2006/07 Miami Heat Payroll: $58.9 million2006/07 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $52 millionRoughly: $6.9 million over cap The Good: Shaquille O'Neal's new contract, while long and expensive for a player on the decline, is much better for the team than his previous one. At $20 million per year for the next four seasons, the Heat will have a little more cash to work with than they would with his previous price of $30 million. Plus, this is Shaq we're talking about. As I said last year, no matter the price, Shaq is worth every penny.The fact that Dwyane Wade will only be paid $3.8 million next season is ridiculous. Players like Wade and LeBron aren't supposed to be among the top five players in the league this quickly. Dwyane will be enjoying a max deal after next year, but for now, the Heat can enjoy the cash savings.The Heat were able to resign Udonis Haslem to a decent contract. Haslem is a key role player for this team and its second leading rebounder at 7.8 per game. He shoots 50% from the field and provides an athletic presence on the front court. Haslem's contract averages just over $6 million per season the next four years.Before going down with a calf injury, Alonzo Mourning was really the heart of this team. His inspired play off the bench, and during Shaq's absence, helped the team play hard and cohesively. Zo was only paid $1.1 million this season and is currently unsigned for next year. If Zo can get healthy and sign a similar contract for next year, the Heat would be getting excellent value out of him.The Bad: When the Heat traded for Jason Williams and Antoine Walker, they were hoping to add more star power to take some pressure off of Shaq and Wade and push the team into elite status. Instead of adding star power, the Heat merely added some bad contracts.Jason Williams has two more years at $8.25 and $8.9 million, respectively. That is a high price to pay for an injury-prone point guard who averaged just 12 points and 5 assists. If Jason can't stay healthy, the Heat can possibly use his expiring contract in a trade after next season.Antoine Walker has an even worse contract, which pays him $7.7, $8.5, and $9.3 million the next three years (the team has an option to add two more seasons for $10 million each). Toine is averaging less than 12 points a game, 5 rebounds (3 below his career average), and just 2 assists (another career low). Sure, Walker isn't the star on this team that he used to be on his other teams, but the Heat were hoping to have Walker in a triangle of superstars, not another role player contributing where he can. Antoine will have to step it up in the playoffs to earn his pay.Another player acquired last summer was James Posey. While he only has one year left on his contract, a player option that he will likely exercise, the Heat will have to pay him $6.3 million to basically do nothing. Posey is averaging only 7.2 points per game this season and is shooting just 40% from the field.The Future: Despite the sub-par play from their new additions, the Heat will win their division and be one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. For that, you can't call last summer's trade for Walker and Williams a failure. Not yet. If they can play just good enough to help Shaq and Wade get to the finals, then the trade will be well worth it, bad contracts and all.If the Heat don't make any major moves after next season, they will be forced to go well over the salary cap to sign Dwyane Wade to a max deal. If the Heat are winning and going deep into the playoffs, it shouldn't be a problem. If they don't, the team will have some interesting decisions to make. Superman and the Flash will always be there, but the supporting cast could change drastically if the current group cannot achieve positive results in the postseason.Bonus Points? for convincing Shaq to take less money. That alone will give the Heat the flexibility they need to make roster moves in the future. Of course, Shaq didn't have much choice if he wanted to continue playing with Wade after next season.Grade: B-http://nbadraft.net/2006stateofthecapmiami001.asp
Agree with most,I think we should keep Jason Williams and trade Antoine Walker and sign someone like Ruben Patterson or Bonzi Wells to help the much needed perimeter defense.They should also get rid of James Posey along with Walker,he doesn't fit in this system at all.
