The Official MIAMI HEAT 2011 - 2012 Thread....

[Truerap]

not going to happen my niggie

Nigga if you ever talk bad about Lebron see what going to happen.

 

[stringer bell]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/28/2521363/pat-riley-seeks-to-fill-miami.html

Pat Riley seeks to fill Miami Heat’s holes for another title run

The NBA’s mad dash to Christmas Day is about to begin.

While league officials and the players association are busy putting to paper rules for the new collective bargaining agreement, teams around the league are preparing themselves for a frantic free agency period. For the Heat, that means reshaping a roster for another title run.

The principle names are in place, but the free agents that team president Pat Riley signs will be crucial pieces to the Heat’s success or failure in winning its first title of the Big 3 Era.

Last season’s revolving door at the center and point guard positions helped LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh capture the Eastern Conference championship, but the team fell two wins short of hoisting its second league championship banner in franchise history.

Provided the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified by owners and players, a truncated free agency period will begin on Dec. 9 and the season will begin on Dec. 25. With the lockout freezing all contact between players and their teams, franchises around the league have focused their attention on preparing for the free agency blitz. The Heat is no exception.

“We go in every day and we’re ready to hit the ground running,” Riley said.

Riley has said that securing a center with the team’s midlevel exception would be a priority for the 2010-11 season. Last season, stopgap centers Erick Dampier, Jamaal Magloire and Zydrunas Ilgauskas each provided sparks but all had specific limitations.

Center Joel Anthony matured into a defensive force, but his offensive game was underdeveloped.

A well-rounded player to complement Bosh and Anthony in the frontcourt is needed.

It has long been speculated that the Heat will use its midlevel exception to go after Sacramento Kings center Samuel Dalembert. Although other teams could offer Dalembert more lucrative contracts, the Heat would allow Dalembert to return to South Florida. A native of Haiti, Dalembert owns a house in Palm Beach County.

Possible trades

Of course, the Heat could always explore trade options. Riley has a history of making a splash with mega-trades and the Heat could, in theory, package players to acquire a center. Big-name centers on the free-agency market include Nene of the Denver Nuggets and Tyson Chandler of the Dallas Mavericks.

Of course, trading for big men like Nene and Chandler would almost certainly require the Heat to package Udonis Haslem in the deal. Considering the loyalty Haslem showed the Heat last year, that seems unlikely. Haslem gave up millions to remain with the team and is a hometown star.

Like center, the Heat must also solidify its point guard position this month.

The starting point

Mario Chalmers is a restricted free agent but would like to remain in Miami. He made an impressive leap during last season’s playoffs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Heat is comfortable with making him a full-time starter. The market is thin on point guard, however, with Dallas’ J.J. Barea seemingly the only other suitable option.

By necessity, draft pick Norris Cole likely will receive minutes this season in a reserve role. It’s a less than ideal situation for the Heat — Cole will have a shortened training camp to prepare for his first season in the NBA with the league’s most high-profile team — but one the team has anticipated. The Heat moved up in the draft to land the point guard from Cleveland State.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/28/2521339/pat-riley-will-think-big-again.html

Pat Riley will think big again to fill Miami Heat’s needs

By Israel Gutierrez

Last summer, Pat Riley and Micky Arison stared convention and reality in the face and eliminated them from the free agent process.

They changed the game. Given a chance to go big, they went even larger.

That was not a singular experiment. That’s a philosophy they live by when it comes to running the Heat.

And it’s not going to change this offseason just because of some silly limitations written into a collective bargaining agreement that’s meant to silence the big bullies of the NBA.

So this offseason, expect more of the same. There will be no small moves for the sake of filling holes. At least not until Riley has explored every option of filling those voids with major players.

This is still the Riley who landed Alonzo Mourning upon his arrival. This is still the Riley who got Shaquille O’Neal while he still played at a championship level. This is still the Riley who saw LeBron James and Chris Bosh in free agency and thought, “I can get them both.”

So why would he shy away from Nene in free agency? Or Steve Nash via trade? Or any other significant name that either fills the desperate needs at point guard and center or on a bench that was criticized for most of last season? This is still Miami, after all. This remains the destination of choice for any player with championship aspirations.

In that respect, the Mavericks almost did the Heat a favor by coming back in Game 2 of the Finals and finishing off the Heat in six. It still leaves the Heat appearing incomplete.

It leaves open the idea that the Heat is still one or two pieces away from championship/dynasty mode, and there will be no shortage of players considering themselves to be one of those missing pieces.

About the only other destinations that can match the appeal of Miami this upcoming season are probably Oklahoma City and Chicago, in part because both appear on the brink of greatness, and in part because both teams are so young and exciting.

The Lakers appear past their championship prime, and given that they already have five championships with Kobe Bryant in the fold, joining forces with him has a tired feel to it at this point.

The Knicks are potentially on the verge of something great, but before they can commit to anyone else this offseason, they need to ensure they will be in a financial position to acquire Chris Paul at some point in the next eight months. So committing money to other players wouldn’t seem like the current plan.

The Heat is closer to great things than any of those franchises, and anyone interested in jumping aboard will certainly be in play. There are veiled indications from none other than Dwyane Wade that free agent and former Heat forward Caron Butler would be interested in a reunion. Back before a new collective bargaining agreement was even on the horizon, LeBron was playfully recruiting Nash and Jamal Crawford to Miami via Twitter.

And with Shane Battier on the market, there’s always the Duke card to be played with new CEO Nick Arison, who was a member of Mike Krzyzewski’s staff after he graduated from the school.

And while Nene might end up being the most expensive big man on the free agent market, and the Heat is in no position to offer more than the mid-level exception, Riley has never shied away from making big moves via trade, and on this team everyone outside the Big 3 would be in play.

There’s no point in settling at this stage of the game. Already the Heat is facing the prospect of paying millions in luxury-tax penalties toward the end of the current contracts of the Big 3. So might as well head that way with a couple more big names in tow and a few championship trophies to ease the pain of writing those huge checks.

That doesn’t mean settling for Samuel Dalembert as the first option at center, even though he’s the most realistic one and certainly not a bad option. And it doesn’t mean waiting for the few amnesty point guards who fall through the cracks. The new CBA will already make it more difficult for the Heat to nab a guard such as Baron Davis by making those players available first to teams with salary-cap space.

The Heat never has been about waiting to get lucky. Riley and Arison always have been aggressive, leaving nothing out of play.

Remember how ridiculous it sounded that the Lakers would take back Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Butler for the most dominant big man in the game? Acquiring Nash, who’s in the last year of his contract with Phoenix, doesn’t sound so insane in comparison.

Even when Riley has let Heat fans down, it wasn’t for lack of trying. He signed Eddie Jones and Grant, not knowing Mourning’s kidney illness would derail his title hopes, and as a result he was stuck with two players not capable of carrying a franchise.

So don’t underestimate him this time, either.

The Heat is not the defending champion at the moment. That means there’s still work to do.

And Riley knows only one way to go about that. Think big.

i like idea of nene at center instead of dalembert...

 

[stringer bell]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sport...port-samuel-dalembert-interested-in-heat.html

Report: Samuel Dalembert interested in Heat

by: Ira Winderman November 28th, 2011 | 8:01 AM

Reiterating the sentiment he expressed several times last season, Sacramento Kings free-agent center Samuel Dalembert says he remains intrigued by the possibility of signing with the Miami Heat.

Dalembert, a longer, better-rounded option than what the Heat offered in the middle last season, has a home in Boca Raton and has long been keen on being closer to his native Haiti, where he is active in relief efforts.

In an interview with Fox Sports Florida, Dalembert said, “If you look at the playoffs with Dallas, you saw what Tyson Chandler did. He was basically a key ingredient for them to win a championship. And Miami didn’t have somebody like that. Somebody able to stop (opponents from) getting second shots and somebody able to rebound and finish. I could fill that role and be an asset for that team.”

Beyond that, Dalembert, even with a somewhat limited skill set, would provide an upgrade on Joel Anthony, Erick Dampier and Jamaal Magloire. The Heat did feature the outside shooting of center Zydrunas Ilgauskas at times last season, but Ilgauskas announced his retirement in the offseason.

Dalembert earned $13.4 million last season from the Kings. The most the Heat could offer would be the $5 million mid-level exception, with the Kings holding the right to exceed any outside offer.

Even at $5 million, Dalembert would effectively cost the Heat twice as much, with the Heat to operate this season in the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax due to the contracts of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Another means for the Heat to obtain Dalembert would be a sign-and-trade transaction with the Kings, who continue to operate with a largely limited roster.

Dalembert also has been linked to the center-starved New York Knicks, but New York is expected to limit its spending this season in order to retain the salary-cap flexibility to pursue New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul in the 2012 offseason.

The free-agency signing period is expected to begin Dec. 9, provided final approval is in place for the recently agreed-upon collective-bargaining agreement.

Other options at center available in free agency include Chandler, Denver’s Nene, Charlotte’s Kwame Brown, as well as other players who could become available amid the NBA’s salary-cap amnesty program, with Dallas’ Brendan Haywood among those who could be an amnesty cut.

The Heat also are expected to offer a tryout to former Knicks center Eddy Curry, who worked with the team prior to the lockout.

Dalembert, 30, has been a consistent rebounder and shot-blocker during his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers and Kings, but remains a largely unpolished scorer, albeit one with better hands than Anthony.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports...igning-period-promises-plenty-of-1997393.html

Commentary: Free-agent signing period promises plenty of intrigue for Miami Heat

ByEthan J. Skolnick

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

The promises kept coming to Shane Battier.

A Spurs fan promised that Tim Duncan would give him video game cheat codes. A Pistons fan promised an unlimited supply of Cookie Crisp and a Barry Sanders jersey. A Thunder fan promised a personal horse named Professor Waffles.

And one Heat fan promised a mint plant for an inaugural Miami mojito, even if growing one put the fan at risk of hives.

"Getting mad love from Grizz nation, Heat nation, Thunder nation and Rocket nation," Battier tweeted. "Let free agency begin!!!"

Well, not quite yet.

Provided that players and owners ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement as expected, the signing spree will start on Dec. 9th, the same day training camps open.

The class as it stands - before some teams use the new amnesty provision to cut a bad contract - has much less starpower than the 2010 class. And it offers little beyond Dallas' J.J. Barea to address the Heat's apparent point guard need. (Miami's Mario Chalmers, arguably the next-best option for teams after Barea, is a restricted free agent, meaning the Heat has three days to match any offer sheets).

Yet there are some unrestricted names at other spots that should intrigue the Heat, other than headliners Nene, Marc Gasol, David West, Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford and Jason Richardson, all of whom figure to be staying put or heading to teams other than the Heat.

Samuel Dalembert, a defensive-minded center and part-time Boca Raton resident who would like to spend seasons closer to his native Haiti, would likely command the so-called "full mid-level exception" (four years, $20 million). That's a chip the Heat is expected to hold as a team that is over the salary cap but below the luxury tax.

The Heat can also split that exception between multiple players. And, depending on how the market plays out, there are plenty of "glue guys" at the swing positions who might be willing to take a portion, or even accept a minimum deal (at about $1.4 million per season for 10-year veterans).

In essence, those players would fill the roles of Mike Miller and James Jones, provided that Heat President Pat Riley chose to use the amnesty rule on Miller to avoid future-year luxury tax consequences and/or chose not to re-sign the sharpshooting Jones, who opted out of his contract over the summer.

Start with Battier, the mature, intelligent 33-year-old who helped the Grizzlies overcome the loss of Rudy Gay to pull a playoff upset over San Antonio. He makes plenty of sense in a support role: quality defender and career 38.5 percent three-point shooter who won't demand minutes or touches.

Plus, he's a Duke guy, which gives the Heat an "in," considering the strong ties between the organization and that program, where Heat managing partner Nick Arison was once a team manager.

The same would apply for fellow former Blue Devil forward Grant Hill. At 38, Hill is not as athletic as in his prime, but he's been much more reliable (missing only three games in three seasons), defending the opponents' best scorer and knocking down threes at a much higher rate than his prior norm. His voice also matches Battier's in heft, and he would be a calming force for a team always in a storm.

Hill's former Orlando Magic teammate Tracy McGrady, 32, would bring a different skill set. He's no longer a high-flyer, but last season in Detroit, he seemed to finally accept his injury-related limitations and put facilitating first. His presence along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would allow the Heat to play without a traditional point guard, and to smother opponents with length on the perimeter.

For length in the frontcourt, Riley could take a run at an old nemesis, Tayshaun Prince. As the Detroit Pistons have slipped, Prince's numbers have stayed steady. He's still just 31, and he averaged 32.8 minutes last season, though he wouldn't play nearly that many here with James, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem ahead of him at forward.

Then there are three former All-Stars trying to make it back from serious knee surgeries: Caron Butler, Michael Redd and Josh Howard. Butler is a Heat organizational favorite (Riley drafted him 10th overall in 2002), but may command too much on the market. If healthy, Redd could take Jones' shooting role. Howard has had some off-court issues, but Riley did covet him in the 2003 draft.

It's possible that all will find Miami appealing. In that case, they will be the ones making the promises.

 

[Datdude87]

plus his headband rotates better then spinners

*slept on post*

 

[stringer bell]

[video=youtube;HspJWTL01Bs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HspJWTL01Bs[/video]

[video=youtube;ec-opKhCzaY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec-opKhCzaY[/video]

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[stringer bell]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/05/2531889/report-miami-heat-after-greg-oden.html

Report: Miami Heat after Greg Oden

The Heat is exploring any and every option available through free agency to upgrade at the center position, including possibly making a run at chronically injured Trail Blazers big man Greg Oden.

ESPN.com reported Sunday that Heat president Pat Riley is working on a sales pitch for Oden, who hasn’t played a game since 2009 because of injuries but holds a qualifying offer of $8.9 million with the Trail Blazers for the upcoming season.

With only the $5 million midlevel exception at its disposal, the Heat’s bargaining chips are limited. Riley would have to appeal to Oden’s desire to play for a championship-ready team to lure Oden away from Portland, which has waited patiently for Oden to recover from various knee injuries.

Oden was the No.1 overall pick of the 2007 draft but has only played in 82 games in his career.

He could be cleared to begin practicing this week.

Other options at center include free agents Samuel Dalembert and Kwame Brown. Dalembert is expected to command more than mid-level exception but could take less money to return to South Florida, where the Haitian big man owns a home and has many family members. There will be competition for Brown, as well.

The Heat used a combination of aging centers last season, but Zydrunas Ilgauskas retired in the offseason and Erick Dampier and Jamaal Magloire are free agents.

Dexter Pittman and Joel Anthony are the Heat’s only centers entering free agency and training camp, which both begin Friday.

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/mia...-oden-drawing-interest-miami-heat-sources-say

Sources: Heat mulling run at Greg Oden

Because of their limited spending power and the multiple areas of their roster that need shored up, the Miami Heat might have to get a little creative in free agency.

That could be part of their plan to address the center position.

The Heat are considering making a run at restricted free agent Greg Oden, league sources said. Oden, who hasn't played in nearly two years after suffering two different knee injuries, has a key doctor's examination this week when he could be cleared to resume contact practices.

Oden has a one-year qualifying offer from the Portland Trail Blazers for $8.9 million on his plate at the moment. The most the Heat could offer is the bulk of the $5 million mid-level exception.

For these reasons, it would seem like an easy choice for Oden if he can return to the floor, which could come as early as January. By making the hefty qualifying offer, the Blazers indicated they have not given up hope even though Oden has only played 82 games since being taken with the No. 1 overall pick in 2007.

But Heat president Pat Riley is known for his powers of persuasion and last year convinced free agent after free agent to take less money to sign in Miami. Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller all took less money than they were offered elsewhere.

It happened right up until March, when Mike Bibby gave up $6 million guaranteed for this season so he could sign with the Heat for a few months at a portion of the league minimum.

The Blazers maintain matching rights for Oden but sources say Riley still is interested in making the pitch.

It is apparently one of a number of options the team is considering. According to sources, they also have been in contact with free-agent centers Nene, Samuel Dalembert and Kwame Brown.

Nene is believed to be intrigued by the Heat, but with numerous teams bidding on him he's likely vastly out of the Heat's price range.

Dalembert, who maintains a home in South Florida, seems like a good fit and there is mutual interest. However, sources said the Kings are expected to make a push to re-sign Dalembert and have the ammo to make a bigger offer.

The Kings need to spend $17 million to reach the new salary floor and overall are about $25 million under the salary cap. They have been telling agents that they intend to be aggressive in spending.

Brown has numerous suitors coming off his most productive season in eight years. He is believed to have interest in re-signing with the Bobcats as well.

The Heat are in the market for perhaps two wing players but center still is their biggest need. Since the end of last season Zydrunas Ilgauskas retired and Erick Dampier and Jamaal Magloire became free agents. Already they had formed the oldest center rotation in the league, an issue that dogged the Heat at times in the playoffs.

Currently their options are playing Bosh or Joel Anthony out of position or hoping for young prospect Dexter Pittman to quickly blossom. They also have been monitoring Eddy Curry for months and may offer him a spot in training camp.

Including Marc Gasol and Tyson Chandler, the free-agent center market is relatively flush this year. League executives have indicated there's also a few centers available in the trade market. With three All-Stars and the core of their Finals team back the Heat are not in any way desperate.

However, their center situation is a priority and this could be the last year they have the ability to use their full mid-level exception for several seasons because of the rules for luxury tax-paying teams in the new collective bargaining agreement.

 

[infamous114]

Nene would be too expensive

 

[thatni99ajahmal]

Get Dalembert and Battier or Hill..

I never heard that Baron wanted to come to Miami but if he does great bcuz he doesnt mind pushing the pace long as his legs can hold up..

Lets this ring!!!

 

[Ounceman]

Nene would be too expensive

agrees not sure how they can pull something like that off. i see dalembert as the realistic option

 

[infamous114]

Get Dalembert and Battier or Hill..
I never heard that Baron wanted to come to Miami but if he does great bcuz he doesnt mind pushing the pace long as his legs can hold up..
Lets this ring!!!

I think Baron wants to play for the Lakers

 

[will grimey]

Yea, I want to see the Heat add Battier

NEVER try to win a ring with a player from Duke..

plus his headband rotates better then spinners

*slept on post*

It's spinnin nigga, it's spinnin' nigga!!!!

 

[Ounceman]

What's the status on the run for kwame brown? i heard we were in talks with him as well

 

[Beta]

What's the status on the run for kwame brown? i heard we were in talks with him as well

I heard he was interested. But I would take him for the minimum if we cant get dalembert. He did pretty good with the bobcats and I been saying we could use him since last season

 

[texas409]

kwame brown is a bum

 

[Co_Town_Michael]

Lol @ settling for Kwame Brown tho.....

 

[Ounceman]

Lol @ settling for Kwame Brown tho.....

i mean he's not the most appealing pick but he's still an upgrade over dampier, anthony, and magloire. like alpha said if we can get him for the minimum why not?

 

[thatni99ajahmal]

i mean he's not the most appealing pick but he's still an upgrade over dampier, anthony, and magloire. like alpha said if we can get him for the minimum why not?

Basically we made it within 2 games of championship without a good/average center..

Kwame is an upgrade in my eyes..

 

[Ekscape]

i mean he's not the most appealing pick but he's still an upgrade over dampier, anthony, and magloire. like alpha said if we can get him for the minimum why not?

lol I swear if Kwame Brown ever sees Stephen A. Smith... Stephen A. Smith's rant on Kwame hurt his NBA worth just as much as his below average play IMO

 

[infamous114]

Magloire signed with the Raptors, not like we EVER used him though lol

 

[Beta]

Magloire signed with the Raptors, not like we EVER used him though lol

Hey! I been riding for mags since 08' Nigga was the enforcer..

[video=youtube;ny5BXkN1rQM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny5BXkN1rQM[/video]