The Wright Move(s)?

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writer Ira Winderman, the Miami Heat have come to terms with forward Dorell Wright. The deal will reportedly last two years, starting at the $2.9 million qualifying offer the Heat extended to Wright shortly after the season ended. Wright was selected 19th overall by Miami in 2004, but has had an uneven NBA career. Over his four-year tenure with Miami, Wright has seen time as a starter to barely getting off the bench.

I know there are people who say that Dorell Wright has had his chances. He was given the starting job over Jason Kapono and James Posey. This past season, he was given the starting small forward position early on in the season and lost it to Penny Hardaway. But Riles didn't make this move to put Dorell on the trading block. By rule, he can't be dealt until December 15, so I doubt there is a trade attached to this deal. What this does is make Shawn Marion more expendable.

James Jones could fit as a nice complement to Dwyane Wade early on in games. Jason Kapono was able to make his way to the starting five by being a dead-eye shooter. I don't see why Jones can be any different. Wright's weak-side blocking and rebounding are positives right now. He needs to work on three-point shooting, defense, and finishing on the break. But Wright can play to his strengths and be a scrappy player off the bench. Pat Riley is also getting Wright very cheap, no more than the qualifying offer he extended to him earlier in the summer.

While the Heat do have a logjam at the three, they need help at the five. They may get it with the potential signing of center Jamaal Magloire. He was initially intended to meet with Miami today, but his plans were delayed one day due to the threat of Tropical Storm Fay. Magloire, who has been cut by teams such as New Jersey and Dallas, would most likely accept a minimum-level contract with the Heat. I have said that Magloire would give Miami some defensive toughness that is lacking. I just hope he would work hard to get in shape with a younger, up-tempo Heat team.

I know there are people who don't want to see Shawn Marion go after less than a season with Dwyane Wade. As I alluded to earlier, the Heat should be an up-tempo team. That would be them playing to their strengths. In the Olympics, Wade has flourished in that system. Dorell Wright is evidently suited for that style. Shooters such as Daequan Cook and James Jones would benefit off of all the open looks.

Shawn Marion cannot create his own shot. Dwyane Wade will be forced to do a lot of the heavy lifting again as an offensive catalyst. Michael Beasley may be able to do that, but he's only a rookie. Marion should be traded for a player who can create shots for others and himself. And I'm not necessarily talking about a point guard. A center who can catch the play in the post and operate to an easy field goal could fit the mold. If he was a good passer and could find cutters, that makes him the perfect fit.

If Pat Riley plans to do nothing else but sign Jamaal Magloire this summer, I don't understand the move to re-sign Dorell Wright. He would be fighting for the position of the third-string small forward with Yakhouba Diawara. Riles has already thrown guaranteed money at Diawara, so he is probably here to stay. But a move to sign Wright, to me at least, screams with "a trade brewing" overtones. I would be very surprised if Shawn Marion is in a Miami Heat uniform past the trade deadline.