http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketb...fla-sports-heat <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SACRAMENTO, calif. ? Less than a week shy of the midpoint of his team's season, Heat President Pat Riley sees a roster that is flawed, one loaded with athleticism at the perimeter positions -- to the detriment of stability at point guard, center and the bench. "I know what has to be addressed is the five position and the point guard position," he said. "It's going to be addressed. That has to be addressed. And the next move we make, we hope, is going to be to fill one of those spots." Additionally, after previously lauding offseason acquisitions such as John Wallace, Samaki Walker, Loren Woods, Rafer Alston and Bimbo Coles, Riley says more is needed in reserve. Of that group, only Alston has emerged as a steady contributor, one now forced into a starting role with rookie point guard Dwyane Wade sidelined by an injured right wrist. "I'm not real happy with some of the bench, from a production standpoint or consistency standpoint or effort standpoint," he said with his team continuing its six-game trip tonight against the Kings at Arco Arena. "That's something to keep working on." The midseason view, with Riley operating solely as a front-office presence, is in marked contrast to the preseason prospectus he offered. In a dual role of coach and president, he then spoke of Brian Grant as a top-tier center in the height-challenged Eastern Conference and Wade as a future Gary Payton. With an extended read on his team, Riley said specific concerns have become evident. "Without a doubt," he said of the restructuring that began in earnest with the acceptance that the Alonzo Mourning era had run its course. "This is the beginning. When Zo left, I got into the chip-collecting business. And I wanted to get the best assets that I could get, and I wasn't even thinking about positions." On one hand, Riley said he would go as far as to offer this season's or a future first-round pick in an effort to augment his core. "Any asset that we have on this team is in play," he said. "That's if the right deal is really going to propel this team for a long period of time." On the other hand, a core seemingly has been identified. "The assets that we drafted we liked," he said of a group that includes Caron Butler and Wade. "And Lamar Odom was not someone I got to peddle as a chip. "The point is we made the right decisions with Caron Butler and Dwyane Wade and Lamar Odom. That's the point." When it comes to finding the point guard and center to make it all work is where Riley turns vague. "You don't know when they're coming along, but that's basically what I'm looking at," he said. "When I'm looking at college players, I'm very aware of the athletic players out there, but I'm looking for the best big that I can find next year in the draft or the best point guard that can play. "That's where I'm going. I don't think you can build something overnight." That is where Riley differentiates the Heat's approach from the mortgaging of the future New York underwent last week in dealing away two future first-round picks, two draft prospects and potential future cap space for point guard Stephon Marbury. "We've gone past where New York is," he said. "If I was in New York, I would have done the same thing that Isiah [Thomas] did, because there is no out. He had no present-moment out because of how they're strapped with contracts. So you might as well exchange contracts. "I would have done that three years ago with Alonzo on this team and I would have done all those things, I would have given away draft picks in a minute, but that isn't where we are right now. We're not forced to make that kind of deal right now. We can build the right way." </div>
He has to trade Eddie Jones for a decent center and draft a point guard in the upcoming draft... Wade's a point in a shooting guards body... He has the handles, but he can't convince me as a true point guard... Maybe a Ben Gordon would be a good fit in Miami... Does anyone know Eddie Jones' contract?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ThaLord:</div><div class="quote_post">He has to trade Eddie Jones for a decent center and draft a point guard in the upcoming draft... Wade's a point in a shooting guards body... He has the handles, but he can't convince me as a true point guard... Maybe a Ben Gordon would be a good fit in Miami... Does anyone know Eddie Jones' contract?</div> In an interview a few weeks ago, Dwyane Wade himself said that he will never be a "true" point guard and that he is a scorer before anything. Eddie Jones is too much of an asset to the team to trade him away despite his large salary, and Pat Riley stated that he will not make any moves just to free up cap space and whatnot. He is making somewhere in the range of 12 million or so per year, I forgot how long the contract is for though.
Well is there anyone that they want that they can target thats available? They got their eye anyone in particular that you know of?
And do you know how big's Rasho's contract?... Maybe you can trade them... You can't trust Brian Grant at the 5... He ain't a real center... Maybe you're right about Jones but think of this: IF you have to chose between Caron, Eddie or Dwyane... Who'd you take?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ThaLord:</div><div class="quote_post">And do you know how big's Rasho's contract?... Maybe you can trade them... You can't trust Brian Grant at the 5... He ain't a real center... Maybe you're right about Jones but think of this: IF you have to chose between Caron, Eddie or Dwyane... Who'd you take?</div> Now doubt...Eddie would be gone IMO. He's gettin' older and might as well ship him while he still holds trade value.
I dont get it..... why would they sign Eddie with that big money in the first place? same goes with Brian Grant.....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shinji3c:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont get it..... why would they sign Eddie with that big money in the first place? same goes with Brian Grant.....</div> Eddie is definitely worth the money, however Brian Grant certainly is not.
i disagree. eddie jones is paid in the range to be one of the top guards in the east but he's not. he disappears a lot in critical junctures of games, how many games do we lose in the fourth quarter? grant is overpaid but imo is a much more valuable asset to the team that jones is. he hustles and does a lot of little things. he can score more but has been playing out of position since zo went down. and jones has greater trade value. with wade playing sg and a decent point to share the minutes with alston, i won't miss jones if they get a true center in return and grant moves to pf. i believe jones is restricted free agent in 04-05 so now may be a good time to move him to a team that wants to free cap space in a year or so. package him with some of the dead wood, walker, et al. i'm not comfortable with riley in the gm position, that's where he did poorly. mourning or no mourning, there were silly contracts and missteps (remember ac carter and how lucky riley was that he forgot to option that bloated contract of his). he just doesn't like rebuilding. mortgage schmortgage, new york is a much better team right now. riley can say whatever he wants but the fact is that he didn't do what isaiah just did. i know he's going to deal caron, just watch.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shinji3c:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont get it..... why would they sign Eddie with that big money in the first place? same goes with Brian Grant.....</div> the reason is at that point they were coming of big seasons, especially grant, no one else was available, and that was the kind of money it took to sign them. it's basic offer and demand.
hmm....big season... Jones averaged 20.0 ppg a year before he signed with Mia and i dont think that 20.0 ppg is worth 12 million a year. I agree that Grant is more asset to the team and in fact i'm a fan of Grant and wants him to stay. He sacrifices individual stats for the team and i think that's very nice thing to do as a team player. But like they say, this is business you know...Money matters in this league.
btw who do u guys think the Heat will be interested in getting in return? Let's say they do trade Eddie Jones and some bench warmers
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shinji3c:</div><div class="quote_post">hmm....big season... Jones averaged 20.0 ppg a year before he signed with Mia and i dont think that 20.0 ppg is worth 12 million a year. I agree that Grant is more asset to the team and in fact i'm a fan of Grant and wants him to stay. He sacrifices individual stats for the team and i think that's very nice thing to do as a team player. But like they say, this is business you know...Money matters in this league.</div> other players have got that much money for 20 ppg... remember that at that point the heat was looking for a second scoring option behind mourning because hardaway was coming down with injuries and mashburn was stinkin' the place up... everybody was frustrated after losing to the knicks for two years in a row... yes, it's a lot of money but there were two other teams bidding at that level for him... at the time jones and grant seemed so much better than pj brown and mashburn. of course, what do you know, mash goes to charlotte and becomes a stud and mourning goes down so grant has to play out of position at center.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shinji3c:</div><div class="quote_post">btw who do u guys think the Heat will be interested in getting in return? Let's say they do trade Eddie Jones and some bench warmers</div> i think our biggest need is at PG so that wade can move to SG. either to the jazz for carlos arroyo (they have felipe lopez) and keon clark, plus change to make the numbers work. or package w/ loren woods to the nuggets for andre miller (since earl boykins is playing so well), francisco elson and pick. that will fill needs for both teams. i haven't checked the numbers, so may not be accurate. but i'll love to have miller with skip at pg and free wade to score.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cubanballer:</div><div class="quote_post">the reason is at that point they were coming of big seasons, especially grant, no one else was available, and that was the kind of money it took to sign them. it's basic offer and demand.</div> He's like McDyess, he'll lose out on his strength real soon. Eddie Jones isn't as fast as he use to be, especially his hands, he was the best stealer on the team. At least Caron Butler is putting up good numbers for you guys. I say go ahead with the trade, the heat need some serious mixes of defensive and offensive players.
Caron needs to gain his old form so they can fill the void if Eddie is traded. You can't ignore size in east....i hope they get a real center....someone taller than 6'10. So future center/grant/odom/c.Butler/wade and alston, haslem coming bench will make them a solid team i think.....
Oh well, I check the standings every so often, and I checked the final playoff spot, and to my surprise, Miami is only 2 games back. Plus with Philly, and Boston falling fast, and New York climbing, you might be able to grab the 8 spot.
Miami is right in the thick of the playoff hunt. They need to get rid of a SG, IMO. Try to get a big man. Maybe Caron Butler could be good trade bait after the potential of his rookie season, even though he's struggling and has had injuries this season. Maybe Eddie Jones for Theo, possibly? Of course there would ahve to be fillers, but that would be the main core.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cubanballer:</div><div class="quote_post">i think our biggest need is at PG so that wade can move to SG. either to the jazz for carlos arroyo (they have felipe lopez) and keon clark, plus change to make the numbers work. or package w/ loren woods to the nuggets for andre miller (since earl boykins is playing so well), francisco elson and pick. that will fill needs for both teams. i haven't checked the numbers, so may not be accurate. but i'll love to have miller with skip at pg and free wade to score.</div> No way Denver takes a trade like that...They wouldn't even take jones for Miller straight up, let alone a pick and another player...Boykins isn't able to start because of his defensive liabilities... btw, felipe lopez has been out of the league for years, and i don't think he was ever a jazz anyways
