<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Miami Could Seek Artest, LewisMiami Herald - 06/06 - 3:47 AM EST (AP Photo)Several NBA people close to the Heat expect the club to explore acquiring Sacramento's Ron Artest or impending Seattle free agent Rashard Lewis, both of whom are 27-year-old small forwards. It is, however, highly questionable if the Heat has enough to satisfy the Kings or Sonics.Miami has not made a trade offer for Artest, but discussions with the Kings are expected, an official with one of the teams said. Two officials said Pat Riley isn't deterred by Artest's past off-court issues.The Kings will consider moving Artest but don't feel compelled. An official in contact with Kings management said Sacramento isn't enamored with Miami's available assets, which could require a third team's inclusion. Artest (18.8 points, 6.5 rebounds last season) is due $7.8 million for next season and has an $8.45 million player option for '08-09.Although Miami loves Lewis' skills, there's some skepticism internally about whether the franchise -- which is above the salary cap -- would have enough to interest Seattle in a sign-and-trade. Numerous teams covet him, including Orlando -- which will have lots of cap space if it doesn't sign Darko Milicic -- Houston and New York. Seattle says it wants to keep Lewis, but the expected drafting of Kevin Durant could change that.</div>Miami needs to make a move here to get themselves a bit younger and a bit more talented. The only question is what would Miami have to trade to get either player because their tradeable players aren't really the most wanted players.
Miami will have a hard time getting any good players. If they want Lewis, Seattle is rebuilding, so they would probably look into Dorrel Wright, Haslem, fillers, and pick. If the Heat do pick up any hot new players such as a Lewis or an Artest, most likely Haslem and Wright will have to be packaged in the deal, because besides Wade, they are the only expendable pieces really.
<span style="font-family:Arial">I agree with Knicksfan3, Miami needs to start getting on the phones. If they can work something out, I would definitely go after Ron Artest. He's the perfect guy to have ON the basketball court. Everybody knows about his strong defensive ability, but he's a strong scorer, rebounder, and passer as well. He does it all for his team, despite being an off court problem.Maybe they could offer a package of Udonis Haslem and/or Jason Kapono/Dorell Wright.</span>
I think its possible Miami can get Lewis or Artest. Like Grizzfan said, they would have oy give up Dorrel Wright, maybe a pick or so and of course some filler to make salaries work. It would be easier to do a trade like that to Sacramento than to Seattle for the simple fact Sacramento would need a Dorrel Wright more than Seattle would(while having Durant and Allen probably). This is similiar to LAs situation, are they willing to trade a player who can be a potential star for a current star?(Bynum-Lakers, Wright-Heat).
<span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS">Yeah, Miami will defintely have a hard time pulling off a trade like this. Besides Wade, they really dont have that much to offer- sure Wright looks promising, and Haslem is a solid PF, but is that enough for all-star calibur players like Rashard Lewis or Ron Artest. In my opinion, I dont think so. I think the Kings could draft someone like Julian Wright and then I think Sacremento is more likley to trade Artest because his off-court issues have made more impact than they probably wanted it to. </span>
