Top 10 Free-Agent Targets

[FlashTheKilla]

AND his name is Festus Ezeli.

[Woodsanity]

You guys are nuts if you don't think Nash wouldn't help out. Even if you don't consider the plays he can make a 50/40/90 shooter would help most teams....

[LeMVP]

You guys are nuts if you don't think Nash wouldn't help out. Even if you don't consider the plays he can make a 50/40/90 shooter would help most teams....

EVERY single basketball team in the world. EVERY single one.

[indiegrind]

I want Nash, Camby and Ray Allen.

But Nash and Camby would make a world of difference for this team.



Camby/Turiaf/Pittman
Bosh/Haslem/Anthony
Lebron/Battier/Jones
Wade/Allen/Harris
Nash/Chalmers/Cole

[Wade2k6]

Exactly, I don't understand the people saying Nash wouldn't help out too much, is this a joke? Steve Nash' usage rate has steadily declined the past 3 years (22.9% in '10, 21.4% in '11, and 19.6% this past year). His 19.6% usage rate in 2012 is only 2.2% higher than where Chalmers was at (17.4%). He would clearly be an upgrade. Nash is one of the best spot-up shooters in the league, he flourishes in the open court and transition, and would help improve the stagnation that Miami is prone too at times.

[Beasley]

I'm going to lock in what I believe to be the most probable free-agent signing for the Miami Heat:

Jason Terry

I think he comes for 3 years at the mini mid-level exception and comes off the bench. A scoring guard who is not a true point guard. This will allow Wade and James to handle the ball and Terry to take wide open shots and run off screens. A good fit.

I don't think Miami will be able to sign a decent center for $3M. Especially when Kwame Brown was paid $9M last year. I think they just go for the best player they can get who fills a gap (point guard depth, but I will call it small guard depth).

[Beasley]

Festus Ezeli
Birthday: 10/21/89
NBA Position: Center
Class: Senior
Ht: 6-11
Wt: 264

Height w/o Shoes - 6' 9.75"
Height w/shoes - 6' 11.5"
Wingspan - 7' 5.75"
Standing Reach - 9' 0"
Body Fat - 5.5
No Step Vert - 34.0
Max Vert - 33.5 ?
Bench Press - 18
Lane Agility - 12.35
3/4 Court Sprint - 3.29

Strengths: Ezeli's intrigue as a prospect stems from his physical tools, where he sports a strong, NBA frame and a monstrous wingspan that hovers around the 7'4 mark ... At 6'11 with his length, he's a space-eater in the paint on both sides of the ball ... His selling point is his ability to protect the rim, which he does extremely well thanks to the combination of agility, strength and length ... Able to contest shots at both the high and low post showing impressive lateral quickness for his size ... Strong post-defender, able to hold his positioning ... Improved his footwork offensively in the post, using an effective drop step to set up an over shoulder hook ... Willing to do the dirty work, defending and rebounding. Does an effective job of using his body to gain position down low ... Strong, reliable finisher at the rim ... Shows comfort and awareness slipping off high screens to the basket on pick and rolls...

Weaknesses: Not the most glamorous prospect, lacking great athleticism or upside ... Ezeli is not an adept shot-creator, scoring primarily on tips or dump-offs from a penetrating guard ... Non-existent face-up game or jump shot ... Still more comfortable using right hand turning over right shoulder, making his shot easier to contest ... Prone to foul trouble, averaging 3.2 PF in only 23 minutes a game... He's an uninspiring defensive rebounder considering his size, showing slow stop-to-start quickness and poor reaction time off misses ... Doesn't have the softest hands, resulting in too many turnovers for the amount he's used... Never shot better than 64% from the free throw line... Generally inconsistent on a game to game basis...

Overall: Though he's a 22-year old senior with past injury issues, Ezeli's presence alone could make a front line more intimidating ... He has the physical attributes and toughness required for NBA centers, and while his offensive game is still being developed, he size, length and athleticism could be luxury off the bench

I normally agree with almost everything you say, and I know that he LOOKS like he would be a good prospect, but he isn't worth wasting a pick on (honestly). He is of the Thabeet, MBenga variety, only a lot worse! He will turn 23 shortly after the draft. Even if he miraculously develops, after 5 years in the league he will be 28 and athletically on the decline. You don't typically draft 23 year olds on potential and certainly not ones who are putting up mediocre numbers statistically.

Miami won't need to draft a center. They will have access to a variety of big, experienced centers who are waived/amnestied. Brendan Haywood is the best example.

[Lord Leoshes]

Terry, & Nash are terrible defenders, & this Heat team is built on defense.
Give me a C, or a two way player, not someone who will be a liability half the time he in on the court.

Besides that Terry is looking for Wants Multi-Year Contract. & at 35, i dnt think so. He will only get slower, & worse defensivly.


Jason Terry wants to sign a "long-term" contract this offseason.

“It’s a tough situation,” Terry said. “I’m finally in a position where I can kind of predict my own future, so to speak. I want to stay here in Dallas. That’s always been my goal. But it needs to be long-term. If they’re not ready to step up and do that, then I’ll have to make my home elsewhere.”

Terry isn’t interested in signing a one-year deal with the Mavericks.

“I won’t be here,” Terry said if the Mavericks take that route. “You can count on that. If they’re doing that, you won’t see the Jet on the runway in Dallas. But my time here was good.”

Via Dallas Morning News

[Lord Leoshes]

Festus Ezeli
Birthday: 10/21/89
NBA Position: Center
Class: Senior
Ht: 6-11
Wt: 264

Height w/o Shoes - 6' 9.75"
Height w/shoes - 6' 11.5"
Wingspan - 7' 5.75"
Standing Reach - 9' 0"
Body Fat - 5.5
No Step Vert - 34.0
Max Vert - 33.5 ?
Bench Press - 18
Lane Agility - 12.35
3/4 Court Sprint - 3.29

Strengths: Ezeli's intrigue as a prospect stems from his physical tools, where he sports a strong, NBA frame and a monstrous wingspan that hovers around the 7'4 mark ... At 6'11 with his length, he's a space-eater in the paint on both sides of the ball ... His selling point is his ability to protect the rim, which he does extremely well thanks to the combination of agility, strength and length ... Able to contest shots at both the high and low post showing impressive lateral quickness for his size ... Strong post-defender, able to hold his positioning ... Improved his footwork offensively in the post, using an effective drop step to set up an over shoulder hook ... Willing to do the dirty work, defending and rebounding. Does an effective job of using his body to gain position down low ... Strong, reliable finisher at the rim ... Shows comfort and awareness slipping off high screens to the basket on pick and rolls...

Weaknesses: Not the most glamorous prospect, lacking great athleticism or upside ... Ezeli is not an adept shot-creator, scoring primarily on tips or dump-offs from a penetrating guard ... Non-existent face-up game or jump shot ... Still more comfortable using right hand turning over right shoulder, making his shot easier to contest ... Prone to foul trouble, averaging 3.2 PF in only 23 minutes a game... He's an uninspiring defensive rebounder considering his size, showing slow stop-to-start quickness and poor reaction time off misses ... Doesn't have the softest hands, resulting in too many turnovers for the amount he's used... Never shot better than 64% from the free throw line... Generally inconsistent on a game to game basis...

Overall: Though he's a 22-year old senior with past injury issues, Ezeli's presence alone could make a front line more intimidating ... He has the physical attributes and toughness required for NBA centers, and while his offensive game is still being developed, he size, length and athleticism could be luxury off the bench

I normally agree with almost everything you say, and I know that he LOOKS like he would be a good prospect, but he isn't worth wasting a pick on (honestly). He is of the Thabeet, MBenga variety, only a lot worse! He will turn 23 shortly after the draft. Even if he miraculously develops, after 5 years in the league he will be 28 and athletically on the decline. You don't typically draft 23 year olds on potential and certainly not ones who are putting up mediocre numbers statistically.

Miami won't need to draft a center. They will have access to a variety of big, experienced centers who are waived/amnestied. Brendan Haywood is the best example.

In my opinion, if we cant draft an impact player with our 27th pick then i rather trade it for a future 1st.


But from all i have read uncle Festus is more NBA ready then Melo. Obviously i have not been able to see them in person, nore in workouts, so my opinion is hollow. All i can do is hope Pat staff has done the proper research & picks us a keeper.

[GreenHat]

I can't see JET taking 3yrs/9 million from us when he made 11 million just last year. He knows this is his last substantial contract

[DrVanNostrand]

KG/Anthony/Pittman
Bosh/Haslem
LBJ/Battier/Miller
Wade/Allen
Nash/Chalmers/Cole

Yep, that's it!

Unfair. So improbable though.

[MartyCONLONNN]

Do NOT want any of that lame 'jet on the runway' Jason Terry blabbertalk that so many people mistake for charisma down here in Miami for the next 3 seasons. Never.

[DefenseWins]

KG/Anthony/Pittman
Bosh/Haslem
LBJ/Battier/Miller
Wade/Allen
Nash/Chalmers/Cole

Yep, that's it!

Unfair. So improbable though.

This can work if people are willing to sacrifice some money for a title. And if KG can get over his hate for us. But I just worry about his screens. He has cost his team a game or 2 getting called for the screens...

[Beasley]

I think Jason Terry is just saying that to get leverage. If Dallas throw a lot of money at him he'll stay, otherwise he has said before that he wants to play for Miami.

As bad as he is defensively, Chalmers is struggling to defend Derek Fisher let alone Russell Westbrook. Yes, Chalmers has great anticipation with defend passing lanes, but his positional defense is pretty awful. Terry would play a similar role to Chalmers on the team, only he better in almost every aspect. He can create his own shot, run off screens, and handle the ball under pressure. These are all things that Chalmers can't really do.

I agree that ideally we should trade the pick. We are already developing Dexter Pittman. We need to maintain enough roster space to be able players who get waived or amnestied. Acquiring a 1st round pick, who may have to be cut if someone better comes along is just wasting a pick. We need at least 3 to 4 open roster spots (or otherwise filled with mediocre guys like Eddie Curry that we don't mind waiving later on) to be able to sign the necessary players on the mini mid-level exemption, veteran's minimum, and then waived players over the course of the season.

Because of how our payroll is setup, we need guys with salaries like Mike MIller to do just about any trade. Noone else makes enough money to trade, and straight out amnestying him will make it harder for us to get anyone else. If we can package the 1st round pick with Mike MIller plus $3M cash to get an average NBA player who is on a shorter contract (say 2 years shorter) I'd be happy with that. In the final year of the player's contract, we would be able to get a lot of value for that expiring contract, and use the salary to get someone who is half decent.

As it is, we can't really make most trades because nobody else on the roster earns enough. That's why I think amnestying Miller just for the sake of it doesn't really help. It won't free up any more money to sign someone else. It will just prevent us from paying some more luxury tax. Acquiring the big 3 is a once in a franchise opportunity. We need to spend whatever money we can to make this work and ride the wave for as long as possible. I am understand that it would be different if you a top 5 to 10 title favourite, but the luxury tax is not a good enough reason for the number 1 title favourites to cost-cut. If we have more of a long-term view of things, we could use that salary (whether it's Miller + 1st round pick) or the someone else we end up acquiring for Miller, in a sign-and-trade. A sign and trade will be a great way for us to acquire someone who wants to be here, but wants a bit more money. At the moment, we can only spend $3M and we are limited to doing that once a year. I'd like to think a little bit outside the box. We shall see what Riley conjures up. I am confident it will quite good!

[RexBoyWonder]

^ The only player i can think of that we could trade Miller for is no other then..Andray Blatche. they both have 3 years left, Miller makes a bit less but it could work financially.
The only problem is that Blatche, despite being 6"11 and a Center, seemed to be hated on by anyone who sees him play. he had a terrible season, he's production droped in just about everything. but he's 6"11, mobile, and only 25 year old.

Im scared to say this - but we might be smart to take a chance on him. how can he be worse then Miller sitting on the bench or Miller amnestyed for nothing? maybe Riely can turn him into the Center we need.

[Beasley]

^ The only player i can think of that we could trade Miller for is no other then..Andray Blatche. they both have 3 years left, Miller makes a bit less but it could work financially.
The only problem is that Blatche, despite being 6"11 and a Center, seemed to be hated on by anyone who sees him play. he had a terrible season, he's production droped in just about everything. but he's 6"11, mobile, and only 25 year old.

Im scared to say this - but we might be smart to take a chance on him. how can he be worse then Miller sitting on the bench or Miller amnestyed for nothing? maybe Riely can turn him into the Center we need.

Actually that makes a lot of sense! Pat Riley was able to influence Antoine Walker in a positive enough way to win a championship back in 2006. I think the same could be said for Blatche. They should go after him and dangle their 1st rounder with Miller to persuade the Wizards.

The Wizards seem desperate to get rid of Blatche. Sometimes people just need a change of scenery. When you're playing on a championship calibre roster, it's extremely hard to not be inspired and be positive.

Blatche could stretch defenses and draw shotblockers away from the basket. A year prior he everaged 17 PPG and 8 RPG so the talent level is there. A good off-season both mentally and physically could turn things around. Good find!

[DayofMourning]

Kevin Garnett
Marcus Camby
Ray Allen

I don't see point guard as a definitive need. We already have enough ball handlers. Chalmers earns his pay in the playoffs. Cole should be given a chance to develop.

My dark horse signing would be Thabeet. I liked him a lot in college for what he COULD do. Get him to box out and pass the ball back out after rebounds, and you've got a decent pivot.

Miller should be let go. The one thing he can do now is rebound. He has been injured in every possible way since he joined the Heat. It's sad, as I was happy as heck when we signed him, but he can't even hit shots because his back is gone.