Wow, Ira has finally come to his senses

[BlaZeN27]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_ba ... on-ma.html

For all the Michael Beasley did or did not accomplish at the Orlando Pro Summer League, it can be assumed he will find a way to score during the regular season.



What can't be assumed is that, in such short order, he will find a way to defend. Even at summer-league level, bulky big men shoved him aside; quicker perimeter types swept past.



The answer therefore could be playing him in tandem with Shawn Marion (yes, the same Shawn Marion who has been mentioned here non-stop regarding trade possibilities).



The thought is this: With Marion on the floor, he could guard the opposition's highest-scoring forward, with Beasley taking the other assignment, regardless of whether it's a three or four. Some matchups still would be problematic such as the Celtics (Garnett/Pierce) or 76ers (Brand/Iguodala). But plenty of other teams have one forward who does the bulk of the scoring.



Play Beasley alongside Udonis Haslem, and Beasley has to defend the three. Period. (Yes, Haslem could play some center, but it's not likely that the Heat would open that way.)



With Beasley in for the long haul, perhaps some thought should be revisited about keeping Marion alongside.

I've been saying this the entire time. If we can't get a really good young center (Emeka/Biedrins) for Marion, then we need to keep him and trade Haslem (unfortunately).

Having Marion next to Beasley makes the most sense, and trading Haslem for a serviceable center makes even more sense. That then makes trading Cook and/or Wright for a veteran PG like Luke Ridnour to much sense to pass up.


Ridnour/Chalmers
Wade/Banks
Marion/James Jones
Beasley/Lasme? Joel?
Jeff Foster/Zo


I don't know, makes it makes to much sense for it to happen. This even lets us have cap room to be a player in 2010.

[BBallFreak]

I'd rather keep Haslem, sign Kwame who is a good defensive center in his own right, and use Cook, Wright, and Davis or J-Will to acquire a guy like Ridnour or Watson (with Watson being my preference).

Pg: Ridnour / Chalmers
Sg: Wade / Banks
Sf: Marion / Jones
Pf: Beasley / Haslem
Cc: Brown / Zo / Blount

Personally, I think that gives us better players to put on the floor.

[BlaZeN27]

Whoops, totally forgot about being able to S&T Ricky and/or J-Will.


But I don't think Haslem wants to permanently come off the bench first off, and second off we can't get Kwame at this point. He is going to get more then the LLE, that's what Patrick O'Bryant just got.

And if Kwame is your starting center, your screwed lol.

Having no Haslem, but having a Jeff Foster is a lot better then having Haslem off then bench and having Blount and Kwame at the center spot, IMO.

[Heat11114]

The probably with Kwame is that he's only a good defensive center in the sense that he's a good one on one post defender. Which helps us in about 8 games all year. In terms of wins, he'll bring you as many as Blount. I wish we'd play more small ball. We don't have the team to win 50 games in a half-court set. We have all these young/athletic legs, use them. We're not gonna win many games scoring 92 PPG.

[BlaZeN27]

The probably with Kwame is that he's only a good defensive center in the sense that he's a good one on one post defender. Which helps us in about 8 games all year. In terms of wins, he'll bring you as many as Blount. I wish we'd play more small ball. We don't have the team to win 50 games in a half-court set. We have all these young/athletic legs, use them. We're not gonna win many games scoring 92 PPG.

B-I-N-G-O

[Heat3]

I agree as well. I want Haslem at center and play small ball for the year. No point in wasting money on garbage players for one year. We had Brian Grant playing center all those years when he was undersized. Let's do it again!

PG Chalmers
SG Wade
SF Marion
PF Beasley
C Haslem

[torres213]

Just a crazy thought butt, what if Spoelstra establishes some sort of "rule" or something that enables us to have a diff starting lineup every game?? I mean, not the 1 nd 2 position but mainly the frontcourt, that way it can get the players to play better so that they can start as much as possible.

One thing I hate are players who aren't worried one bit about their starting positions. Nothing should be garaunteed. Plus, it allows us to strategize better for diff matchups for diff games.

I would hate to trade Haslem just cuz I dnt think we'll find a guy like him in the 2ns round for a looong time, but this is a business. Who knows this just might be a high school-ish idea but who knows??

[Immure]

i dont think kwame would be a bad addition, in fact with guys lie wade, marion, and beasly he would be great...
one of the reasons he was drafted 1 was because of his athleticism, so he could run the floor well for a big man....
besides i'm all for S & T wright rather than trading haslem...
we can S&T wright, ricky, and/ or j will for kwame IMO...kwame in the right system could shine just like rondo did with the celts or marion with pheonix...

[HEATVols865]

I've been saying the same about Kwame...I do think he shine with us under the right system.

[jmbflame21]

Kwame would be great addition bcuz he represents a good defensive present in the post tht we do not have right now. He would certainly be an upgrade over Blount

[CaliHeat]

You can't S&T for Kwame Brown, hes a FA and the Heat dont have enough cap room to sign him.

I do think Marion is a great compliment next to both Beasley and Wade because he does alot of the little things and has the ability to matchup defensively against the other teams best player.

I hope we can somehow trade for Jeff Foster.

[perz260]

I think Ira is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Just yesterday he was on the radio saying he expects the Heat to pull off a MAJOR trade, with millions of dollars changing hands. Now today he talks about keeping Marion The only way we can pull off a major trade is to trade Marion, Haslem while a good role player, wont bring back an impact player (unless of course he means keeping marion and trading beasley).

[DayofMourning]

I don't think Kwame will be a great addition. That's a little bit of an overstatement.

He would be a welcome addition with the poor prospects we have at the center spot.

What's so bad is that we're in such a position at that spot that we'd consider the guy.

Hell, I'm all for him at this point though. Unless we can get Okafor somehow then we'll just have to deal with it this year because there isn't anybody else out there worth paying or trading for.

[salqaddoumi]

WOW, it took him long enough.

[CoolD]

since when is this guy Biedrins the answer. That guy is soft, and overrated in this board. If we are trading Shawn Marion, that would be a highway robbery Golden State, their is no way Pat Riley yet is that senile to make such a trade.

[Riled Up]

I agree as well. I want Haslem at center and play small ball for the year. No point in wasting money on garbage players for one year. We had Brian Grant playing center all those years when he was undersized. Let's do it again!

PG Chalmers
SG Wade
SF Marion
PF Beasley
C Haslem

Wasn't the last time Brian Grant started also the last time we were one of the worst teams in the NBA? Haslem worked next to Shaq, it's doubtful he will start in the NBA again unless he can find a similar situation. Let's get away from specialty players, who are also below average size, starting for the Heat. Haslem can still be a valuable member of the team coming off the bench, otherwise he would be more valuable to us as a trade component, most likely to a team with a dominant post presence such as Orlando or Houston.

[Lane1974]

no, Grant started the year we went to the 2nd round of the playoffs, Wade's rookie year

[Riled Up]

Grant's starting tenure included '02 - '03, the last year we were in the lottery.

You are right though, with the addition of Wade and Lamar Odom we were able to go 42-40 the following year, his last year as a starter.

[Heat3]

I know you aren't worried about us being bad considering we are already the worst team in the league. Anyway, not only were we successful with Grant at center (before and after we got Wade), he was playing out of position. We brought him in to play PF next to Zo, then Zo got sick. I'd rather have Haslem play out of position for this experimental year than sign some crap player that won't help us in the long run anyway.

[Immure]

if im not mistaken, grant's first year with us was his first time playing C as well...
didn't he start for us at center and anthony mason at PF that year?
with grant avg 13-14 pts and 9 rebs with mason avg 15-17 pts with 8 rebs?
that was the first year i watched every single heat game, but im not 100% sure...
damn thinking about it that is a long time ago... i still remember when EJ was our highest scorer