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.