For the MLE: a Center or PG?

[pramis123]

'Pramis, I think he'd be a great addition too, but no way Biedrins can be had for MLE money"

OK, do you guys think that Golden State would be interested in a sign and trade with Biedrins plus other players for Marion? We just don't ever see a good young center who is already practically getting double doubles and fits in like a charm with us due to his focus on rebounding/defense (shot blocking) and is a very efficient scorer (check out his %). I just think this is the guy that can be our center for the next 8 years or so, and you hardly ever see that. A run at Okafor is interesting, but with his injury problems, I would rather take a longer look at Biedrins.

[Lane1974]

I know, but we have to face facts that not many quality players are going to come here for a 1 or 2 year deal and little $

the guys we end up getting thru free agency are going to be of the Telfair, Kwame, Shavlik Randolph variety

[HeatSince88]

Man, if we don't want Wade leaving in 2010, we gotta figure something else out besides two more years of Kwame Browns, Smush Parkers, Alexander Johnsons, etc.

Wade was fed up this year after about 5 games of it. We want him in this state of mind for another two years? All while Beasley is putting hot sauce in his Gatorade and live rats in his sneakers?

I know Riley's indicating he doesn't want to extend the MLE past 2010, but if he really analyzed the numbers, we'd still have a TON of cap space even with a big MLE signing. All we'd be scheduled to have on the books in 2010 is Beasley, MLE guy, and Banks...

If we're winning and have a great nucleus, Wade stays. If we're losing for 3 straight years and have no core besides Beasley/Banks, who knows?

[pramis123]

I don't see the PG position being as critical to us as the Center position as far as current needs go. Frankly, compare what we have at each position going into the season, and clearly, we are currently better off at PG as Banks, Quinn, Chalmers, and Richards compare favorably to many of the PG's that can be had (sorry to repeat, but I think Richards will surprise). I am sure we will bring in a veteran PG to settle the position and give the young guys a year to develop, as next year's draft is absolutely loaded with good PG's from everything I hear, which is another reason to go hard after a center this offseason. If we can be settled at SG, PF and Center, then we can focus on PG and SF next season if one of our young guys does not develop.

[Lane1974]

Man, if we don't want Wade leaving in 2010, we gotta figure something else out besides two more years of Kwame Browns, Smush Parkers, Alexander Johnsons, etc.

Wade was fed up this year after about 5 games of it. We want him in this state of mind for another two years? All while Beasley is putting hot sauce in his Gatorade and live rats in his sneakers?

I know Riley's indicating he doesn't want to extend the MLE past 2010, but if he really analyzed the numbers, we'd still have a TON of cap space even with a big MLE signing. All we'd be scheduled to have on the books in 2010 is Beasley, MLE guy, and Banks...

If we're winning and have a great nucleus, Wade stays. If we're losing for 3 straight years and have no core besides Beasley/Banks, who knows?

I am not worried about Wade leaving, I think he knows what the score is, and I think the front office has made him aware of what the plans (IE what players they are going to target with cap space) and keep him placated... I think we're on the way up next season compared to last if we don't add one free agent. Chances are Marion gets traded for 2 or 3 players who end up in the rotation, I think that's where we at least get our PG or big from... perhaps we luck out and Pietrus, who used to profess desire to come here comes for a 2 year MLE deal (then we get his bird rights for 2010)

[HeatSince88]

Hope you're right, Lane.

It would be interesting to figure out the trade partners for Marion, since the criteria we need should narrow it down to just one or two teams ...

- Will give us two rotation players, non-SG and non-PF
- These players must expire by 2010
- Marion must fit their lineup and/or style somehow
- And of course salaries must match

Great, now I have something to waste my time on today!

[SJ2100]

After browsing through the available UFA Centers, there are really only 2-3 guys who deserve to dip into our MLE. If we can't land one of the top guys, we would be much better off using the MLE on a PG, while we could still use the LLE or the vet. minimum on a C. Below is the list of UFA C's (excluding Zo):

DeSagna Diop
Kurt Thomas
Fransisco Elson
Kwame Brown
Jamaal Magloire
PJ Brown
Lorenzen Wright
Scot Pollard
Dwyane Jones
Theo Ratliff
Patrick O'Bryant
Jake Voshkul
Adonal Foyle
Brian Skinner
DJ Mbenga

The only people on that list that deserve the MLE from us are Thomas (looking for a contender) and Diop. If we cannot sign either of those two, the next best group that we should look into includes K. Brown and Elson. Yes, I am just as sick of all the "sign Kwame Brown!!1!!!11!!" theads as everyone else, but he is actually 5 years younger than Elson and is a better defender and rebounder. If we could get one of these guys with a 2yr/LLE, that would be a nice addition.

After those guys, there are really two more tiers of UFA C's: the over-the-hill types (Pollard, Wright, Maagloire, Ratliff, PJ Brown, Voshkul, Foyle, Skinner) and the young-developmental-types (Mbenga, O'Bryant, D. Jones). None of those players would be worth even a portion of the MLE, and most of them would not even play ahead of Blount anyway.

There are really very few good centers for us to spend even a portion of the MLE on. Unless we can somehow get one of the top two guys (K. Thomas, Diop), we are stuck trying to get Kwame Brown to sign for the LLE/portion of MLE, which is also not gonna be as easy as many people on this board seem to think. With that said, we would be best seved spending the majority, if not the whole MLE, on a PG with a solid chance of starting if we cannot convince Diop to sign here. It would also be nice if we are able to split the MLE (or use the MLE/LLE) on Duhon and Kwame, but the chances of us getting both in this shallow market seems unlikely as well....

[SA37]

I know Riley's indicating he doesn't want to extend the MLE past 2010, but if he really analyzed the numbers, we'd still have a TON of cap space even with a big MLE signing. All we'd be scheduled to have on the books in 2010 is Beasley, MLE guy, and Banks...

I think Riley is secretly holding out hope Marion might consider signing with us. He did offer him a fair contract, he said. So, I would imagine that is in the $9-10 million per season range, and I think it would have had to have been a minimum of 3 seasons.

[Lane1974]

now Marion can't re-sign till next offseason, since he opted in he can't take less than a 10% pay cut per season...

I don't agree with Ira who seems to think Marion has played his last game as a Heat -- I think there is a fair chance he starts the season with us, Riles won't move him just to move him.

[heat4life]

I agree. I believe Marion is going to play with us and maybe if something comes up by the trading deadline where we could get something extremely interesting, then he'll get moved. Other than that, it made sense for him to take his $17mil this year and resign for less after that contract. Why opt out to take $10mil and leave $7mil on the table? I am sure he can sign the same deal next season that he was offered by Riley. All he has to do is stay healthy and play as always.

I could see Riley taking a flyer on Telfair. He is young enough to where he can mold him and like Lane said, he is the type of player that would take a 2yr $3mil per contract. As for the center position, I think it is one of the most difficult positions to fill. I could see Riley giving Diop MLE money in a long term deal since he might be the only center who deserves that type of money.

[CaliHeat]

Hope you're right, Lane.

It would be interesting to figure out the trade partners for Marion, since the criteria we need should narrow it down to just one or two teams ...

- Will give us two rotation players, non-SG and non-PF
- These players must expire by 2010
- Marion must fit their lineup and/or style somehow
- And of course salaries must match

Great, now I have something to waste my time on today!

Marion for S&T Andris Biendris and S&T Mickeal Pietrus (2 year deal)

Biendris deal would have to be long term but I think we could still offer a max contract even with Biendris still on the books if the Heat get rid of Banks and maybe Cook by 2010 and let Blount and Haslem expire. (I may be wrong)

[HeatSince88]

It would be interesting to figure out the trade partners for Marion, since the criteria we need should narrow it down to just one or two teams ...

- Will give us two rotation players, non-SG and non-PF
- These players must expire by 2010
- Marion must fit their lineup and/or style somehow
- And of course salaries must match

Ok, so I looked thru the league with this criteria, and didn't come up with anything too special. Of course, sign-and-trades or adding other pieces to the trade changes everything, so I let out those scenarios.

NOT SAYING I'D DO THESE, but here's the top 2 that make some sense for the other teams and fit the above criteria:

Marion for Ron Artest, Brad Miller:
Kings have their future set at center with their two recent lottery picks, Hawes and J Thompson. This trade clears nice cap room for them next year and gets the headcase Artest off the roster while getting a great replacement. For Miami, PG-Wade-Artest-Beasley-Miller would be pretyy decent. Artest expires next year, and Miller by 2010 offseason. Riley has been linked to both Artest and Miller in the past.

Marion for E. Watson, C Wilcox, someone else (Marshall, Wilkins, etc)
Seattle is looking to clear cap space big time next year and would pull the trigger on this no problems. Watson starts for us two years (then expires), Wilcox can start at center for at least one year (then expires) and we could also get a short-term bench contributor. Still, these guys might not add up to Marion's impact.

I dunno, I don't see anything wrong with keeping Marion for now and use free agncy to plug some holes.