Category: Miami Heat Blog

Heat blog – Miami Heat blog

Dwyane Wade gives Heat a wish-list of free agent targets

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Dwyane Wade gives Heat a wish-list of free agent targets

Dwyane Wade has given the Miami Heat his “wish list” of potential targets he wants team president Pat Riley to pursue when free agency opens at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

Landing the services of LeBron James and either Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh in Miami would be the beginning of the kind of championship makeover Wade seeks this summer.

Wade stopped short of offering names of the marquee players he discussed with Riley in recent weeks. But the Heat’s star guard repeatedly mentioned James and Bosh when he talked about players who instantly could push a team to title contention.

Talk of James and Bosh coming to Miami intensified Monday amid national speculation the two were leaning toward joining Wade, with each taking slightly less money than the maximum they could command.

Marbury hopes Nets gets LeBron

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Stephon Marbury said he is rooting for LeBron James to sign with the Nets to rescuscitate Newark and, eventually, his home borough, Brooklyn.

“LJ 23 should go to the Nets so that Newark would be able to grow and build businesses for the people there,” Marbury wrote in an e-mail to The Post. “After he builds the economy in Newark he can come to my borough and create a brand new life for people struggling to make it in this tough economy.”

Knicks planning big LeBron James meeting July 1

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

Knicks planning big LeBron James meeting July 1

LeBron James has closely guarded his plans once his much-celebrated free agency starts next week. But the New York Knicks are making preparations like they are expecting to host his first stop.

According to a source, the Knicks are making plans to host an elaborate meal and meeting with James in a high-end location in Manhattan during the afternoon and evening of July 1, which is next Thursday. The tentative plan is for Knicks management and officials to host James and his various agents and friends for a large dinner party catered by a celebrity chef.

The Knicks are currently scouring the city for an available high-rise condo or apartment with a great view to rent for the event, the source said.

Have a reaction? Discuss it in this forum topic.

Thunder, Heat trade Daequan Cook, draft picks

Thunder, Heat trade Daequan Cook, draft picks

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced today that the team has acquired the 18th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and guard Daequan Cook from the Miami Heat in exchange for the 32nd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

According to the Associated Press, “the deal announced by the Heat on Wednesday clears about $3.4 million in salary cap space as Miami gets ready for next week’s start of free agency.”

“We are pleased to add Daequan Cook to the Thunder roster,” said Sam Presti, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager. “He will add depth and shooting to our backcourt.”

The Thunder now holds the 18th, 21st, 26th and 51st picks in tomorrow’s NBA Draft.

The 23-year old Cook is a three-year NBA veteran and holds career averages of 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He has appeared in 179 NBA games (26 starts) all with the Heat. Cook won the 2009 Foot Locker Three-Point shootout during the NBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix. The 6-5 guard has shot 35.8% from behind the arc for his career.

The Ohio State product was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 21st overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and was traded to Miami along with a second round pick and cash considerations.

Robert Dozier breaks left foot

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Robert Dozier might remain Mr. Irrelevant for another year.

Selected with the 60th and final selection of last year’s NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, the 6- foot-9 forward out of the University of Memphis broke his left foot while drilling last week at AmericanAirlines Arena.

After spending this past season with a second-tier team in the Greek League, Dozier had returned to South Florida recently to begin workouts in advance of the Heat’s participation in the July NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

But after breaking a bone in his foot during non-contact work, surgery was required, with the procedure handled by Heat team physician Harlan Selesnick leaving Dozier sidelined for 12 weeks.

Heat exercise option on Mario Chalmers

Heat exercise option on Mario Chalmers

The Miami Heat announced today that they have exercised the Team Option on Mario Chalmers. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chalmers, a 6’1”, 190-pound guard, has appeared in 155 regular season games (104 starts) averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.62 steals and 28.6 minutes. Last season, Chalmers finished 19th among NBA league leaders in steals-per-turnover (1.25) and 33rd in steals per game. During his rookie campaign, he became just the fifth player, and the first rookie, in franchise history to start in all 82 games while on his way to earning Second Team NBA All-Rookie honors. He currently ranks tied for 15th in three-point field goals made (189), 16th in assists (642) and 16th in steals (250) on the Heat’s all-time lists. Additionally, he has appeared in 12 postseason contests (seven starts) averaging 8.8 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.92 steals and 30.2 minutes.

Chalmers was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (34th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. His draft rights were acquired by the Heat in exchange for two 2009 second-round draft picks and cash considerations on draft night.

Heat to exercise Chalmers option

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

And then there were three.

Heat to exercise Chalmers option

Point guard Mario Chalmers has become the third Miami Heat player secured on the books for 2010-11.

While neither side would confirm the formal paperwork has been completed, the Heat has informed Chalmers that it will pick up the option year on his rookie contract.

The Heat had until June 24, the day of the NBA Draft, to make its decision.

Chalmers now joins forward Michael Beasley and guard Daequan Cook as the only Heat players locked into 2010-11 salaries.

Still to be determined is the player option held by center Joel Anthony, who also faces a June 24 deadline, as well as a buyout decision on the final three years of the contract of forward Jabmes Jones, and guard Dwyane Wade’s decision on his 2010-11 option year.

Donald Trump, Chris Rock want LeBron in New York

The New York Post reports:

“New York would be a great thing for LeBron,” said Donald Trump, who has joined the committee along with a cavalcade of other Gotham notables, such as Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Boomer Esiason and Spike Lee.

“He would take over the city,” said Trump. Specifically addressing James, Trump said: “I am in many different cities, but I can tell you, LeBron, there is only one New York.”

Under the team’s plan, the stars would meet with the free agents, tout the city and even show them around, sources said.

Chris Rock, who has also agreed to join the effort, knows just what he would say to LeBron.

“You really want to live in Cleveland? That’s what I would tell him. Where do you want to live?” the comic told The Post.

Miami Heat hire Tim Hardaway

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning are officially a tandem again for the Miami Heat.

Only now, they’re making moves in the community and front office instead of on the court, where they led the Heat to division titles and perennial playoff appearances two decades ago.

The Heat confirmed Hardaway’s hiring Tuesday saying he would be the team’s Community and Corporate Liaison. Hardaway rejoins Mourning, who last year was brought in to work as vice president, player development.

Although the team never announced Hardaway’s hiring, he has made appearances at community events since April and was introduced as a `Heat legend.’