I've noticed we got alot of articles here so post all articles here, what do you think of that idea devestata? give me feedback since your the moderator. Oh, can you make this a sticky?
Even after drafting small forward Caron Butler, coach Pat Riley indicated Friday the Heat will seek swingmen and perimeter-oriented players when free agent negotiations begin Monday.
Riley said he expects to use at least a portion of the Heat's $4.6 million salary-cap exception but will not offer it at the outset of free agency or when signings can begin July 17.
''We have the whole summer to do this stuff,'' Riley said. ``We've learned a lot of players wait until September, and we've found players late.''
Riley also said the Heat might give deadlines to free agents so Miami doesn't lose a chance to pursue other players.
Because the Heat wants to have cap space in 2003, Riley said he probably will not offer a longterm contract starting at close to the exception.
Most teams are near or above the projected $53 million luxury-tax threshold. The Heat has $49.9 million committed to the five players with fully guaranteed contracts and must pay Butler $1.67 million in the first year of a three-year deal, with a team option for a fourth and right-to-match for a fifth.
Heat owner Micky Arison, originally reluctant to pay any luxury tax, now appears willing to pay a small one.
Much of the $4.6 million exception could be enough to sign a small forward such as the Lakers' Devean George, Boston's Rodney Rogers or Utah's Bryon Russell or Donyell Marshall.
''Devean George is going to be one of the most sought-after free agents,'' Riley said. ``He's athletic, has great length. We need across-the-board protection for all perimeter positions. I want to try to get speed, quickness, skilled shooters. At small forward, we need backups or starters.''
Miami's other option would be re-signing Jim Jackson to share time with Butler at small forward.
''If you have two players like that, you would be covered, especially if Caron develops quickly,'' Riley said.
Riley said he wants to speak to free agent swingman Kendall Gill, but his return in a prominent role seems unlikely.
Other potentially cheap unrestricted free agent small forwards include Walt Williams, Monty Williams, Calbert Cheaney, John Wallace and Tyrone Nesby.
Riley said it's doubtful Miami will bid for any restricted free agents such as Portland's Bonzi Wells ''because teams probably would match'' offers.
Riley is optimistic about keeping point guard Rod Strickland, who wants to return. Facing a limited market, Strickland might have no choice but to accept the $1.1 million minimum. If Strickland surprisingly leaves, Miami's top free agent options would be Jeff McInnis, Travis Best and Chauncey Billups.
Also available are Larry Hughes, Chris Childs, Troy Hudson, Jacque Vaughn, Erick Strickland, Dana Barros, Mookie Blaylock, Brian Shaw, Greg Anthony, Terry Porter and John Crotty.
The Heat is at some risk of losing restricted free agent guard Eddie House. Miami made a $737,000 qualifying offer, allowing the Heat the right to match any offer. Miami likely would let House leave if a team surprisingly offers most of its exception.
Riley said he feels no need to add another power-rotation player, beyond re-signing Vladimir Stepania. ''We have enough protection up front, with Alonzo Mourning, Brian Grant, Malik Allen, Sean Marks, LaPhonso Ellis,'' Riley said.
If Stepania leaves, other unrestricted free agent power players include Charles Oakley, Jerome James, Scott Williams, Felton Spencer, Mark Blount, Dean Garrett, Kevin Willis and Greg Foster.
Top free agents Mike Bibby (Sacramento), Rashard Lewis (Seattle) and Raef LaFrentz (Dallas) expect to stay put.
Please repost in the new editorial forum. Put it in the HEAT folder. Thanks truebluefan
Over on the Knicks board I posted that we should sign Keon for 2 reasons.
1. Insurance if Zo goes down!
2. This is an article from Thursdays Sun-Sentinel entitled New Perspective.
Expected to go BIG in the draft,perhaps with Indiana's Jared Jeffries or another power player,the Heats perspective on free agengy changed Wennesday.
Asked if adding Butler could have the Heat looking elsewhere in free agency,coach Pat Riley said,"I think so.Thats our next step.
Where perimeter players such as Devean George,Donyell Marshall,Bryon Russell or Rodney Rogers might have benn pursued,the search now could include the likes of a point guard such as Travis Best or a power player such as Malik Rose.
Id like to see George in a Heat uni next season,but I hear that the only reason the Lakers made that Hunter/Rush trade,was so they could resign him.
I'm sorry but like Pat Riley said we don't need big men, just swingmen/permiter players. Alonzo Mourning is going to be healthy come next season man and we already have legit front court players on our bench, we've got an excellent bench just make a depth chart if you don't believe me.
Let me ask you something, who comes into a summer planing for an injury when Zo has never been an injury prone player before this kidney disorder? We're fine. Re-signing our free agents, getting a point guard, getting a premiter player and then getting Keon Clark is how I say we do it, and in that case it's highly unlikelly we'll get him IMO.
Heatlunatic, not only will we make the playoffs with that linuep we'll be a top 4 seed. If you remember that excellent 2nd half of the season when we got our act together and we started to be healthy again we had a 24-10 run and beat alot of the current title contenders.
Just imagine this season we're gonna have better team chemistry, more depth and a hungry Caron Butler who wants to prove people wrong and a killer instrinct!
__________________ "I was gutter when you met me, gutter when you left me, gutter when you came back face it nothing can change that" - Method Man
I agreee... This team of zo,bg,jones hasnt been together for as long as other teams. This is the year our chemistry gets that touch we need. Zo n BG will workout together and will make it work on the court. Eddie Joens and Butler will have great chemistry considering I heard Jones said he wanted to play with Butler predraft and the fact that at the Heat draft party I told him "You and Caron are gonna tear it up" and he gave me the biggest smile I've eva seen. Just add someone who can dish out those dimes and we are easily back on top of the East.
George isn't going to go to Miami. The only reason he's even leaving LA is because he's not getting enough minutes. He's not going to play ahead of Caron or EJ here. It's not worth giving him all or close to all of the exception and then have him complaining about minutes, when we could sign JJ for less and get similar if not better production. George still needs a couple years to polish up his game.
George isn't a smart player on the court at all. And, considering how many open looks he gets from long range, because of Shaq he better be a better 3 point shooter. And, actually he made more than JJ, but he shot 10% worse than JJ.
Originally posted by Takeit2dahouse00
I just read in today's paper that Miami was offered by the Bucks...
Glenn Robinson for 10th pick, Gatling, AC, Ellis...
but Miami felt Butler will be better than Grob..
That deal is a total rip off! Good move by the Heat. The Bucks must think that the Heat are stupid.
__________________ Chick Hearn: This game is in the refrigerator. The door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are gettin' cool, the butter's gettin' hard, and the jellooooooo's jigglin'!
The 2009-2010 Los Angeles Lakers
PG: Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar
SG: Kobe Bryant, Sasha Vujacic, Sun Yue
SF: Ron Artest, Luke Walton, Adam Morrison
PF: Pau Gasol, Josh Powell
C: Andrew Bynum, D.J. Mbenga
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