gets very little rebounding off the bench aside from Michael Beasley’s 5.1 per game.

“The rebounding is definitely a concern,” Spoelstra said. The Palm Beach Post

Jason Williams Anyone?

*Updated 2/20/08*

Jason Williams, L.A. Clippers: Technically retired, word is that he filed for reinstatement with the league today. If so, the Clippers would likely reach a buyout agreement with him that could allow him to return to the Miami Heat, who are in search of a veteran backup point guard to help out Mario Chalmers. Source: ESPN.com




Jason Williams, the once-flashy veteran point guard, has filed a letter with the NBA to seek immediate reinstatement into the league, an internal NBA memo revealed on Thursday.

If the NBA’s Board of Governors approves his petition, which was sent to the league’s 30 teams on Wednesday, Williams could become a productive free agent for contenders needing point guard depth. League executives immediately speculated that Williams could return to the Miami Heat, who he helped win the 2006 NBA championship, or the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Even so, the Los Angeles Clippers would have exclusive rights to Williams, but it’s doubtful in their losing and cost-cutting state they would want to do anything but negotiate a buyout with him.

Williams signed with the Clippers last summer, but retired before the start of training camp. After filing retirement papers in the preseason, he sent a letter to the league office on Feb. 6 and asked to be removed from the voluntary retirement list.

Williams needs a unanimous vote of the Board of Governors to waive a one-year mandatory waiting period to return from the voluntary retired list. Teams have until Feb. 27 to cast a vote, the memo said.

Williams played 10 years in the NBA, including stops in Sacramento, Memphis and Miami. He’s averaged 11. 4 points and 6.3 assists for his career. Source: Yahoo! Sports

No deal for Miami Heat at NBA trading deadline

By Ira Winderman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

MIAMI - The Miami Heat made its move last Friday. It spent today's NBA trading deadline more concerned with making its pieces fit.

Six days after acquiring center Jermaine O'Neal and forward Jamario Moon from the Toronto Raptors, the Heat spent today's deadline as a spectator, without making a move.

"We think it's enough," coach Erik Spoelstra said after practice at AmericanAirlines Arena of a roster that was revamped last week, at the cost of forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks. "We have a lot of flexibility with guys who can play multiple positions."

Thursday, though, Spoelstra's flexibility was limited.

Guard Dwyane Wade arrived prepared for practice, but then was sent home with the flu once he began vomiting. Forward James Jones missed the session to have his right hand examined, after it was bruised in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. As soon as practice was over, O'Neal left without comment to have his right eye examined, after taking an elbow from Mike Miller in the loss to the Timberwolves.

The Heat's next game is Saturday against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers.

Heat President Pat Riley said in the days leading to the deadline that he would attempt to add an additional point guard to replace Banks.

Spoelstra, however, said he is comfortable with the tandem of starter Mario Chalmers and backup Chris Quinn at point guard, with Wade also taking minutes at the position.

"If you're looking to get something off the waiver wire now, at the 11th hour, I don't know if you're going to get somebody that's going to replace either one of our guys there," Spoelstra said.

That doesn't mean the Heat is necessarily finished at point guard. Players waived by March 1 remain eligible for another team's playoff roster. Among those who could become available at point guard are Stephon Marbury, Sam Cassell, Jamaal Tinsley and even former Heat guard Jason Williams. Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Wade sues estranged wife, attorneys

By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP)—Dwyane Wade sued his estranged wife and two of her lawyers Wednesday over accusations the Miami Heat star contracted a sexually transmitted disease through an extramarital affair.

In the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, Wade is seeking at least $50,000 in damages from each defendant.

Siohvaughn Wade said last month the player infected her with an unspecified disease in 2007. Weeks later, she withdrew the claim from the court hearing the divorce case for unknown reasons.

That wasn’t enough to satisfy the 2006 NBA finals MVP, who said her allegations not only defamed him, but caused “embarrassment” and “humiliation” along with damaging future earning potential.

“It has been difficult to see false allegations, rumors and gossip repeatedly discussed in public about my personal life,” Dwyane Wade said in a statement released to the AP. “I had no other choice but to file this action in order to clear my name.”

Wade declined further comment.

The All-Star guard also lists attorneys Michael Berger and Dorene Marcus as defendants, along with their firms, contending they wronged him in the same manner as his estranged wife. The suit was filed in Chicago, where the divorce proceedings have gone on for nearly a year.

“Mr. Wade has been the victim of a reckless campaign by Siohvaughn Wade and her lawyers to publicly humiliate him and damage his reputation,” Joe Power, an attorney representing the Heat player, said in a statement to the AP. “To clear the public record from these false and malicious allegations, we have filed a defamation suit in court … and will seek appropriate compensation for damages.”

Siohvaughn Wade’s claim made “by and through her attorneys, and disseminated by various print and online media throughout the world placed plaintiff Dwyane Wade in a false light,” according to the lawsuit.

“We believe there’s absolutely no merit to it,” Berger said. “I believe that the lawsuit will get dismissed. It seems interesting to me Wade would file a lawsuit like this when he supposedly wants to keep a low profile. This lawsuit will put his entire private and social life in full view of the public.”

Berger added that even though the original claim by Siohvaughn Wade was withdrawn, “Mrs. Wade has stood behind her allegations.”

In the allegations filed in January, along with the claims of affairs and being infected with an STD, Siohvaughn Wade said her husband abandoned their children and goes weeks at a time without speaking to them. She added that the paternal relationship was so severed that her younger son cries uncontrollably when he’s around and he does not recognize Dwyane Wade as his father.

Siohvaughn Wade’s withdrawal of the claim wouldn’t prevent her from resubmitting it to court at a later date. The divorce proceedings are not expected to end anytime soon.

Dwyane Wade’s private life has been tabloid fodder for several months, a span that largely coincides with his split from his high school sweetheart.

A recent story in The Palm Beach Post, based on comments made by a former business partner of Dwyane Wade—a person who’s filed suit against him, alleging breach of contract in a failed restaurant deal—said Wade used a rented Miami apartment for sex parties and smoked marijuana.

Wade’s representatives denied that story, dismissing it as lies from someone seeking a payoff from the NBA star.

Dwyane and Siohvaughn Wade began dating as teens and continued their relationship through college. He starred at Marquette, leading his team to the Final Four before being drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in 2003 by Miami.

The couple married in 2002 and have two children, the older of whom was born three months before the wedding. Their second son was born in 2007.

Through the tumult, Wade has been having the best season of his career in many statistical areas. He entered play Wednesday as the NBA’s second-leading scorer.

“He’s done a tremendous job just focusing on the team and the game when he’s in this building,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “In many ways, this can be a sanctuary, not just a place of work, but a place of escape and he’s got a great way of compartmentalizing things in his life.” Source: Yahoo! Sports