Only Lukewarm Changes?

In the eyes of some, Pat Riley should be sitting pretty right now. He shrewdly drafted Michael Beasley and later picked up a steal in Mario Chalmers. He then signed James Jones, a three-point specialist with some size. And to top it all off, Dwyane Wade looked very athletic and explosive in his recent game against Canada.

An off-season of these standards would be considered a success for a playoff team. The problem is that this team showed anything but the pedigree of a playoff team. They won 15 games last season. There are still a lot of holes that are needed to fill. Now, August and the Olympics are just around the corner. And the Heat haven't done anything in weeks.

Concern of this team just having lukewarm changes should be growing. The two most pressing needs are a center and a point guard. Pat Riley does have a quality point guard in the making in Mario Chalmers. However, Chalmers is going to have to prove himself among the upper echelon of point guards in the East. Anybody, including Dorell Wright and Earl Barron, can have a good summer-league showing.

Having a defensive-minded center who can rebound and be an occasional low-post threat is also vital for success in the East. Miami is going to have to go up against Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and Jermaine O'Neal. Those faces will be even more familiar if the Heat make it to the playoffs. They are going to need an experienced big man with good size and skills in order to get back to prominence.

That seems simple enough. Having expendable trade chips such as Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem makes it even more expendable. The problem is that the top free agents have either already signed a new contract or don't have a chance to be with the Heat. A couple of weeks ago, I read an article that Pat Riley rejected a trade offer that would have sent Jamaal Tinsley to Miami in exchange for Haslem. I agree with Riley's decision. The problem is that he shouldn't be reacting to these trade proposals. He should be acting and making the trade proposals. Another team isn't going to want to help the Heat. He needs to do that.

When you have a 15-67 team, you don't want to keep many of those players. If Pat Riley does not make any more significant changes, it's difficult to see them back to the position they were in 2007, much less in 2006. I would take Sean Williams of the Nets if it meant having a starting center with some upside. It doesn't matter if he's going to be a sophomore in the League. He'd be better than Mark Blount and Joel Anthony.

A Large, Yet Unsatisfying Plate

I haven't updated my website over the past few days. Part of it is because I have watched the best film of the year so far, The Dark Knight, twice in the past three days. Another part of it is that Pat Riley has seemed to be on vacation for the summer. Now, I've heard the rumors about Brian Skinner, and he'd be a good pick-up. Luol Deng is all but certain to return to Chi-town. Yet Miami needs to make some trades if they want to keep Dwyane Wade.

Miami currently has Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, James Jones, Daequan Cook, Marcus Banks, Mark Blount, and Alonzo Mourning under contract. That's ten names. Also, don't forget the qualifying offers given to Dorell Wright and Chris Quinn. Joel Anthony, Stephane Lasme, and Kasib Powell all have been praised for their strides. All in all, that is 15 names.

Evidently, the Heat need to make some major trades very soon. They only have the $1.9 bi-annual exception left to sign free agents. Pat Riley has apparently not lost interest in Ron Artest, and I have said that he could be a welcome addition to the team. The Heat have also expressed interest in the Warriors' Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, but Riles is going to have to present Golden State with an offer they simply can't refuse.

Whether it's obtaining the volatile forward in Artest or the young talent of Ellis or Biedrins, the Heat would need to add a third team to the mix. However, I haven't heard much more than mere speculation out of the rumors. Pat Riley should stop worrying about what could happen if Carlos Boozer opts out of his contract and make moves for now.

It's late July. So far, the Heat have picked up Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers in the Draft; they also picked up a lengthy three-point specialist in James Jones. All of these are shrewd moves. However, it is not nearly enough for the Heat to compete with Boston, the team to beat in the East.

Brian Skinner's addition would only add to the logjam at forward for the Heat. It would increase speculation of Udonis Haslem's or Shawn Marion's trade possibilities. But Pat Riley should stop dropping hints as to what he might do and just do it. He can't sit around and make a last-minute trade in October and hope the pieces put themselves together. Look what happened then.

Ron-Ron Gone-Gone?

In the latest advancement in Miami Heat rumors, Ron Artest's name has popped up. Sure, his name has come around for the past few years or so, but this year Pat Riley could find a deal to entice the Maloof Brothers. Why? Because the Heat now have Shawn Marion.

The Sacramento Bee first reported that the Heat would be interested in the volatile forward, and wouldn't have qualms about parting with Marion. There are the critics who say that trading Marion for Artest is like trading platinum for silver; or that Marion is supposed to be utilized in trading for a more pressing need -- such as point guard or center. I must disagree with both.

While Marion and Artest both have been heralded for their defense, there is one clear-cut winner. Marion has established himself as a great help defender. He can guard the opponent's best shooting guard or small forward, but seldom slows him down. Artest, by contrast, is a lock-down defender. Those kinds of players are hard to come by. Artest has superior physical skills and knows when to steal the ball. There is no question in my mind that every single player should be worried if Artest is guarding him. Defensively, I give the edge to Artest. And while Artest certainly doesn't have the leaping and rebounding skills, six rebounds is nothing to complain about from a small forward.

Artest, 28, has developed a refined offensive game over time. His jump-shot and three-point shooting has steadily improved to a solid 38% in 2007-08. Moreover, Artest does possess a very polished face-the-basket game. Without question, Artest could take tremendous pressure off of Dwyane Wade.

It is true that Miami does need to fill in their point guard and center situations. To be honest, I don't see Pat Riley taking Kenny Thomas or the Maloofs giving up Brad Miller. What I could see happening is bringing in a third team into the equation. Artest makes slightly more than half of the salary of the Matrix. With the NBA's trade rules, more players are going to have to be involved. The Artest-Marion swap would be exchanging expiring contracts. It is what Miami additionally gets that ultimately decides whether this trade was a win. And while Marion and Artest both are small forwards, that doesn't necessarily mean I would shy away from a trade involving the two.

With Orlando apparently losing interest in Jason Williams with their recent signing of Anthony Johnson, Pat Riley is going to have to act quick this off-season. He can't take his sweet little time on the Mo Williamses of the world so that what is left is Smush Parker.

Marion on the Block?

As the Miami Herald reported today, several teams are interested in acquiring versatile forward Shawn Marion. Barry Jackson, the author of the article, specifically mentioned the Warriors and the L.A. Clippers as teams interested in Marion. Of the two, I appear Oakland appears more plausible. Now that Elton Brand left Clipper Nation, I don't see L.A. having many assets to trade.

Two players whom entice Miami's interest are Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins. Ellis, though not a pure point guard, could handle the ball a lot and take tremendous scoring pressure off of Dwyane Wade. Biedrins, meanwhile, is a lengthy center who is also a good rebounder. Both are restricted free agents, and booking them for a flight to Miami would have to be via a sign-and-trade.

Pat Riley has used the entire mid-level exception, splitting it between newly-acquired forward James Jones and second-round pick Mario Chalmers. What remains is the bi-annual exception, worth approximately $1.9 million. The Heat might be able to pick up someone with the bi-annual exception, but it won't be Ellis or Biedrins.

Shawn Marion is owed approximately $17.2 million next season. Due to Miami and Golden State being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Therefore, Ellis and Biedrins would need to combine their contracts for this upcoming season to be nearly identical to that of Marion. An example would be Ellis signing a deal worth roughly $12 million for next season and Biedrins signing a contract worth $5 million.

Miami would fill in their needs for a point guard and center with Ellis and Biedrins on board, respectively. Golden State, meanwhile, would give fans something to cheer about with Maggette and Marion. This could also give them the flexibility to trade either Al Harrington or maybe even Stephen Jackson.

There are those who may view Ellis' lack of three-point accuracy as a reason to be leery of signing him. During Miami's championship run, Jason Williams was 37.2% from three-point land during the regular season and 27.4% in the playoffs. Antoine Walker shot 35.8% during the season and 32.4% in the playoffs. James Posey shot 40.3% during the season and 42.2% during the playoff run. Gary Payton shot 28.7% during the season and 29.3% during the playoffs on just 58 attempts.

That's all they had. Four players and one of them was a dead-eye shooter. In Miami's current roster, they have James Jones, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and Daequan Cook. Those are four guys also. Moreover, Ellis and Wade are at a young age, so they can develop a three-point shot over time. Say what you want about Monta Ellis' shooting, but I'd take him over Tyronn Lue any day of the week.

Summer League Review

The five-games-in-five-days summer league ended earlier Friday, with Miami losing in a nail-biting game against the Orlando Magic. Several players were visibly fatigued from fighting the past week to make an NBA roster. But if the summer league was meant to get a gauge at who has pro potential, it was a week well spent. I have broken down each player on Miami's roster, and give them a standing on if they can make the final cut.

Michael Beasley: The second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft had his ups and downs, but still managed to produce to a strong showing. He proved to be an excellent scorer and a strong rebounder. He needs to work on his defense, but at least the Heat now know where Beasley needs to improve. I expect him to start his rookie season and make a run for Rookie of the Year if not win it.

Mario Chalmers: This second-round pick was arguably Miami's steadiest player. Chalmers proved to be a tough defender and a quick guard who can get to the rim with ease. In addition, he also showed some three-point ability. If Miami does not make a trade for a veteran point guard, he could challenge Marcus Banks for the starting point guard spot.

Kasib Powell: The 6'7" forward has shown versatility to play the three. He has multiple ways to score in his arsenal, including taking the ball all by himself in the open court. He can hit the occasional three and rebounds well for a small forward. I expect he'll make the team and maybe become a rotation player down the road.

Stephane Lasme: Lasme has proven his worth in the little time alloted to him, unfortunately because he is Beasley's backup. Lasme can block shots on the defensive end, or can run the pick-and-pop perfectly on the offensive end. He doesn't mind getting his hands dirty and does all the little things. The Heat need someone like that. I expect he'll make the 15-man cut as well.

Anthony Morrow: The 6'6" guard can flat out shoot. He benefits off of defenders helping to guard Chalmers or Beasley. But as I've said before, Dwyane Wade is going to play 38-40 minutes, and Daequan Cook is going to be asked exactly what Morrow has been doing. Morrow could make the team as a third-string shooting guard, but I wouldn't bet my money that he'll make the team.

Antonio Graves: Graves was one of the quickest players in the Orlando summer league, especially in the open court. The problem is that if he gets the ball in a halfcourt setting, he'll chuck up a shot. Graves has to develop other facets of his game. I don't envision him making the team. Besides, can he pass the ball for once?

Anthony King: It's been easy to forget that King is even on the court. He hasn't done much to make himself stand out. I'd be surprised if he got an invite to Miami's summer league, much less make the final roster.
David Padgett: Padgett is very big and can rebound. He can set screens, but his productivity stops there. He has been foul-prone and has not offered much as far as scoring. I know Miami's center depth is only the perimeter-oriented Mark Blount, but I don't anticipate he'll make the squad.

Jason Richards: The leader in Division I assists is unfortunately backing up Chalmers. However, unlike Lasme, Richards hasn't made any of his performances memorable. He's shown an eye to get Beasley in some of his sweet spots, but has been somewhat prone to turnovers, is a liability on defense, and doesn't offer much on the offensive end of the court. He'll have to wait at least another year to play in the pros.

Marco Killingsworth: Keith Askins has never put in this guy for very long, but he has always been relatively anonymous every single game. He won't make the team.
Dion Dowell: See Marco Killingsworth.

Pat Calathes: Has he even played a game?

Marcus Campbell: Marcus who?

Josh Duncan: A poor-man's David Padgett. Won't make the team.

Heat Squander Oklahoma City

After their first loss of the summer league, the Miami Heat (and Michael Beasley, especially) came back with fire in their eyes to spank the Oklahoma City (insert your own outlandish name) in a 101-76 blowout.

Michael Beasley scored the first points of the game on a jump shot. Then, he stole the ball and went the length of the court for a beastly jam. He then shot a turnaround, fade-away jumper. Swish. Beasley turned to Keith Askins -- he had six points in the first three minutes of the game.

Beasley finished with 19 points on eight-of-16 shooting from the field and two-for-four from downtown. Beasley also grabbed five rebounds and improved in the foul and turnover departments -- with two apiece. And he did it all in just 25 minutes. Beasley seemed to make everything look so smooth and effortless. The scoring machine in college has been challenged by summer league coach Keith Askins to develop other facets of his game. He has.

Russell Westbrook got out to a quick start for Oklahoma City. His crossover never failed, as he was able to get to the basket at will. The fourth overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft made it to the free-throw line 10 times and finished with 19 points on seven-of-12 shooting. Despite Westbrook's play, Mario Chalmers, Beasley, and Kasib Powell managed the Heat to hang in there for the entire first quarter. The game was tied at 23 at the end of the first stanza of play.

From then on, the Miami Heat ran away with it.

Michael Beasley continued to dominate in the second quarter, including connecting on a picture-perfect and-one. Chalmers had a quiet night, but still managed to score 11 points on just five field goal attempts. Super Mario wasn't as aggressive in games past, but did develop more chemistry with his teammates. That will be more along the lines of what Chalmers will be asked to do this upcoming season with Dwyane Wade. With Wade and Beasley scoring off the dribble, Chalmers could develop some nice pick-and-roll action with his teammates.

Outside of Beasley and Chalmers, there were other players who stood up to contribute to Miami's easy win. One of the players I have been most impressed with is Stephane Lasme. He has a great shot to make the team and may become a solid rotation player down the road. Lasme has shown he can defend by developing a nice shot-blocking game. Lasme's jump shot also looks very fluid. He is also a workhorse reminiscent of Udonis Haslem. The 6'8" forward scored 14 points on just five field goal attempts and made it to the charity stripe seven times in just 16 minutes of action.

Another player who has done well night-in and night-out of this summer league is Kasib Powell. The 6'7" forward has shown an ability to shoot three-pointers as well as cut to the basket. He never gets lazy on the floor, especially in the fast-break. Powell finished with 10 points on four-of-eight shooting. I expect him to make the cut as well.

Anthony Morrow can flat out shoot. Morrow connected on three triples on his way to 16 points. It's unfortunate Miami already has Dwyane Wade and Daequan Cook at that position. As I've said before, you have to give the edge to Cook right now because he's the one that has proved himself on legitimate NBA talent. I can't see Morrow anything more than a third-string shooting guard if he makes the team.

The 3-1 Heat will wrap up their summer league against the Magic at 7:00pm.

Heat Cool to Pacers

The Miami Heat won't be undefeated for the summer league this year. They fell to the Indiana Pacers in a 95-84 contest that saw Shawne Williams score an impressive 25 points and made it to the charity stripe 10 times.

Mario Chalmers continued his superb play throughout the summer league in the first period. "Super Mario" registered 10 points on just two field goal attempts. He made to the the free-throw line seven times in the first quarter. He has made a name for himself in this summer league due to his offensive aggressiveness and unselfishness that could make him a nice steal for Miami. The Heat jumped out to a 25-19 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes of action.

Michael Beasley was better than yesterday, but still far from his dominant performance on Monday. The product out of Kansas St. was just two-for-six in the first half, and committed three fouls in the first 20 minutes of action. There were some questionable calls from referees, but Beasley needs to work on his defense. That could be the most vulnerable part of his game heading into the pros.

Despite the struggles of Beasley, Chalmers and forward Kasib Powell were able to carry the Heat towards a 42-41 lead heading into the locker-room at intermission.

Right out of the gate, Indiana decided to take the lead in the third quarter. They immediately took a nine-point lead in the third quarter. Shawne Williams, an athletic but raw youngster, hit all the right notes earlier today. He stretched the defense with some triples, and was aggressive in the offense. However, Beasley also stepped up in the third quarter. He scored seven points in the third period of play on two-of-four shooting from the field.

Williams made sure Miami did not come back. He scored 11 points in the first five minutes of the final period of play. From then on, Indiana never looked back.

Mario Chalmers continued to light up the summer league, by scoring 23 points and connecting on all of his 17 free-throw attempts. He also managed to dish out six assists. However, Chalmers was far from perfect. He committed seven turnovers and seven fouls. Beasley finished with 17 points on five-of-12 shooting. He was better than yesterday, but still not nearly as assertive as he was on Monday.

Kasib Powell gave Miami a double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds. He shot an above-average seven-of-12 from the field. With his strong showing in the summer league, I expect Powell to receive an invitation to the October training camp.

The Heat will try to regroup against Oklahoma City at 7:00 tomorrow.

Jones Comes Back to Miami

No, it wasn't Eddie Jones or Damon Jones coming back for another stint with the Heat to help gain them back to the upper echelon of teams in the East. But it was James Jones, a former Miami Hurricane who could offer the same three-point shooting that was lost with the departure of both Joneses.

In my opinion, Pat Riley could have signed Mickael Pietrus, who has recently signed with Orlando. Pietrus has stated he would love to play in Miami, and Riles fought hard to get him in a Heat uniform last off-season. Pietrus has been known for his long-distance shooting and defense. Ultimately, though, Riley opted to go with James Jones. He made the right decision.

Some have compared the 6'6" Pietrus to the 6'6" Bruce Bowen. Both have the shooting and defensive capabilities mentioned above -- and both are terrible from the charity stripe. They both are also undersized to play the small forward position. The reason why the Spurs are able to get away with it is because they don't give up much at the other positions. Miami already has an undersized shooting guard in Dwyane Wade and an undersized power forward in Udonis Haslem. Going that small may not be best for the team.

James Jones was third in the League in three-point shooting, at a 44.4% clip. He's also very young -- he'll turn 28 this year, which is also entering his peak. Jones also has long arms and blocks well for a small forward. He can fill somewhat of the Eddie Jones/James Posey role that was missed last season.
If Miami's small forward situation wasn't a logjam before, it certainly now is. Michael Beasley, Shawn Marion, and free agents Dorell Wright and Ricky Davis all are small forwards. I don't anticipate Wright nor Davis to return. It simply leaves Miami too loaded on their forward positions with them rail-thin on point guard and center. Shawn Marion is certainly the most valuable trade chip Miami has. It is difficult to see him returning with Miami, and I expect Riley to trade him for a more pressing need.

James Jones' five-year contract starting at $4 million, nearly all of the mid-level exception, still gives Miami flexibility for the all-important 2010 free agency. Jones will have an early termination option for the remaining three years on his contract. Although his signing gives away most of the mid-level exception, it was a move that needed to be done. The Heat's lack of three-point specialist did not bode well for them last season. Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley can create off the dribble, and having shooters around them would be helpful.

We certainly haven't heard the last of Heat transactions. The Heat do not have a center or depth at point guard. But signing Jones on the first day in which signing was possible was a move in the right direction that signaled Miami is going to be active this off-season.

Despite Beasley's Struggles, Heat Beat Nets

Coming off of a 28-point, nine-rebound game against Derrick Rose, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and the rest of the Chicago Bulls, few would have predicted Michael Beasley would have a bad game. He had a terrible game. He missed his first 10 shots, went one-for-13 overall, committed seven fouls (players cannot foul out in summer league play), and committed five turnovers. He came off the floor limping in the fourth quarter, and no word is out on whether he will be available tomorrow. But what was more surprising than Beasley's struggles is what the Heat managed to do without him.

New Jersey's summer roster touted college standouts Chris Douglas-Roberts, Brook Lopez, Sean Williams, Julius Hodge, and Ryan Anderson. Yet Miami was able to lead the game for the vast majority of the game. Much of the credit has to be given to Mario Chalmers, Miami's second-round pick. Chalmers, this time against former Rose teammate Douglas-Roberts, was able to get to the rim at will. He made it to the charity stripe 10 times, and was a solid five-for-10 from the field. He was a true floor general, dishing out nine assists in the game. The downside of his game was his six fouls and three turnovers.

Miami was able to go into the break with a 43-34 lead. Beasley continued his poor shooting in the second half, and the Nets got back in the game. Ryan Anderson and Brook Lopez combined for 18 points in the third quarter alone. Anderson's three-point shooting and Lopez's inside game was able to create an inside-outside game. Miami was able to go into the final period with a slim 66-61 lead, but Anderson hit a three-pointer with just over six minutes to go to give New Jersey a 71-69 lead.

It was looking to be a close game. Mario Chalmers made sure that didn't happen. He made a driving layup in traffic to give Miami a one-point lead and later found Anthony Morrow for a wide open triple. That shot was the dagger for New Jersey, as Miami was able to come away with a nine-point lead at the end of the game.

Kasib Powell and Stephane Lasme both provided solid performances again. The 6'7" Powell shot six-for-10 from the field for 17 points, grabbed five boards, and committed just one turnover in 34 minutes. Lasme played with heart, shooting five-for-six from the field for 13 points. He had a willingness to dive to the floor for loose balls, something seldom seen in today's players.

Anthony Morrow was another noteworthy standout. The 6'6" guard out of Georgia Tech connected on five three-pointers and finished with 19 points. Morrow has a picture-perfect stroke, especially in the open court. As impressive as Morrow was, Daequan Cook will be asked to do the same thing Morrow is asked of. You have to give the edge to Cook because he has proven himself among legitimate NBA-level competition.

Josh Duncan was inserted in to the starting lineup, replacing David Padgett. Duncan had a solid game, with nine points on three-of-five shooting, but he is not anywhere close to Miami's answer at the center. He is more of a perimeter player, and the Heat do not need another Marcus Blount.

The 2-0 Heat will face off against the Indiana Pacers tomorrow at 7:00.

Heat Blow by Bulls

It was supposed to be Beasley vs. Rose in one of the most hyped summer league games in recent memory. It ended up as a Miami Heat blowout of the Chicago Bulls on Monday. The second overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft showed no signs of a cracked sternum, going for 28 points and nine rebounds in just 23 minutes of action. Derrick Rose, meanwhile, shot an uneven three-for-eight from the field and four-of-eight from the charity stripe on his way to 10 points in 29 minutes.

Miami, coached by assistant Keith Askins, jumped out to a seven-zip lead early on and never looked back. Michael Beasley scored an impressive nine points in the first quarter. An early layup got blocked by Tyrus Thomas, but B'Easy was able overpower Thomas and blow by Joakim Noah later on. He realized his jump-shot was not falling for him, and decided to take it in strong. He made it to the free-throw line 12 times. From then, Beasley's jump-shot came to him, as he made a three-pointer in the third quarter.

Derrick Rose looked extremely tentative. He rarely drove to the rim and was not in-sync with his teammates. Mario Chalmers played excellent defense on the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Chalmers fought through screens, stayed with Rose for the most part, and never let Rose take over when he needed to. It wasn't just the defense that was impressive from Chalmers. He made it to the charity stripe on seven occasions, dished out six assists, collected four steals, and committed just one turnover. Having a chip on his shoulder after slipping down to the second round, Chalmers out-played Derrick Rose.

Beyond Beasley and Chalmers, there were a few standouts from the game that could receive an invitation to join the Heat's training camp in October. Kasib Powell had a solid game with 15 points on five-of-nine shooting and two-of-four from downtown. Powell, 6'7", has good size for a small forward, but minutes will be hard to come by at his position. Stephane Lasme also played well. The 6'8" forward scored 10 points and made it to the free-throw line six times in just 17 minutes. Lasme showed a nice pick-and-pop game, as well as a jump-hook after posting up.

Antonio Graves was very quick in the open court. Moreover, he displayed the ability to take defenders off the dribble with ease. He made some mistakes in the fast break, but showed potential in the game against Chicago.

With no player who has played a game in the NBA, Miami dominated against an experienced Chicago Bulls team. The Bulls fielded Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, JamesOff Curry, Aaron Gray, and Cedric Simmons, all of whom have at least one year under their belts. In this game, however, it was Michael Beasley and the Heat who looked like the veterans and the Bulls who looked like rookies.

Miami will face off against the New Jersey Nets tomorrow at 3:00.

Major Move in Works?

As more and more point guards are scooped up in free agency, Chris Duhon being the latest example, it appears likely the Heat will have to deal Shawn Marion if they want an elite point guard. Franchise centerpiece Dwyane Wade has publicly asserted that he needs someone else to handle the ball. He lobbied for OJ Mayo, who ultimately went third and was subsequently traded, but Pat Riley wound up selecting the best available player.

Mario Chalmers was regarded as a second-round steal for Miami, and will be looked heavily under the microscope this week during summer league action. If Chalmers struggles against the summer league group of point guards, the coaching staff is going to have to think twice before giving him major minutes this season. If he flourishes, then it will serve as an auspicious start towards a promising rookie season for the guard out of the champion Kansas collegiate team.

HoopsWorld has said Miami's options are Chicago's Kirk Hinrich, Philly's Andre Miller, and restricted free agent Monta Ellis. Although Ellis is not a natural point guard, it may be wise to trade with a team in the Western Conference. The Bulls are about one move away from the playoffs, and Shawn Marion could ultimately give them that missing piece. The Sixers pushed the Detroit Pistons to six games last year in the playoffs, and are a force to be reckoned with. A sign-and-trade with the Warriors may be the best option.

The Heat appear to be enamored with several players who are on the Warriors, or have been. Mickael Pietrus, a former free-agent target, is now an unrestricted free agent. In search of a big man, Pat Riley has also inquired about center Patrick O'Bryant. A blockbuster trade with Golden State is certainly plausible, though it may require power forward Al Harrington moving to Miami.

There is no question that Miami needs another deal to get their rotation in order. If Marion leaves, there is no reason why Beasley could not slide over to the three. We have certainly not seen the last of Heat summer rumors, and hopefully it will translate into some personnel moves for this 15-win team that was atrocious in every statistic imaginable last season.

As alluded to earlier, Miami will begin its summer league action of five games in five days on Monday. They will begin against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. Yes, Michael Beasley has been cleared to play and it will indeed be a showdown of the two top picks in the NBA Draft. Unfortunately, 2007 first-round choice Daequan Cook will not participate in the summer league. The 6'5" guard out of Ohio State suffered a seperated shoulder, and will miss approximately four weeks. This is disappointing news for Pat Riley, partly because the Heat anticipated this summer league to be a springboard for Cook's sophomore season.

Let the Bidding Begin

Now that Baron Davis has verbally agreed to join the Clippers, the idea of Elton Brand in a Heat uniform is all but written off. Sure, Golden State has made him a max-level contract, but it appears as though Pat Riley has given up on Brand. Now, we move on to the second- and third-tier free agents. When the right deal presents itself, I'm sure that Shawn Marion will be traded. However, the Heat haven't been targeting too many big-name free agents.

The Heat have reportedly inquired about Keyon Dooling, Sebastian Telfair, Tyronn Lue, and Jannero Pargo. The problem I have is that all of the above names are backups. Marcus Banks, under contract for next season, is a backup. Mario Chalmers is a backup until he proves otherwise. The Heat have made clear that they are looking for stopgaps at the point guard, but that is also what Smush Parker was brought in for. And yes, he will take $2.4 million from Miami's payroll this year.

The one starter that Miami has been interested in is Monta Ellis, a young, explosive point guard. The Heat, along with Cleveland, are reportedly looking to sign-and-trade with the Warriors. Ellis may not be able to shoot long-distance too often, but he is a very creative scorer and rebounds well for a point guard. The problem with a Ellis-Wade back-court is that one of the two is going to really work on his threes this summer.

Ellis may not be the only player enticing from Golden State. Mickael Pietrus, an unrestricted free agent, has mentioned that he would love to play for Miami. Pietrus is an athletic small forward who can defend and shoot from downtown. Miami has been interested in another small forward, James Jones. But it is hard to see Jones inking a one- or two-year deal. I expect he'll take a Kapono-like four-year deal. That is something the Heat can simply not offer with the 2010 offseason just two years away.

Another area the Heat need is center. Pat Riley is reportedly interested in Kwame Brown, the first high-school player to be picked No. 1 overall. He was touted as the next KG, but ended up in being a bust of Sam Bowie-proportions. Brown has some size, and I guess that is why Riles is interested in him. He's never been the rebounding-machine or the shot-blocker he was expected to be. In my opinion, Brown would not do much for Miami.

Now going from free agency to Michael Beasley, the newest member to sign a contract with the Heat got injured in his first Heat practice. He took a shot to his chest in a "weird spot." On his blog, B'Easy said he has a slight fracture of his sternum, and will not participate in contact drills for three to five days. He still hopes to play in the summer league opener against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls on Monday. Just after a day of the injury, Beasley returned to non-contact work and shooting drills.

General manager Randy Pfund said the Heat do not plan to be frugal during free agency. He said they could use the mid-level exception, worth slightly more than $5 million on one player, though splitting it between two players would be preferable. He also said his priorities, in order, are a point guard, a defensive-minded center, and a three-point shooter. Let's hope he gets those needs filled in.

Heat to Get Brand-ed?

ESPN's J.A. Adande has reported that the Miami Heat will make a run at unrestricted free agent Elton Brand in a sign-and-trade. The undersized power forward opted out of his contract yesterday, permitting him to negotiate with other teams. David Falk, Brand's agent, said a recent trip to Boston influenced the 2000 Co-Rookie of the Year to opt out.

"He watched what happened when a few stars get together and agree to have a communal effort," Falk said. "He said 'That's what I'd like to accomplish in my career.'"

The report from ESPN may be news, but this should not come as a surprise. Brand, despite coming off of surgery, is a low-post presence. He will be able to make things easier for Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley. Moreover, despite his size, he has been one of the best rebounders in the League in recent memory. He has developed into a nice shot-blocker. Without any low-post presence, Pat Riley should be aggressively courting Brand. Maybe he already is.

Elton Brand did sign an offer sheet to Miami in the 2003 off-season, but the Clippers were able to match the offer. It has been well-documented that Riles would love to have Brand on his team, and the Clippers were even mentioned in pre-Draft rumors. However, Riley would have to roll up his sleeves and convince Brand that signing to a long-term deal may not be the best idea. The free agent class of 2010 is loaded; the Heat have indicated they will try to clear up cap space for summer two years down the road.

Due to Miami's plethora of forwards in Udonis Haslem, Shawn Marion, and Michael Beasley, as well as other factors, a sign-and-trade is the most plausible route. I do not see Miami trading Beasley, despite the rumors before the Draft that Riley would consider doing so. Pat Riley would, however, like to get rid of Mark Blount's contract, with two years remaining at more than $7 million apiece. By contrast, the Clippers would like to get rid of Chris Kaman's bloated contract, which goes beyond the '10 summer.

Elton Brand and Baron Davis could be the most coveted free-agents this summer. As much as it may seem Elton wants to be in South Beach, there will be a lot of teams in the sweepstakes to acquire both of them. The Clippers and Golden State will also want their star players. Pat Riley is going to have to heavily pursue Brand. If Brand does move to sunny South Florida, Miami will instantly be put right up there with Boston.