<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Heat's countdown to acquire restricted free agent Charlie Bell continued Wednesday, but the team's pursuit of another offseason target apparently has expired. The Heat has abandoned efforts to acquire the restricted free agent after the Warriors rejected the Heat's most recent proposals. Miami Herald</p> </p><p class="style1">The Heat had presented the Warriors with at least three trade packages -- with point guard Jason Williams, center Michael Doleac and draft picks believed to have been among options that were discussed. But the Warriors haven't budged despite Pietrus' repeated demands to be traded to the Heat. And after nearly two months of negotiations on potential sign-and-trade deals, the Heat shifted its focus to Bell and signed him to a five-year, $18.5 million offer sheet Monday. Miami Herald</p> <p class="style1">Pietrus, 25, is set to earn $3.47 million this season and would become an unrestricted free agent next summer. ''It's safe to say it's all off at this point,'' Pietrus' agent, Bill McCandless, said Wednesday regarding talks between his client, the Heat and the Warriors. ``The Heat would have to offer something different than what it has been. Golden State doesn't feel Miami has the assets it would be interested in.'' Miami Herald</div></p><p class="style1"> Suprised they would turn down the expiring contracts and picks when it seems Pietrus is willing to reup for the 1 year QO and become an unrestricted FA the year after.</p><p class="style1">-Petey </p> </p>
I think the Warriors wanted to handle the Don Nelson situation before they made any moves. The Warriors are also over the roster limit, so taking on an extra player is something they want to avoid. I suppose Miami could include $3M in cash to buyout Doleac, but I guess it comes down to who the Warriors would rather have for a season. JWill or Pietrus?</p> Or perhaps the Warriors have a different deal in place? They still have that massive Trade Exception at their disposal from the JRich trade. Stacking chips for a big mid-season deal might be their strategy.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'>Stacking chips for a big mid-season deal might be their strategy.</div> Yeah, I don't think its any secret that the Warriors were hoping to land a big name this summer, and that if that didn't pan out, they'd be looking to do the same before the trade deadline. I suppose the question is really who a team would rather have thrown into a combo deal, Williams or Pietrus? I think the answer is Pietrus, simply b/c he's younger and more an unknown quantity at this time. And everyone knows that most GMs salivate at the prospect of acquiring what they don't understand.</p>
