Heat, offer Odom deal

The Miami Heat and Lamar Odom have discussed a deal that would approach the $9 million salary the free-agent forward nearly agreed to last week with the Los Angeles Lakers before talks broke down, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has reported.


The Heat, who traded Odom to the Lakers five years ago in the trade that brought Shaquille O'Neal to South Florida, have made Odom a firm offer to return, according to The Associated Press.

Pat Riley, addressing Heat season-ticket holders in a two-day session Wednesday and Thursday that was closed to media, said the Heat were also monitoring Carlos Boozer's status with the Utah Jazz but had not entered discussions on acquiring the forward.

Riley said the team could add Odom, Boozer or both without sacrificing its goals toward 2010's free-agent class, the Sun-Sentinel reported, citing people in attendance at the private sit-ins and sources involved in the Heat's dealings.

Florida's lack of state taxes and other payment options give the Heat the ability to offer Odom a contract matching the scrapped Lakers deal, the Fort Lauderdale newspaper reported.

The Lakers retracted their offer to Odom early this week, saying that talks had stalled.

Sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that Odom had balked at the Lakers' unwillingness to extend an offer spanning more than three years in length.

"There are specifics behind why we pulled it, but that's not something we're going to get into," Lakers public relations director John Black said.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lakers owner Jerry Buss offered Odom two deals, one worth $36 million for four years and the other $10 million a season for three years.

Odom, who will turn 30 in November, made $14.1 million this past season.

Dwyane Wade, who spent much of his rookie season picking Odom's brain, said he hopes those chats start again soon.

"I want Lamar to do what's best for him and his family because we love him as family, but on the other hand, we want him back home, to come home," Wade said Friday in a telephone interview with the AP. "His house is still there. It'd be exciting to see what happens."

Odom averaged 17.1 points -- the second-highest average of his career -- in 80 games with the Heat during the 2003-04 season.

The Heat went 42-40 that season with Odom, winning 17 of their final 21 regular-season games and earning the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference. That summer, Miami traded Caron Butler, Brian Grant and Odom to the Lakers for O'Neal, who helped Wade and the Heat win a championship two years later.

Odom spent the past five years with the Lakers, during which he played a key role off the bench in their 2009 championship run. He averaged 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds during the playoffs.

Wade, who has asked the Heat to make some roster upgrades with hopes of getting back to the championship level, said he doesn't need to call Odom to lobby for his return.

"Lamar already knows how I feel," Wade said. "I really don't know how to feel. He's really taken time to deal with it, sit back. It's a very important decision in his life. It could be about where he ends his career."

Over his 10-year career, the versatile 6-foot-10 Odom has averaged 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.

"Lamar and I always had a great relationship," Wade said. "He's always been the guy, one of the guys, that I thought really helped me as a young player." Source: Espn

Lakers pull offer to Odom

Jerry Buss is upset that the free-agent forward and his agent have not responded to Lakers' offer of $9 million a season.

The Lakers have pulled their offer off the table to free-agent forward Lamar Odom.

"Yes, we have taken the deal off the table," Lakers spokesman John Black said Tuesday. "Talks have broken down for the time being."

Asked if talks could resume, Blacks said, "That's within the realm of possibility."

Lakers owner Jerry Buss is upset that Odom and his representative, agent Jeff Schwartz, haven't made contact with the organization regarding its $9-million-per season offer for three years.

Odom and his agent have been seeking $10 million for five years.

Neither Schwartz nor Odom could be reached for comment.

The source also said Buss was not happy that Odom and Schwartz have been having talks with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat about a deal, but have refused to talk to the Lakers.

The Heat and Mavericks can offer Odom only the mid-level exception of $5.8 million, but can give him a five-year deal up to $34 million.

It was widely known that Odom, who will be 30 in November, would have to take a pay cut because of his age, the declining economy and the small number of teams that were far enough under the NBA salary cap to make a legitimate offer to him. He was on the Lakers' books for $14.1 million last season, the final year of a six-year, $63-million contract he signed with Miami in 2003.

Boozer to the Bulls not good for the Heat

Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer appeared on WMVP’s “Waddle and Silvy Show” Tuesday morning and pretty much said what Bulls fans – if they are pro-Boozer – would want to hear:

--He believes he’ll be traded relatively soon.

--He’d love to play for the Bulls.

--He’s open to signing a contract extension and skipping free agency next year.

--He’s tight with Miami’s Dwyane Wade. The Bulls’ ultimate goal appears to be trading for Boozer this summer, while also clearing enough cap room to encourage Wade to come home next summer as a free agent.

As a refresher, Boozer has averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in two of the last three seasons. Anyway, here’s the interview:

Q: Do you think you will be traded?
A: Yeah I do. I had a talk with the Jazz. The Jazz told me they want to go in a different direction and I respect their decision. We mutually agreed to work out a trade that was beneficial for them and beneficial for my family and me. So with that being said I’m gonna be traded relatively soon or in good time.

Q: Will you be traded to the Chicago Bulls?
A: I definitely heard a little rumbling about it. Whether it will go down or not, that’s kind of between the Jazz and Chicago. But obviously if I did get traded to Chicago, I’d love to be a part of the Bulls.

Q: What is feeling about the Chicago Bulls organization?
A: Great organization, top notch from top to bottom. They do things very professionally there. At the same time, they have a good group of talent there. Obviously with Derrick Rose at the helm and being rookie of the year last year and having some very good talent around him. Very good team. If I was able to come there, I’d bring a lot, especially in the low post and being a leader as well. We’ll see what happens.

Q: Are you set on free agency (in 2010)?
A: I’d definitely be open to signing an extension and be locked into a team. Obviously, one that wanted me to be there in the future and one I thought would have a chance to succeed. That would be something me and my agent would explore right away.

Q: Do you see similar aspects of Derrick Rose and (Utah’s Deron) Williams?
A: They’re both big body point guards. They have incredible speed and quickness. Derrick Rose is probably one of the most athletic guards I’ve seen in a very long time. Especially at the point guard position, probably the most athletic point guard I’ve seen. He grew up a lot during the course of the season, had a monster playoff series, a memorable one with Boston.
Bright future, very talented, very humble. I love his demeanor, he never seems shaken, never seems too excited, he always has the same Tim Duncan look; you never know if you’re up by 20 or down by 20. Very explosive player, and I see a lot of similarities between him and Deron. Very good passer, very good explosive player, and he’s fun to watch.

Q: Could you influence Dwayne Wade to come to Chicago?
A: Well, me and D-Wade are very close. We talk quite a bit, but that’s a decision he has to make with himself and obviously if I did come to the Bulls … I’d love to have D-Wade play for us. At the same time, D-Wade is like me and wants to win a championship bad. If I was able to go to the Bulls and get D-Wade to come, we’d be right there at the top of the list. Source: DailyHerald.com

Boozer expects to be traded by Jazz 'relatively soon'

Carlos Boozer doesn't expect to be playing for the Utah Jazz this season as reported earlier by Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.

Just two weeks ago, Boozer opted to remain with the Jazz for the final year of his contract. But the two-time All-Star told a Chicago radio station Tuesday he expects the Jazz to trade him.

"The Jazz told me they want to go in a different direction and I respect their decision," Boozer said Tuesday during an interview with WMVP. "We mutually agreed to work out a trade that was beneficial for them and beneficial for my family and me. So with that being said I'm gonna be traded relatively soon or in good time." Source: CBSSports.com

Haslem & James Jones for Boozer

No concrete evidence has materialized -- yet -- that the Heat are preparing to send Udonis Haslem's expiring contract to Utah for the expiring contract of Carlos Boozer.

But one trade scenario, presented online Monday by David Aldridge of TNT and NBA.com, would appear to have some promise for the Jazz, who long to find a way to move Boozer and take back less money, which generally requires the involvement of a third team.

Trading Haslem and James Jones to the Jazz would allow Miami to give Boozer a one-season test drive without endangering its 2010 salary-cap space and conceivably would help Utah out by fitting C.J. Miles into its $4.3 million trade exception in exchange for a future draft pick in another transaction. Source: ESPN.com

Roll call: Allen, Andre, Lamar & Carlos

This is why there is nothing wrong with sitting back during the first week of free agency. Plenty still remains to be sorted out, even from a Heat standpoint, with more than a few examples worth citing.

Allen Iverson: So now it's the Clippers who are the front-runners, unless you're still listening to Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley. Mostly, this is about making Allen relevant again, trying to stoke interest. The concern remains, as NBA.com points out, that Iverson is "chafing" at the notion of playing off the bench. Considering Baron Davis remains with the Clippers, Mike Conley with the Grizzlies, Raymond Felton (at least for now) with the Bobcats, an argument can be made that the best chance to start would be in Miami. But is that what a young team needs, a player who is "chafing" about a role even before arriving?

Lamar Odom championship Lamar Odom: Yes, the Heat has long fancied Lamar, which is why, amid Odom's difficult negotiations with the Lakers, Pat Riley's team has been injected into the conversation. But getting beyond whether the Heat would offer the maximum five years at the mid-level and cut into its future space, is Odom seriously going to take a two-thirds pay cut just to spite the Lakers? As for sign-and-trades, that would only be considered if the situation truly turned desperate for both Odom and the Lakers.

Andre Miller: To his credit, 76ers General Manager Ed Stefanski has been candid about a long-term contract for Andre Miller not being in the best interest of his young team. So that makes sign-and-trades a possibility. It remains difficult to gauge Heat interest, especially with an outside shooter preferred alongside Dwyane Wade. The 76ers are said to be looking for a forward and a guard, so Udonis Haslem and Daequan Cook could be a starting point.

Carlos Boozer: He will be moved, the question is where and how a trade can be structured that trims 2009-10 salary for the Jazz. Until Boozer is dealt, the Heat figures to remain in the equation. Don't discount the Heat's trade exception as being part of a salary-cutting fix for Utah. Source: The Sun Sentinel

A.I. & Boozer talk continues

Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley went as far as to tell ESPN.com that he considers the Heat the favorite to land Iverson.

Word from inside the Heat, however, is that Iverson in no way stands as a priority, and interest from Wade appears to be dramatically overstated.

As for Boozer, who appears to be on the way out in Utah due to the Jazz's oversized payroll, there could be potential interest in a deal for Heat power forward Udonis Haslem, who, like Boozer, holds an expiring contract and whose blue-collar approach appeals to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Source: The Sun Sentinel

Boozer to Miami?

He's been linked to Miami for quite some time, partly because he has an offseason home there, partly because of his relationship with Heat star Dwyane Wade and partly because of his friendship with Heat owner Micky Arrison.

But Miami has no team payroll salary cap space this summer, so for a while talk of Carlos Boozer-to-the-Heat as a free agent cooled.

And now it's warming back up.

Heat star Dwyane Wade — who has been bickering with the franchise lately regarding a contract extension and the team's need to improve its roster — is lobbying, to a degree, for Miami to go after the Jazz's on-the-trade-block power forward.

The two are good friends and were gold medal-winning USA Basketball Olympic teammates.

"Any time you can play with another great player, a fellow Olympian, I mean it's always something that's got to spark your interest," Wade told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Saturday. "But, at the same time, I'm done trying to push (Heat president) Pat (Riley) to do anything. He's going to do a good job for us. And we just have to have patience."

On the same weekend Jazz point guard Deron Williams held his charity golf tournament, Boozer — by the way — was scheduled to take part Sunday in the Summer Groove charity all-star basketball game at Miami, an event Wade co-hosts.

Chicago, New York, Detroit and Miami all supposedly are potential destinations for the two-time NBA All-Star — if he's dealt.

Boozer recently opted in for the final year and last $12.65 million on his current contract — taking him off the free-agency market, but prompting Utah to aggressively try to trade him. Source: Deseret News

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade tries to clear the air

Dwyane Wade's recent public criticism of the Heat's lack of roster moves so far this summer was in response to a painful stance team president Pat Riley took last month regarding the guard's contract status.

Wade reiterated Thursday that no rift exists between the two, but he also said he did not agree with Riley's decision to hold off on any major roster upgrades until Wade commits to a long-term extension.

'Coach Riley opened up the wound when he said, `Until Dwyane signs back, we can't do anything,' '' Wade said Thursday during a charity golf tournament as part of The Summer Groove events he is co-sponsoring with Alonzo Mourning. ``But me and Pat Riley are not against each other. We both want the same thing. We're just in two different positions.''

And those positions have been clearly -- and publicly -- defined over the past three weeks since Riley divulged his position in a June 18 meeting with reporters in his office at AmericanAirlines Arena.

It was then when Riley said his top offseason priority was to re-sign Wade to an extension -- then address the team's other roster needs to build on a 43-39 finish.

Riley also said he needed to protect the team's spending flexibility next summer, when the Heat could be in position to re-sign Wade should he reject an extension this summer and add another top-tier free agent from a potential star-studded class that could include LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh.

But a fast-track approach could not be taken unless Wade was on board and locked in for the long haul.

''There can't be any major franchise changes made without his commitment,'' Riley said last month. ``He knows this. I'm going to do the best sales job I can. Whatever we do going forward is going to be predicated on that.''

Miami has the $5.8 million mid-level exception, a $4.3 million trade exception and a

$2 million veteran's exception it could use to improve the roster. But the Heat already is above the league's $69.9 million luxury tax, which results in a dollar penalty for every dollar in excessive payroll.

IVERSON AN OPTION

The Heat is exploring sign-and-trade options and is in talks with several free agents, including former MVP Allen Iverson, who has listed Miami among his preferred destinations.

Riley has not addressed Wade's contract status since he made those comments and has declined recent interview requests. But Wade has responded repeatedly and adamantly, and he has countered that he wants to see key roster upgrades before he commits to anything beyond the final guaranteed season of his contract.

During promotional appearances earlier this week, Wade said he would stay in Miami only if the team was a championship contender. Miami has not advanced past the first round since Wade, 27, led the Heat to its only NBA title in 2006.

Wade also questioned the readiness of the Heat's young players to take the next step in order to keep up in the East, where the Heat was the fifth seed last season but lost in seven games to Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.

Wade said his patience has been tested in recent weeks with the Heat's inactivity at a time when Detroit, Cleveland, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Orlando and Toronto all have made bold moves to remain or climb into contention.

The Heat's front office is believed to be concerned if not displeased with the public-venting approach. Wade even acknowledged Thursday that his comments in response to Riley's might have created a perception that he is at odds with the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in 2003. But any such perception should not be considered the reality, Wade said.

''I sense that, and it makes for good headlines,'' Wade said. ``I had to answer [questions], and I answered them -- to say I just want to make sure we build a winning team here. We both want this organization to build to win a championship now. He has to deal with the money side of it. I have to deal with the playing side. That's the difference.''

Mourning, who recently accepted a job as the Heat's vice president for player development, said Wade has been effective in his approach.

''The only way for people to understand what you're thinking is for you to communicate,'' Mourning said Thursday. ``So now, I think the Heat knows exactly where Dwyane's heart is.''

WADE CAN SIGN SUNDAY

Wade, coming off the best statistical season of his six-year career in Miami, becomes eligible Sunday to sign an extension that would tack three seasons and about $60 million onto his current contract.

Wade is set to earn $33 million over the next two seasons, but appears to be leaning toward opting out of his deal next summer for free agency. Should he opt out after the 2009-10 season, Wade could re-sign with the Heat for about $120 million over six years or take a five-year deal for about $90 million with another team.

''I think people look at it and see it's not about the money,'' Wade said. ``If it was, I'd sign back [with Miami]. The Heat can pay me more money than any other team, so it's all about winning for me. And that's what I'm expecting more than anything.''

Source: Miami Herald

There are no temporary solutions

Among the responses in my interview this week with Dwyane Wade, one, in particular, resonated.

When I asked about possibly buying time this season with players on one-year contracts, he replied, "I'm looking for us to be in a position where we put guys around me that we can win with for the long haul. And I'll wait until that happens."

Allen Iverson vs. Heat And that's where this Allen Iverson discussion should end. Would Iverson help the Heat over the short run? Certainly. He would provide the offense the team so lacked in those first-round blowout losses to the Hawks.

But consider where that would leave the Heat, should it field a starting five with Iverson and Jermaine O'Neal: With a lineup of two prime contributors who would have to go if a true makeover were to be undertaken next summer.

It was one thing when Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant were summarily cast aside in the 2004 offseason for Shaquille O'Neal. None of those three knew they were out the door as soon as that magical run to the second round was over. They played as if there was a South Florida future.

But to go into a season asking the best of O'Neal and Iverson while also acknowledging there is little wiggle room for a return, what type of atmosphere would that create? Having one rental player is tough enough. But two? And with a second-year coach?

If Wade needs a stop-gap scorer for when he exits games, someone along the lines of Hawks free-agent guard Flip Murray might make more sense. Asking a journeyman role player to be a journeyman role player is a different story than asking a former All-Star to give his best and then get the heck out of the way. Times two. Source: SunSentinel.com