What Signing James Jones means for Miami

The recent acquisition of James Jones by the Miami Heat seems like a great move, until you see the amount of money he signed for. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this guy. Growing up in Miami I remember watching him at the U and loved him. The issue with this signing isn't the player, but what signing this player means. Signing Jones does not leave very much money to sign a center and a point guard, which are our biggest needs, and everyone knows it. However, we aren't the New York Knicks here. Were not signing a bunch of good players regardless of what we need (see Knicks guards), and hoping that they will somehow form a formidable lineup with a fluid rotation, all while ruining these players' careers due to the playing time they now have to share with the rest of the good players at their position. We've got Pat Riley at the helm, and he knows exactly what he's doing. So what is the meaning of all this?

This means that there is probably some kind of trade being worked out that people do not know about, and I can tell you that it probably has to do with Shawn Marion and/or Udonis Haslem. When asked about the move for Jones, Riley alluded to "future moves" possibly being made. This is not a certainty by any means, but wouldn't it be such a Pat Riley thing to do?

One rumor I have heard (it hurts to type this), is a trade involving Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem for Ron Artest and Brad Miller, with some other little pieces involved. Talk about a risk.

Shawn Marion Does NOT Opt Out, Gets $17.8 Million

This comes as no surprise at all. The only way Marion would have opted out is if he had come to an extension agreement, say for three years, $40 million. This puts the Heat on the hook for $17.8 million for one final season.

What does this mean? The Heat now have a maximum-contract player with an expiring contract. For those of you who don't know, expiring contracts are highly coveted in the NBA, since it frees up cap room at the end of the season. The Heat can elect to let Marion walk and use that money on a prized free agent, attempt to resign him, or trade him this year.

The real question, then, hinges on whether Pat Riley believes a Wade-Marion-Rose/Beasley nucleus is the recipe for success.

If I had to speculate, I'd guess that Marion will be gone after this year and likely before the season ends. In fact, he might even be traded before the season begins...as in, on draft night.

Crap Crap Crap Just Take Beasley and Go Home

After reading about and listening to all the rumors about the NBA draft and possible trades. I think the Joker had it right.


I've watched all the Heat players who played with effort and heart. It's time to go get some big time talent. Who beat Kansas with no help. Who went for 40 plus 5 times. Beasley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


My biggest fear is that the Bulls figure this out before Thursday. Lets look at the Heat after picking Beasley

Starters:

Marion-f
Beasley-f
Wade-sg
TBA-pg
Haslem/Blount/Mourning-c


Bench:

Banks-pg
Cook-sg
Wright-sf
The center that isn't starting and Haslem backing up at the 4

You can't fix all the problems of the world or an NBA team overnight. Use the 5 million exemption to find a point guard (Portland and Memphis have 3 each) and see how this roster looks in January. I think Marion fits well with Beasley because he can guard the other teams best scoring forward on defense and doesn't need the ball on offense.

Try playing a little defense this year and if things need more work, Marion's expiring contract will have even more trade value then it does today.

Who Your Favorite Athletes Are Voting For - Does It Matter To You?

The Herald has an excellent article this morning about political activism among local professional athletes. Usually, athletes will stay away from the subject because (a) they don't want to spark any sort of clubhouse antipathy with different-minded teammates, (b) they don't particularly follow politics or current events all too much, and/or (c) they fear losing endorsements or fans with their public pronouncements about political issues.

A handful of South Florida professional athletes, however, have been willing to come out with their 2008 presidential preferences. On the Obama side, we have Heat players Alonzo Mourning (who has previously donated $25,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) and Shawn Marion. For McCain, we have Dolphins kicker Jay Feely, Marlins outfielder Luis Gonzalez (who has actually stumped for the Arizona Senator), and pitcher Andrew Miller.

So I ask South Florida sports nation, knowing this information about some of your beloved athletes - does it matter to you? Do you think any more or less of Zo or Gonzo because of their professed political leanings?

Many will say, as with entertainers of any stripe like actors or musicians, that these people should simply "shut up and act/sing/play". These types will actually acquire vitriol for the entertainer who doesn't pledge allegiance to their vision of America, and may even launch boycotts against said entertainers. I probably fall on the milder side of this response. I strongly believe in freedom of speech, and definitely applaud any athlete who deigns to speak out on any matter of national/world consequence. But I will say, "I still love Athlete X, I just wish he wasn't a rabid member of Party Y." I will still attend his games, still cheer my heart out for him, still purchase his jersey. But there's that little bit of "Aw, shucks" in the back of my mind when I get to thinking about how "wrong" he may be politically.

What say you?

The ABCs of the NBA

With six you get eggrolls but in the NBA it's as simple as 1,2,3. You need 3 top level stars to win in today's NBA. Boston goes with Garnett, Pierce, and Allen. While the Lakers come with Kobe, Odom, and Gasol.

L.A. was just a Western conference outcast until the Feb trade brought the third leg to their stool. San Antonio has it. Detroit has it, but appears to be losing it. Unless you've got Shaq in his prime teamed with a Kobe level player, and I've checked all the scouting reports down to sixth grade level...there are no Shaqs anywhere.

So you'd better go with the ABCs. Do the Heat need to go to school to learn how to read, write and draft? You've got your A with Wade. You've got your C in Marion. So you need your B in Beasley. Any of you night owls who were watching K-State playing this year saw a kid playing 1 on 3 in one of the toughest conferences in the country and putting up huge numbers.

So what if he likes to laugh. Remember winning is suppose to be fun. So take your B and add up those 1,2,3s and get back into the playoffs. Simple.

Should the Heat Go For Elton Brand?

We've talked about the possibilities for Heat trades. They have a very moveable big-salaried chip in Shawn Marion, along with the trusty #2 pick. Elton Brand's name is being thrown around in a number of places, so I'm curious to know what you all think.

Is Brand over the hill, or can he be the dominant inside punch to another Wade-led championship team? If the Heat could get him without dealing the pick and also manage to bring in Ron Artest, wouldn't this be exciting?

PG Derrick Rose
SG Dwyane Wade
SF Ron Artest
PF Udonis Haslem
PF/C Elton Brand/Zo/FA

That would be a whole lot of athleticism on the floor. Possible? Good?

Be Satisfied with the #2 Pick

Heat fans, you should be very satisfied with the #2 pick. Going into last night, this should have been the mindset:

- 3 or 4, bad
- 2 good
- 1 great

The key thing was to avoid the 4th pick, which had some pretty high odds (we demonstrated that). There are two premier players in this draft (Rose and Beasley), so the Heat are assured one of them.

EJ and I both think the Heat would be better off with Rose, and early indications are that the Bulls covet Beasley. Imagine if the Heat got their guy and paid less!

Another possibility is trading the pick, which still has tremendous value at #2. The Heat could try and package the pick with Shawn Marion for a better superstar or fill a few holes with complementary players. A number of good trading partners come to mind, including Portland (Kevin Pritchard is always trying to swing a deal, and they have copious assets), Sacramento (Ron Artest and a package), Dallas, Charlotte, Indiana, Memphis...the list goes on. The Knicks would love to acquire it, but I'm not sure what the Heat would take in return (David Lee wouldn't be enough, and I seriously hope Eddy Curry isn't being considered). Lots of possibilities regardless.

It's time to put the past behind us and focus on a bright future. The Heat are in good shape.

Heat Triumphant!

Yes, we bloggers are prone to hyperbole, and this is certainly one of those cases. That being said, how about the Heat pulling out a March win in Milwaukee, giving the franchise its twelfth win of the season.

As far as I'm concerned, 12 wins is better than 11, and there are a few things to get excited about:

1. Shawn Marion looks like he's adjusting to the system. Even in a game where he played hurt, he still managed 12 boards, deferring to teammates when advantageous.

2. Jason Williams shows signs of life. Could he be gaining enough value to be part of a sign-and-trade this summer? Doubtful, but worth keeping an eye on.

3. Bobby Jones (no, not the golfer), Joel Anthony, and Chris Quinn going 13-15 from the field (86.7%) for 35 points. They were the difference in this game.

So do the Heat have a chance tonight in Toronto? Not a chance in hell, let alone Canada, but hey, let's celebrate the wins when they come.