Miami Heat Blog – Page 142 – NBA Blog

Heat front-office take pay cuts

Times are tough these days economically for a lot of people. Myself included. I only had five or six hour-long full body massages these past two weeks as I vacation overseas. We’re all making sacrifices.

Anyway, the Miami Heat are cutting some payroll. Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Economic problems have forced Heat president Pat Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and several members of the team’s front-office to take pay cuts entering the season.

Spoelstra said recently that he expected to open his second season as coach with his entire staff of assistants intact. But financial problems that led to reductions of about 20 employees on the business staff earlier this year have apparently spilled over to basketball operations.

The Heat is already facing the prospect of having to pay about $3 million in NBA luxury tax fees for operating beyond the league’s $69.9 million threshold for excessive payrolls.

It needs to be said that the biggest waste of money in Miami these past few years was on former Heat center Mark Blount. He’s gone now, though, so things can only get brighter on South Beach.

Dwyane Wade`s future up in air

Half the fun of talking about LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and other top stars isn’t just raving about what they do on a basketball court. Speculating about where they may play in the future is just as entertaining.

Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports (via blog):

Asked if the Bulls would be his No. 1 destination should he leave Miami next year, Wade replied, “If I disclose that kind of information, the articles this season aren’t as exciting anymore. Speculation is not the same. You guys ain’t going to have nothing to talk about me.”

Then asked what would keep him Miami, Wade provided this answer: “Well, first of all I love the organization. I love what it stands for, from the owner Mickey Arison on down. It’s a first class organization. We’ve had some good times in Miami. I love the weather. It’s become home for me for the past six years. Hey, it’s not my fault Miami drafted me at No. 5 (in 2003) and Chicago did not move up (from No. 7).”

While LeBron, Wade and other top stars probably do have a strong opinion about what team they may try to play for once their current contracts run out, it’s safe to assume they really aren’t 100 percent sure. Things can happen. Rosters change. Teams that appear to be attractive can shake things up. So while the speculation will continue, it’s mostly all in fun, because no matter what sources a reporter may have, the players themselves are perfectly likely to change their mind in the future.

Dwyane Wade will not sign extension

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports: Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said Wednesday he won’t sign a long-term extension with the Heat and will revisit his future with the team as a free agent next summer. Speaking from the Chicago-area church he bought for his mother two years ago, Wade said he and agent Henry Thomas told the Heat it would be best to hold off a decision until after the 2009-10 season.

The Miami Herald continues: Wade has suggested for months that his plan was to bypass a potential extension that would add three years and about $60 million to the two seasons left on his contract. But his stance Wednesday was clearly the most definitive he has made on the issue of his future with the team that selected him fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Lamar Odom dating Khloe Kardashian

Janis Carr of the Orange County Register reports (via blog): Reality TV star (and we use that term loosely) Khloe Kardashian will be the newest celeb Lakers fan sitting courtside, thanks to her boyfriend Lamar Odom. “They’re very, very happy,” the Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami star’s sister, Kim Kardashian, tells PEOPLE magazine. “They’ve been together a few weeks, and are literally inseparable. Khloe thinks he’s amazing and makes her laugh and smile constantly.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: As fun as Kim looks, my favorite Kardashian girl is Kourtney.

Ed Pinckney joins 76ers broadcast team

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, the leader in local sports coverage, today announced that Ed Pinckney has joined the 76ers broadcast team as color analyst. Pinckney will work alongside Marc Zumoff for all 76ers broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ed back home and to have someone with his credentials join Marc Zumoff, providing Sixers fans with one of the best broadcast teams in the NBA,” said Comcast SportsNet Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Monihan. “Ed’s experience in the NBA, combined with his broadcasting experience and background as a player and coach at Villanova, will provide the insightful analysis and unique perspective that Sixers’ fans have come to expect from our talented crew.”

“I am extremely excited to be back in Philadelphia and to be a part of the Comcast SportsNet family,” said Pinckney. “I am honored to work alongside Marc Zumoff, and to share the passion and excitement that we both have for the Sixers with the fans of Philadelphia.”

“We are excited that Ed Pinckney will be returning to Philadelphia to join Marc Zumoff on our Sixers telecasts in order to provide fans with one of the most experienced, knowledgeable and talented broadcasting tandems in the NBA,” said Sixers Senior Vice President of Business Operations Lara Price. “It seems only fitting that the city in which he won a National Championship while at Villanova University now welcomes him back as a member of Comcast SportsNet and the Sixers family.”

While playing for Villanova, Pinckney led the Wildcats to the 1985 National Championship with a 66-64 upset of the heavily favored Georgetown Hoyas.

Pinckney played 12 years in the NBA, including one as a Sixer during the 1995-96 season. Following his retirement from the NBA in 1997, he joined the Miami Heat’s radio and television broadcasting team. He then spent four seasons at his alma mater as an assistant coach and most recently served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pinckney also served as a Sixers Postgame Live analyst for two seasons.

Pinckney will join Zumoff for all Sixers broadcasts. Zumoff enters his 16th season as the Sixers television play-by-play announcer and his 28th as a part of the 76ers broadcast team.

Discuss the team on the InsideHoops Philadelphia 76ers forum.

If nothing else, Heat are consistent

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (via blog): Over the past six seasons, only four NBA teams have finished fifth or higher in their conference at least five times. The Spurs, the league’s gold standard of consistency, have done it in each of the past six years. Otherwise, the only teams to have done it are the Mavericks, Pistons, and, yes, the Heat. Not the Lakers. Not the Celtics. Not the Cavaliers. Not Kobe. Not Pierce. Not LeBron.

Pat Beverley signs in Greece

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports: If the Miami Heat is to get any production from its recent draft class, it won’t come until at least next season. Combo guard Pat Beverley, the 42nd overall pick in the NBA Draft, has agreed to a one-year deal with European power Olympiakos and departed for Greece on Wednesday. Beverley’s agent, Kevin Bradbury, confirmed Wednesday that his client agreed to the deal earlier this week. The Heat, which spent $1.5 million to acquire Beverley from the Los Angeles Lakers in a draft-night deal, will continue to own his NBA rights.

Michael Beasley checks into rehab center

The AP reports: The Miami Heat forward checked into a Houston rehabilitation facility last week and is being treated for various issues, including depression, a person briefed on the situation told the Associated Press yesterday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns, and could not say whether the other issues included drug or alcohol treatment. “Based on what I’m getting right now, there’s a bit of concern,’’ Bruce Shingler, Beasley’s manager, said in a telephone interview. “I don’t really know what’s going on. I just know his mom is on her way to go see him in Houston. That’s it. I’m still collecting a lot of information.’’ It’s unknown how long Beasley, 20, will remain at the facility, or whether he will be available when the Heat open training camp Sept. 28.

Orlando Magic sign Jason Williams

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Jason Williams, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. We’ll post contract info later today. We’re guessing it’s a very short deal for the league minimum or something close.

“Jason (Williams) provides depth and leadership to our backcourt,” said Smith. “He is a veteran point guard that knows what it takes to help us reach our ultimate goal. We are excited to add him to our team.”

Williams (6’1”, 190, 11/18/75) did not play during the 2008-09 season after announcing his retirement on Sept. 26, 2008. He last played in 67 games during the 2007-08 campaign with Miami, averaging 8.8 ppg., 4.6 apg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.24 stlpg. in 28.1 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft, Williams has played in 679 career NBA regular season games with Sacramento, Memphis and Miami, averaging 11.4 ppg., 6.3 apg., 2.4 rpg. and 1.28 stlpg. in 31.2 minpg. He has also played in 53 career playoff contests, averaging 9.8 ppg., 3.7 apg. and 2.2 rpg. in 29.1 minpg. Williams was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1998-99, currently stands as Memphis’ all-time leader in assists (2,041) and helped Miami capture the 2005-06 NBA Championship.

InsideHoops.com editor says: J-Will, aka “White Chocolate,” is back! Well, sort of. He’s old now and will add bench depth at the point guard spot. Tough to say how good he’ll actually be if forced to ever play real minutes. Usually when a team seeks an old veteran they want a tough, smart, high basketball-IQ player. Williams was talented but not a defensive stopper and a fun, wild player. Still, he can probably still keep defenders on their toes in limited minutes. Though, he’ll be 34 in November. But, maybe he’s spent his time getting into incredible shape or something. We’ll have to wait and see.

Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Timberwolves trade Quentin Richardson to Heat for Mark Blount

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has traded guard/forward Quentin Richardson to the Miami Heat in exchange for center Mark Blount.

According to the Associated Press, “Richardson is due to earn about $9 million this season. Blount was to make around $7.9 million.”

Also, according to the AP, “Like Richardson, Blount also is in the final year of his deal.”

“We are very excited to add Quentin Richardson,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “Over the course of his career, he has proven to be a fierce competitor, a great locker room presence and a very prolific three-point shooter who may be one of the strongest perimeter players in the NBA. We feel that he will be able to match-up well against the top scorers in the league. We also want to thank Mark Blount for his contributions to the Heat. He provided a solid veteran presence to our team the past two years.”

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 18th overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft, Richardson has appeared in 601 games (389 starts) during his nine-year NBA career and has averaged 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 28.0 minutes. He has shot 39.8 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from three-point range and 71.2 percent from the foul line. Five times, including the 2008-09 season, he has averaged double figures in points. Additionally, four times, including last season, he has hit at least 100 three-point field goals during a season. During the 2004-05 season, with Phoenix, he tied for the league lead in three-point field goals made with a career-high 226. His 940 career three-point field goals made are tied for 65th place all-time in NBA history and ranked 31st among players who played during the 2008-09 campaign.

Richardson (6’6”, 235 pounds) appeared in 72 games (51 starts) for the New York Knicks during the 2008-09 season and averaged 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 26.3 minutes while shooting 39.3 percent from the floor, 36.5 percent from three-point range and 76.1 percent from the foul line. He scored in double figures on 26 occasions, with at least 20 points nine times and a pair of 30-point performances. The Chicago native recorded season highs in points (34), field goals made (11), three-point field goals made (seven), rebounds (12) and minutes (44) in New York’s Nov. 22 win over Washington. Richardson hit multiple treys 30 times last season, including nine games where he hit at least four in a game.

At the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, Richardson was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies in a draft night trade for Darko Milicic. He was subsequently dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers on July 17 for Zach Randolph and then to the Timberwolves on July 20 for Mark Madsen, Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair.

Blount, a nine-year NBA veteran, was acquired by the Heat along with Ricky Davis from the Timberwolves on Oct. 24, 2007 in exchange for Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac, Wayne Simien and a conditional first-round draft choice. In two seasons with the Heat, Blount appeared in 89 games (46 starts) and averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 19.7 minutes while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor, 39.4 percent from three-point range and 63.6 percent from the foul line. For his career, he has appeared in 605 games (393 starts) and has averaged 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 23.1 minutes while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor, 35.9 percent from three-point range and 72.3 percent from the foul line.

Read basketball fan reaction to this news and share your opinion in this forum topic.