OffSeason Free Agent Thread...Let's build a DYNASTY! 3.0

[radikalBaller]

I know for a fact that we gonna need at least one very tall player. Gasol can be a beast to defend when paired with a guy like Howard. The only players that are bothering Gasol and Howard are very tall and long players like Ilgauskas.

I don't know if Witheside could fill the bill or which other very serviceable tall center is out there.

What about Yi, when he recovers from his injuries he can become our new Whang Zihi ?

[MartyCONLONNN]

for what it's worth..

Tom Haberstroh ‏@tomhaberstroh
Free agent Josh Harrellson worked out with the Miami Heat this morning, according to a league source.

[orangeparka]

I think he might be a good fit, but even if he signs here, I don't really have high hopes for him lol.

[This IsMy House]

Sign him and if anything he rides the bench unless somoenes hurt. I bet hell be able to play more valuable minutes than Curry ever did.

[OtW]

I think Curry will be at training camp. On FaceBook, one of my classmates and her friend ran into him and posted a picture. He is still here. So, I think he is preparing for an invite from us, since it is fairly obvious that we are the only team who would even want to give him an invite IB the first place.

I am fine with Harrellson. Though, I want to see how he fairs against Pittman first to see if it is even worth it.

[SmushedPennies]

Look, Juwan Howard was the first guy back on the practice court again this offseason, per Ira. These two know their chances are slim to none to be back, but why leave Miami? Stay in town, deal with the weather, work out at or near the AAA and show the team you're still devoted. I doubt Riley called Curry and told him to hang out because he might him back. It just doesn't make sense for him not to try.

If we fill the final two spots with Juwan/Curry, I'll kick myself in the face. I know, I know, who cares who the 14th/15th men signed are. Well, I do. As I've been saying, just because they're the last two signed doesn't mean they necessarily have to be end of bench players. I think we have an opportunity to fill the final two spots with guys who have a chance to contribute something.

[OtW]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miam ... 1364.story

By Ira Winderman
South Florida Sun Sentinel
6:17 p.m. EDT, August 23, 2012

MIAMI—
With a 2012-13 roster otherwise mostly completed, the Miami Heat continue to deal with their remaining sizeable issue.

Free-agent center Josh Harrellson, traded by the New York Knicks to the Houston Rockets earlier this summer and since released, confirmed on his Twitter account a workout with the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Harrellson is one of several big men the Heat have recently workout out.

Currently, Joel Anthony and Dexter Pittman are the only centers under contact to the Heat, although the Heat are expected to open the season with power forward Chris Bosh as their starting center, possibly with power forward Udonis Haslem as his primary backup at the position, continuing the small-ball approach the team utilized on the way to the 2012 NBA championship.

The Heat also have attracted the interest of free-agent center Chris Andersen, who recently bypassed a lucrative European offer and is believed to be amenable to a Heat offer at the NBA minimum salary, which is all the Heat, operating above the NBA salary cap, have available. Andersen was released earlier this summer by the Denver Nuggets under the league's amnesty provision that eases a team's luxury-tax liability.

On his verified Twitter account, Harrellson first posted "Miami here I come Wednesday! Let's have a good workout" followed by "Miami!!! Ready to impress!"

At 6 feet 10, 275 pounds, Harrellson would become the second-heaviest player on the Heat roster to Pittman. Currently, small forward LeBron James holds that distinction.

Harrellson, whose workout with the Heat was reported by ESPN, averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in an average of 14.6 minutes last season as a rookie with the Knicks, shooting 20 of 59 on 3-pointers.

Other remaining free-agent candidates who could meet the Heat's apparent need for size in the middle include Darko Milicic and Andray Blatche.

Blatche, an amnesty cut by the Washington Wizards, said in a recent story in the Syracuse Post-Standard, "My dream destination right now would be back on the court. For real. Just to get back on the court. It's something I love to do. It doesn't matter if it's the Heat or the Spurs or the D-League. Whatever. As long as I’m back on the court playing ball."

The Heat also could fill out their power rotation with players already working with the team. Veteran power forward Juwan Howard was the first Heat player to return to workouts at AmericanAirlines Arena in the wake of the team's championship. Center Mickell Gladness, who began last season with the Heat before closing the season with the Golden State Warriors, played for the Heat's summer-league team in July and recently joined Heat guard Norris Cole and Heat free-agent prospects Terrel Harris and Jarvis Varnado at the NBA's rookie transition program, a mandatory program for NBA newcomers that was not held last summer because of the lockout.

The Heat currently have 13 players under guaranteed contract for the coming season: James, Dwyane Wade, Bosh, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Haslem, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Mike Miller, Anthony, James Jones, Cole and Dexter Pittman. Teams can carry a maximum of 20 players during the offseason and training camp, 15 during the regular season.

Heat President Pat Riley recently said he is hopeful of having a full training-camp roster in place by the end of Labor Day weekend, with training camp opening the last week of September.

iwinderman@tribune.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat

Copyright © 2012, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

So, sounds like Harrellson is not the only one we have been looking at. For all we know, the organization could have had under-the-radar work outs with Blatche/Darko and chose to not say anything. But w/e. Anderson is an interesting option. He is also a hustle player, but he may (or may not) come with that baggage of being an ex-addict as well as the whole child porn case (I think he was not found as the direct perpetrator and instead it was some woman?)

So we'll see. Either way, I doubt the last spots get filled so long before training camp. We still have a while to go.

[twix2500]

If Chris Anderson clears the sexual predator investigation, then he would fit great here. Chris Anderson has been very effective playing against Gasol and can run with Howard and play physical. And he would be so much fun to watch and a hit on south beach.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE9dKN6lAKg[/youtube]

[Time4War]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl8QbCjm2LQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/youtube]

[Slot Machine]

I'd take any duo of free agents over Juwan/Curry.

[Miamis3rdRing]

Get Eddy Curry out of here!

If he's practicing and wants to have a good time in Miami I'm cool with that. On the bench during games? Hell no.

Look, if Curry is on the team and contributes regularly I will eat an actual crow on put it on YouTube (Provided it is cooked and there are no health risks. Oh yeah, I have to be able to get it locally).

Harrellson > Curry.

[The Gump]

Anyone have an idea of what Chris Andersen has left in the tank?

[LoveMyHeat]

I'd take any duo of free agents over Juwan/Curry.

[SmushedPennies]

Call me looney, but I think I'd take Jorts over Birdman. Jorts plays pretty good post D, hustles, rebounds very well, has way more upside, and most importantly can hit jump shots. No baggage/sideshow either.

Also, for those looking for Rashard updates, Spo went on 790 today and said he's been in "every day" over the past couple weeks (at least). Really good to hear he's taking this seriously and working alongside the youngsters and longshots.

[Slot Machine]

I would too, I think most on here would. I think Harrellson could be a rich man's Turiaf if given the chance.

[orangeparka]

Birdman's an athletic guy who can rebound and block shots really well, so I feel like he can be a good fit.

He brings a lot of energy and hustle, especially as a backup.

The only thing is that he doesn't do much on offense other than dunking, and he's not a good post defender, nor does he box out well.

[OtW]

Birdman's an athletic guy who can rebound and block shots really well, so I feel like he can be a good fit.

He brings a lot of energy and hustle, especially as a backup.

The only thing is that he doesn't do much on offense other than dunking, and he's not a good post defender, nor does he box out well.

sounds like an older version of a poor white man's Samuel Dalembert.

[Pimpwerx]

I'll take Jorts or Birdman over Curry, FWIW. Jorts is young and shoots the corner 3 at 39%. That's not too bad. I'd still rather take Harris and Viney/Varnado, but if Jorts and Birdman are two guys we're actually looking at, then I'm fine with Jorts over Birdman. Only 23, spaces the floor better, rebounds fine, is about the same height, and is 40 lbs heavier so he can bang if necessary. The issue would be pnr defense. Birdman looks to have the lateral quickness to defend the pnr well, but I don't remember seeing enough of Jorts to say the same. Whatever the case, they're both an upgrade for us...even if they both suck. PEACE.

[SmushedPennies]

So far he's a better rebounder, which is very important for this team. Heat need to find out if he'll be able to stay on the floor enough to grab boards for us.

^That was in regards to the Tuiraf comment.

For anyone wondering, Jorts and Birdman are both 6-10, with Harrellson significantly outweighing Andersen.

EDIT: I should really read before I post/edit. Pimpwerx beat me to it.

[LikeABosh]

I would like Birdman, but I'm gonna trust Riley's decision on Birdman/Blatche/Jorts based on the workouts.