By Barry Jackson, McClatchy Newspapers –
MIAMI — The most pertinent question of this Heat offseason: What can $3 million get you? It landed Miami a pretty significant piece last December, with Shane Battier’s signing looking much smarter today than two months ago.
Beyond trades, the only avenues for the Heat to improve are the $3.2 million mini-midlevel exception given to tax-paying teams (that’s all Miami would have even if Mike Miller retires or is amnestied), veteran’s minimum contracts topping $1 million and the 27th pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
The Heat will be judicious with the exception because it will be at least $7 million over the luxury tax threshold, and the tax system will become more onerous in 2013-14. The hope would be to find a quality rotation player — such as Steve Nash, Lamar Odom, or Ray Allen — willing to settle for less to play here. If Miller, due $5.8 million next season, retires or is amnestied, the tax would be less of an immediate concern. A look at Miami’s options entering free agency July 1:
Power rotation: Miami doesn’t have a strong chance of finding a center good enough to warrant moving Chris Bosh back to power forward, and the Heat is comfortable with keeping Bosh at center. Perhaps the only affordable appealing option would be Kwame Brown, who got $7 million from Golden State last December but played just nine games before tearing his pectoral muscle while defending Udonis Haslem . He averaged 7.9 points and 6.8 rebounds for Charlotte two years ago and his price tag will be lower off injury.
The Heat is in no position to land free agents Kevin Garnett, Marcus Camby (who insists he wants to stay in Houston), Tim Duncan (will stay with the Spurs), Spencer Hawes or Chris Kaman, or probably even Jordan Hill or Ian Mahinmi.
All that’s left are cheap backup types: Aaron Gray, Jason Collins, Nazr Mohammed, Daniel Orton, Joel Pryzbilla, undersized Boris Diaw. None is better than what Miami has.
Here’s an option: Leave Bosh at center and add a rotation-worthy power forward to supplement Haslem and Battier, who proved he can play either forward spot.
Odom, 32, would be appealing if he and the Mavericks agree to a buyout, as expected; he averaged 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Lakers in 2010-11. Odom always has liked the Heat, even after being traded, but reportedly prefers a return to Los Angeles — with either the Clippers or the Lakers (who could not re-sign him until Dec. 11, per NBA rules).
Otherwise, offering the $3 million to Cavaliers power forward Antawn Jamison (17.2 points, 6.3 rebounds) would make some sense, though he presumably will command more elsewhere. If Miami cannot find a quality power forward/center worth $3.2 million, it would be worth considering using the exception on a bench scorer (perhaps Allen or Jamal Crawford) and add a power forward at the minimum from the likes of Reggie Evans, Shelden Williams and Kenyon Martin.
Forget the top restricted free agent big men: Roy Hibbert, Omer Asik, Javale McGee, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez and Marreese Speights . All are out of Miami’s price range. The Heat is aware of Greg Oden’s interest, but he might sit out next season while getting healthy.
Point guard: The Heat is expected to be among several teams that will at least call about Nash, who averaged 10.7 assists (second in the league) and led all NBA guards by shooting 53.2. Though Nash has expressed interest in Miami, it would be surprising if he takes $3 million; the Suns reportedly plan to offer $10 million a year. A Canadian report Friday listed Phoenix, Portland and Toronto as front-runners.
Unless Nash comes, Miami likely would stick with Mario Chalmers starting and Norris Cole backing up, though several veterans will be available for modest money (Jason Kidd, Kirk Hinrich, Keyon Dooling, Derek Fisher). Deron Williams, Raymond Felton, Andre Miller and Goran Dragic are too expensive.
Small forwards or shooting guards: A need, especially if Miller doesn’t return. Guards Allen, 36, and Crawford, 32, reportedly have interest in Miami, but it’s debatable whether either — or Jason Terry, 34, or Grant Hill, 39, for that matter — would take the mini-mid level. Allen might be most likely of those four to accept $3 million. Don’t rule out Brandon Roy, who is 27, has a 19.9-point career scoring average, and is planning a comeback after retiring before last season with knee problems.
Other options: Gerald Green, Randy Foye, Mickael Pietrus, Marquis Daniels, Anthony Parker, Matt Barnes, Von Wafer and Michael Redd . Nick Young, Marco Belinelli and Carlos Delfino probably would be too pricey.
Dexter Pittman, Juwan Howard and Eddy Curry are the Heat’s free agents. Ronny Turiaf must decide whether to exercise a $1.2 million player option.
Chatter
The admiration for LeBron James was evident Friday on Twitter. “Great year for LeBron — comes out a winner on all counts,” Minnesota’s Kevin Love tweeted. “LeBron James (equals) NBA champion. I wonder if this will set in for Skip Bayless.” … Tweeted Metta World Peace: “LeBron is playing exactly how any superstar should — unselfish, together.”
While Heat players were spending more than $200,000 at Club LIV after winning the title, Pat Riley had a quiet dinner at Prime 112; he received a standing ovation when he walked in at 2:45 a.m. and was approached with congratulations from Charles Oakley and Tim Hardaway. Also at Prime: Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka, sitting silently in the corner and looking miserable.
Rip job of the week: Former Jets defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, now a New York-area broadcaster, on Sirius XM Radio: “Chad Ochocinco is all about self. I don’t think (his act) has any positive place in football. It’s in his best interests to stick to reality TV, instead of possibly weighing a team down because he wants to go out there and be pretty. It is definitely going to be to the detriment of the Dolphins. They don’t have the type of talent to get things done.”
But Ochocinco was impressive at minicamp last week. Roberto Wallace and Julius Pruitt appeared to be the best of the receivers battling behind Ochocinco, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess and Legedu Naanee.
Rant of the week: Dolphins safety Reshad Jones made contact with David Garrard on a blitz at minicamp (a no-no), and Jake Long ran on the field shouting: “Reshad, don’t (expletive) touch the quarterback, (expletive).” Jones cursed back and said later: “Jake was just mad because I had a sack on him.”
The Marlins are looking to trade for outfield help but do not want to take on a lot of payroll. They are open to trading first baseman Gaby Sanchez, who has hit .208 since last year’s All-Star break, but his value is very limited.
FIU is closing in on a raise (from $550,000) and extension (through 2016) for football coach Mario Cristobal, who rejected offseason overtures from Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Houston and Southern Mississippi.
