Is the reason Riley offered Marion a small amount of money for him not to accept so the Heat can have a cap space in 2010?Dorell Wright's guaranteed two-year deal left the Heat with a little more than $50 million in 2009-10 contracts for 10 players (only Daequan Cook's $1.3 million is at Miami's option). That means -- unless multiyear deals are dumped -- the Heat likely will have a little more than $11 million next summer (if Shawn Marion isn't re-signed) to pursue a free agent such as Carlos Boozer. (The Heat has told people it can see Michael Beasley playing small forward eventually, allowing a pairing with Boozer.) Miami has $32 million committed for 2010-11.
If this rumors is true, looks like we will not see a Marion trade that screw the cap space to sign Boozer next year. Or maybe the Heat are waiting what move the Jazz will do with Boozer this summer, if he's going to sign an extension or not.
Whatever it is, I like what the future of the Heat because of the flexibility in their payroll. Problem is, it might affect the coming season in terms of competing because of the lack of moves.