Pivoting to the Center

The Miami Heat requested waivers on the journeyman they signed a mere 10 days ago, Bobby Jones. The 6'7" swingman was supposed to get a guaranteed contract tomorrow, but Riles decided to let him ago. The signing of Jones was probably just an insurance move in case Miami did not sign Yakhouba Diawara. I'm glad Riley isn't wasting money on partially-guaranteed contracts these D-League players have gotten in the past couple of years. Some of them haven't even made it past training camp and they are still getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Miami's gaping hole is their center. The Heat have three excellent cogs in Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, and Shawn Marion. Moreover, they also have the "steal of the Draft" in Mario Chalmers and nice role players in James Jones and Udonis Haslem. One or two of the names I mentioned may not be with Miami when the season starts. One or two may not be in South Beach when the trade deadline comes around. If Pat Riley wants a decent center, he is going to have to give something in order to get something.

I e-mailed Ira Winderman, a beat reporter for the South Florida-based newspaper, The Sun-Sentinel, about options at the five that Riles may be looking at. The only name he mentioned was Brad Miller, the ten-year NBA veteran with the Kings. Sacramento clearly appears to be in rebuilding mode, especially with the Ron Artest deal officially going down yesterday. Miller could provide Miami with some rebounding and scoring, but is far from the ideal choice.

For starters, Miller, 32, faces the challenge of overcoming several injuries he sustained last season. In April, Miller had surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow. A stress fracture in his leg caused him to prematurely end his season (although about half of the Miami Heat players ended their season early). But even if Miller works hard as hell to get back in shape, he still won't be able to play in the first five games of the season.

On July 10, the NBA announced that Miller will be suspended for the first five games of the 2008-09 season due to failing the League's drug policy due to marijuana use near the end of the season.

Miller has roughly $23.63 million left on his contract for two seasons. Additionally, Miller has regressed defensively since the start of his career. He lacks athleticism and, as I mentioned earlier, he needs to get in better shape. But for all of the downsides of Miller in the Heat uniform, there are certainly positives to him as well.

Miller is a seven-footer with long arms and great size. There aren't many NBA players who can say that now. Miller is also good passer for a big man. His 3.7 assist-per-game average last season was a league-high for centers. That could be useful for Wade, Marion, or Beasley driving to the hoop or Jones, Daequan Cook, Chalmers, Marion, or Beasley spotting up beyond the arc.

Miller is a good rebounder. He averaged 9.5 boards a night last season. While the Heat have good rebounders in Marion, Beasley, and Haslem, it would help to have a good rebounder close to the basket. He also would bring an impressive mid-range game to the Heat. Dwyane Wade has thrived off of pick-and-roll situations with Haslem, Alonzo Mourning, Michael Doleac, and Shaquille O'Neal in the past. Having a big man occasionally hang around the perimeter also drags out his defender. Therefore, Wade will drive to the rim and may not be met with a seven-footer all of the time. If the defender meets Wade at the hoop, he has the strength to finish over him or he can simply pass it to an open Brad Miller for a shot.

Miller has already played with Dwyane Wade during the 2006 FIBA Tournament, although Miller seldom received playing time. His shooting and passing skills were probably the reasons Jerry Colangelo decided to give this guy a run. Despite his size, Miller is not a true center. But then again, there aren't many true big men in the League right now. With his contract expiring just prior to the 2010 free agent frenzy, Miller could be a starting center for Miami over the next two seasons.

I wouldn't complain at all if the Heat traded for Brad Miller. 13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting at a 46.3% clip from the field and 84.8% from the line is more than adequate. I guess the question is who the Heat want to give up. They'll probably have to give up Udonis Haslem. Miller's stats are slightly better than Haslem's, but Haslem brings in hard-nosed defense and is young. I said before that the Heat are going to have to give up something to get something.