Heat Likely To Hit Free Agency At Full Speed
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – The Miami Heat stood just two games away from capturing an NBA championship last season. Now, the Heat is looking for some help to finish off a championship run and the team has plenty to choose from in free agency.
NBA free agency doesn't start until December 9th, but that hasn't stopped the free agency rumor mill from firing up as soon as the agreement on the new collective bargaining agreement was reached.
For the Miami Heat, there are two main positions of need on the team: point guard and center.
The only problem for the Heat is that they don't have the financial firepower to get some of the top free agents out there.
So, Heat president Pat Riley will have to try to convince players to take less money and join up with the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh to have a real shot at winning an NBA championship this year.
There are multiple players who could fit either position for the Heat.
First, the Heat may re-sign Mario Chalmers, who the team does have a qualifying offer with. Second, the Heat has to decide if they are going to amnesty guard/forward Mike Miller.
Miller could not get healthy last season and has multiple years at a high salary still on the books.
If the Heat keeps Miller, they can always amnesty him next year if he can't stay healthy. But, keeping him will cut more money out from potential free agency.
For the Heat to be able to offer the full mid-level exception, the team can't spend more than $74.3 million this season.
The Heat has to sign first-round pick Norris Cole to a contract and that will push the team's salary this season to roughly $67 million, according to ESPN.com.
The team would then have just $7 million to spend on the rest of the team if the Heat used the full mid-level exception. Given the veteran minimum can sometimes run in the millions of dollars, it doesn't leave much space to fill out the 12 man roster.
So, Pat Riley will have to decide if he wants to go all-in on the mid-level exception and target a player like Samuel Dalembert; or, will he offer less than the mid-level and target multiple players who could fill a need for the Heat.
Some players that could be available once the free agency period begins include: center Kurt Thomas; center Samuel Dalembert; center Kwame Brown; guard/forward Grant Hill; forward Shane Battier; guard Baron Davis; center Eddy Curry; and center Brendan Haywood.
Dalembert made $13.4 million last season, but that's because the Sacramento Kings horribly overpaid for him. He has lots of family in South Florida and is a native of Haiti; which could both be strong selling points for the Heat.
But, Riley has resisted offering a full mid-level exception contract to anyone and Dalembert doesn't look like he will be the first one to ever get that.
If Dalembert was willing to play for $3 million and the Heat could keep Miller and target Grant Hill or Baron Davis if they become available, Riley could be dancing in the street.
But, until the lockout is fully approved by both side, teams can't contact or comment on players.
Still, December 9th will be the opening of training camp and free agency and teams will have to move fast to figure out their plans before that date in order to land the players they desire.
