NBA FanHouse

FanHouse's Interview with Dwyane Wade

Will Brinson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch, Miami, The Word

This morning, World Champion NBA guard and All-World charity machine Dwyane Wade took some time out of his busy day -- chillin' in the G2 lounge is hard work, people -- to answer some questions from FanHouse about blogging diarying, the Olympics, Mike Beasley, Supernintendo Chalmers, Zo's Summer Groove and his iPod.

Will Brinson: Dwyane, what's up, man? Good morning and thanks for taking time to chat with FanHouse.

Dwyane Wade: Good morning, Will. Thanks for having me on, man.

WB: For there not being any games on, the NBA is pretty hectic right now, and suddenly the East looks pretty tough, especially with yesterday's craziness. What are your thoughts on where the Heat stand for 2008-09 in terms of addressing needs at the draft and free agency to get back to where you guys were a few years ago?

DW: Well, we were very excited about the guys we picked up in the draft this year. You know Beasley has a chance to be special -- a great player -- and Chalmers is a guy that could shock a lot of people. I can't believe he even fell to the second round, to the 34th pick, so we're very, very excited about getting those two guys.

I think we approach free agency very cautiously as well. We have a couple names, a couple guys we're targeting. But it's all about putting the right pieces together, not about the big names every summer, it's about adding the right pieces to the team and Coach Riley has done a great job with that.

WB: Yeah, a few days ago you'd mentioned -- at your basketball camp I think -- that you wanted to be less involved with setting up the offense, and that you guys wanted to look for a guy who could "make plays". You think Mario Chalmers is that type of guy?

DW: Well, I think he can be. No question about it, he can be molded to be. But I think we need to put a veteran guard around him to really help him out and fast-track his progress.

It's kind of like when I came in, I played point guard out of college and they brought Bimbo Coles in, a veteran guy to really help me with that transition.

I think it was misunderstood though, I do want to handle the ball, no question about it, and I love having the ball in my hands, but I don't want to go back to my rookie year where I have to be the point guard and bring the ball up all the time. I want to be able to work on the wings and different areas of the court.

WB: Yeah, of course -- I didn't mean to imply that you didn't want the ball - I think everyone in Miami wants the ball in your hands. [Awkward laughter all around]

Alright, you're blogging these days, or diarying, or whatever they're referring to it at the Sun-Times...wanna tell us about that?

DW: Yeah, man. I think it's an unbelievable opportunity for our fans to hear some of the things that are going on behind the scenes from my point of view or from an Olympic point of view.

So I'm doing these diaries - I ain't gonna say blogs - on and off camera just trying to give them a little inside scoop behind the scenes following us on our road to redemption to the Gold Medal.

WB: Cool. I noticed you're, and I'm not sure if that's Sun-Times nounage (Ed. Note: It is so a word) or not, avoiding the term "blogging". Do you ever read other blogs out there or do you ever google yourself to see what rumors are floating around, just out of personal curiosity?

DW: Oh, no question. We all do. A lot of people, you know, look on different sites. Some people use if for motivation and some people just want to hear what's been said, whether it's been good or not.

If I read a blog, I probably read Gilbert [Arenas]'s blog, man, because you never know what that guy's gonna say. And I know he's one of the first ones, in terms of professional athletes, or NBA players, to start a blog. And so I...No question, in this world we live in today, gossip and rumors are a part of the world, so you've check out and see what's being said about not only you but others and go from there.

WB: Most definitely. I saw in your first diary the other day that you said LeBron is a real prankster on and off the court. That kind of contrasts with the corporate Nike image. Is he just that wide open in person when you get down to it?

DW: If you're around LeBron, you'll see, man, you know, he's not a serious guy unless he's on the court. When he's off the court, he's loud, he's funny, he makes everybody feel comfortable. He's not a guy who walks around like 'I'm LeBron James, I'm the next coming and don't mess with me.'

He walks around like he's a friend to everybody and to anybody. And you know, we enjoy that LeBron because we know he's going to be the one that says stuff that everyone is going to want to say, or start it off at least. And with him being one of my good friends, not only in the NBA but in life period, I enjoy him and his personality off the court.

WB: Well, your draft class, with you and Bosh and Melo and Bron it seems like you've got a pretty tight core group of guys. Is that a group you envision Team USA keeping together for the next few years?

DW: Well, you know, when you go through a summer with different people and you get to know them and things about them and get to know their familes, and going through this process of winning - and even sometimes through the process of losing - you we all gain these friendships and these long lasting relationships because you're kind of bonded at the hip. So I'm sure a lot of relationships will already come out; but the good thing is the relationships have already been established from the last 2-3 years with us all being a part of the Olympic team.

WB: Speaking of relationships, I notice you've been hanging out with Zo a lot these days. If I understand this right, you're on the inner circle of the Zo Summer Groove now? Is that right?

DW: Yessir, yessir. Me and Alonzo have teamed up to partner up in the ZSG and we're introducing me this year. And you know, it's really for both our foundations. I mean, I went to Alonzo and told him 'I really want to be a part of this, not for the fanfare, but because I want to do something for Miami and you wants to do something for Miami and so I think it would be better if we team up', and we're that much stronger for what we can do with our efforts.

So you know, we've teamed up this weekend and that kicks off really tomorrow with a golf event and ends Sunday with the All Star Game, and actually, my friends LeBron and Chris Paul and Caron Butler will come out and be a part of it. It's just going to be a great weekend, so you know right now I'm sitting in the G2 Lounge and as the commericials say, I'm "living the G2 life" right now.

I'm in here playing Wii bowling and pool and Alonzo's on his way in now so we can play against each other. And you know, it's all for our charities - Alonzo Mourning Charities, Dwyane Wade Foundation - it's all for a good cause.

WB: Well, hey, I've been watching the vids online at drinkG2.com, and I just gotta know, the G2 Lounge - I know you guys had one setup at the Super Bowl and had one set up at the All Star Game - is there a permanent G2 Lounge in Miami? Or is it always temporary?

DW: No, it's not permanent. They actually put this lounge up - I just came in to see it today - you walk in it looks like Miami, it feels like Miami, it's a calm demeanor in here. It's just real laid back; I got up at seven-something this morning and I'm still laid back, chillin'.

I got ESPN on one channel and we got tv's all over the place. Best Buy did a great job of coming in and hooking things up in here with Gatorade. You know, it all works out - G2 Lounge has been great everywhere they had it from the Super Bowl to the All Star Game and now in Miami.

WB: And obviously the bar is well stocked [DW: Well-stocked.] with low-carb, electrolyte replenishing goodness.

DW: Oh, no question, man. And I think one thing about G2 that's been catching onto people is that this is a drink not only for athletes but for anyone who has an active lifestyle. And it's not only low calories, but it's a hydrator. And it's been really catching on. I've seen so many more people drinking G2 and getting away from drinking so much Gatorade and Propel's and they've been adding G2 into the mix and I'm proud of that,being one of the faces of that drink, makes me feel good about the direction we're going in.

WB: Right on, right on. Random question on the way out: what's playing on Dwyane Wade's Ipod these days?

DW: On my Ipod? Well, I have 18,000 songs on my iPod [WB: Get out, man!] - yeah, so I'm able to play almost anything.

WB: Anything heavy in your rotation lately?

DW: Well, I think the main thing is I'm into the R&B/hip-hop culture and I know most of the guys, like Kanye from Chicago, I'm always rocking Kanye, you know, Jeezy from Atlanta, R. Kelly's from Chicago, Common's from Chicago, to name a few. So, I know all the guys and women that are big into R&B, so I'm fans of them and friends of them as well.

WB: Good deal. Well, look, Dwyane, on behalf of FanHouse and AOL, I want to thank you for taking the time out to talk to us this morning.

DW: Not a problem, not a problem. Thanks for having us on and worrying about and caring about our cause, we really appreciate it.

WB: Hey, absolutely, and don't work out up a sweat in the G2 lounge or anything.

DW: Haha. Don't worry, I won't.

FanHouse's Interview with Dwyane Wade originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miami Extends Offer to Jones, Already Wants to Give Chalmers a Raise

Matt Watson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:59:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Rumors, Miami

As currently constructed, the Heat don't have a whole lot of room under the salary cap, but they may be able to fill a glaring need for outside shooting by inking James Jones, who hit 43.7% of his shots from long distance last year for the Trail Blazers. From Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

With the free-agent signing period to commence at midnight, a five-year offer has been extended to Jones, starting at $4 million for next season. The final three years of the contract would be conditional, to protect the Heat for the 2010 free-agency period.

Jones has yet to commit, but working in the team's favor is the fact that he'd be returning home -- he was born and raised in Miami and spent four years at the University of Miami before being drafted. Winderman doesn't offer up any other info about the last three conditional seasons, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict those will be team option years.

It's unclear what his arrival would mean for the rest of the roster -- certainly Dorrel Wright and Daequan Cook can't be thrilled -- but this team sorely missed having Jason Kapono and James Posey stretch the defense last year. (It also "sorely missed" having anyone stay healthy for longer than five games at a time, but that's beside the point.)

Also interesting is the news that the Heat will apparently use "part of its salary cap exemptions to sign second-round pick Mario Chalmers," which would allow them to sign him for more than the rookie minimum. With only two summer league games under his belt, he's already convinced the Heat he's the real deal, and it could be a sign that the early speculation of Chalmers starting for the Heat this year might come true. It's not often you see a second-round pick start as a rookie -- especially at the point guard position -- but Chalmers was widely regarded a as first-round-caliber talent before inexplicably falling on draft day.

Miami Extends Offer to Jones, Already Wants to Give Chalmers a Raise originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beasley's Dominance Punctuates First Day of Orlando Summer League

Matt Moore — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Bulls, Pacers, Heat, Magic, Eastern, Chicago, Indianapolis, Miami, Summer League, Oklahoma City

Hey, it's the first day. It's the Summer League. It was one game. The first game. Of the Summer League. It's a long week, a long season, a long career. And I'm going to doubt any of that makes Chicago fans that were paying attention to the first day of the NBA's Orlando Summer League feel better, or Miami fans feel worse about today's little exhibition.

Michael Beasley was, in a word, brilliant. 28 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block in 22 minutes. He could have been playing against D-Leaguers, the Harlem Globetrotters, or Mrs. Wormtail's second grade class, those are some slick numbers. That he did it against No.1 overall pick Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, in the midst of a 94-70 whupping made it all the more emphatic. The Heat dominated this game, even as Chicago started Rose, Joakim Noah, and Tyrus Thomas, who you may recognize as starters and heavy rotation guys. Not exactly a pretty start, even if its easy to brush off, given the absurd context of the Magic's practice facility in a meaningless exhibition in which D-League MVP Kasib Powell scored 15 and Keith Langford and Demetris Nichols led the Bulls. Beasley's game was in full effect today, as he worked his mid-range, long-range, post-work, and driving abilities. In a league that's meant to be used as a scrimmage clinic, Beasley put on one.

In the first game of the day, Russell Westbrook debuted for the Oklahoma Whatchamacallits (name to be decided later), with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Sophomore Jeff Green added 21 points, but in the end the Indiana Pacers squad was victorious behind Andre Emmett's 15, and Earl Calloway's 16 points, 7 assists. Westbrook was the star of the game, though. Not only did he direct the offense and display both aggressiveness and restraint when it was called for, he only accumulated 1 turnover in 30 minutes, which is great for a rookie point guard (like, oh, say, Derrick Rose who had 5 turnovers. But who's counting?).

In the nightcap, the New Jersey Nets used a whole lot of resentment by Brook Lopez who dropped in the draft, to Chris Douglas Roberts who plummeted to the second round, to Jaycee Carroll, who fell out of the draft completely, to dominate the host Orlando Magic. Lopez had 10 points, CDR had 15 points and 5 boards, and Jaycee Carroll, out of Utah State, had 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. In 20 minutes. Jeez. For the Magic, rookie Courtney Lee had 13 points and Derrick Byars had 15. But the Nets slaughtered the Magic in the paint, 40-18. That's kind of a lot, especially for a Magic squad that had a significant size advantage it would seem.

The story of the day,though, was obviously Rose vs. Beasley. And while Beasley was busy getting his, Rose was having severe issues with Heat second round pick Mario Chalmers. Chalmers has been outspoken about his intentions to get significant minutes for the point guard deficient Heat, and today he made a pretty strong case. Chalmers had 11 points and 6 rebounds for the Heat, and did a great job of guarding Rose. It's only one day, and Rose did show flashes of offensive brilliance, driving to the basket in the second half, but overall it was a little disappointment after all the hype. For Michael Beasley, it was just another fun day at the office.

Beasley's Dominance Punctuates First Day of Orlando Summer League originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dwyane Wade Realizes the Need for Help, Wants a Point Guard

Matt Moore — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, Miami

Dwyane Wade has seen his career evolve to a constant state of duplicity. There are always mirror images of status as a superstar. For example, he's simultaneously a fearless aggressor who has an uncanny ability to get to the rim, and attacks with such determination he's almost impossible to stop, even if you foul him. On the other, he winds up spending more time on his back than that chick I dated in college whose nickname I later found out was "Easy McGee." On one hand, he's a spectacular combo guard who's best when he's creating something off the dribble, using his quickness and athleticism to create separation. On the other, he can be a turnover machine when he's in charge of getting the ball up the floor. Last season was a microcosm of those problems, as he missed a substantial time due to a variety of injuries, but still didn't shut it down until late in the season (Pat Riley, I'm raising an eyebrow at you), and his turnovers were at an all-time high.

It looks like Wade has turned a corner of sorts, though. In a recent report by Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun-Sentinel, Wade indicated that he would welcome help at the point position.

"Do I want to set up the offense every time? No, I don't want to do that," he said, as his basketball camp wound down at Florida International University. "I would love to get somebody else in that can handle the ball, as well, at times, and make plays."

So what exactly does this mean, given the scarcity of the free agent market?It's unlikely that Wade's going to get much help this season. As you may have heard, Baron Davis is a Clipper. Monta Ellis is probably not going anywhere. The options after that are pretty slim pickings. You've got Tyronn Lue, but it looks like he's shopping for a contender. Stephon Marbury might become available ... but ... um ... oh, let's go ahead and say it. Heat fans would rather throw themselves off of a pier, preferably a very tall one.

So more than likely, the Heat are looking at a series of stop-gaps or shopping for a trade, which is more likely. And then there's always rookie Mario Chalmers, who's no slouch, and could be a welcome surprise for the Heat. Still, the new position by Wade represents a step forward in his maturity as a player, and a willingness to not put too much on his shoulders. Wade is undoubtedly one of the league's premier players when he's in a system that facilitates his talents. Understanding that will get his career and his team back on track, even if the talent is not yet there.

Dwyane Wade Realizes the Need for Help, Wants a Point Guard originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Beasley Leaves His First NBA Practice With a Chest Injury

Matt Watson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:05:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Injuries, Miami

On Wednesday, Michael Beasley experienced his first official "welcome to the NBA" moment. A man amongst boys in college, Beasley lasted just 45 minutes into his first NBA practice before leaving with a chest injury:

Beasley was struck in the chest by an inadvertent elbow during a defensive drill about 45 minutes into Miami's first summer-league workout session Wednesday, and the No. 2 overall pick in last week's NBA draft was taken to a doctor for observation.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the move was strictly precautionary and should not affect Beasley's availability for Miami's five-games-in-five-days run through the Orlando summer league, which opens Monday.

"He took a shot to the chest," Spoelstra said. "He probably could have finished if it was the regular season or something like that, but we just wanted to be safe."

Spoelstra isn't sure who knocked Beasley out of commission, but I'm not surprised a meaningless workout in July got so "inadvertantly" physical. The summer league isn't a bunch of veterans who know how to pace themselves; no, it's mostly a bunch of over-eager youngsters and journeymen trying to catch a coach's eye -- and what can be more impressive than out-working the No. 2 pick? Yeah, it's fine line -- actually knocking the golden boy out of commission won't earn anyone bonus points with the coaching staff -- but Beasley still went from being the big man on campus to a marked man overnight.

Michael Beasley Leaves His First NBA Practice With a Chest Injury originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chalmers Falls to #34, Might Become Miami's Opening Day Starting PG

Tom Ziller — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:04:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Timberwolves, NBA Draft, Miami

Some legitimate draft boards had Mario Chalmers as high as #12 earlier this week. Instead, the Jayhawk product fell all the way into the second round, slipping to Minnesota at #34. The Wolves promptly swapped Chalmers for two Miami second-rounders ... and hey, isn't Chalmers the best point guard on the Heat roster as of today?

With Miami taking Michael Beasley with the #2 pick, they have a desperate need at the point. Jason Williams is a free agent and didn't play well at all last season. Chris Quinn is not the answer. Neither is Blake Ahearn. Chalmers, though, projects to be a contributor, a Mike Bibby style shoot-first fellow.

Miami could use Shawn Marion or Udonis Haslem to get themselves a point guard on the trade market -- Kirk Hinrich, Luke Ridnour, and maybe Raymond Felton are some guys who should be available -- but there are no guarantees. Chalmers finding himself fall into Adam Silver's domain could turn up roses. Having Dwyane Wade and Beasley to run with isn't going to hurt.

Chalmers Falls to #34, Might Become Miami's Opening Day Starting PG originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beasley Wants You to Smile More, America

Tom Ziller — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:12:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, NBA Draft, Miami

As we count down to the moment when, apparently, Pat Riley snubs the guy who just put up the greatest college season in two decades ... as a freshman, said "bad seed" -- Michael Beasley -- unleashes a torrent of philosophy on the assembled media in NYC. From the Miami Herald's Sarah Rothschild and/or Michael Wallace:

On whether he needs to change and what he says to people who say he should mature: "Why change? I think they need to smile more."

Yes, people: smile more. I really can't believe Riley could leave this guy on the board if he doesn't find the right trade, just because he apparently has a personality. (No offense to the shy, demure, or straight-laced draft prospects. I just happen to think this sort of character-fearing is bad form.)

There's a question (that Shoals of Free Darko hints at) of whether this is all a bit of a Gilbert-induced act from Beasley, whether he really contains the function to shut up but has refused it for trifling pleasure or sincere plans to be different than his friend Kevin Durant. I think there's a middle ground; a little "Remedios the Beauty" in there: in his apparent youthful carelessness, he's more lucid than all the rest.

Beasley Wants You to Smile More, America originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Will Memphis Give Up to Get Beasley?

Tom Ziller — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:56:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Grizzlies, NBA Draft, NBA Rumors, Miami

The hot rumor all over Memphis, apparently, isn't that David Lee rubbish. Michael Beasley's the new objet de la coeur for the Grizzlies, who -- according to numerous reports -- are trying to figure out how cheaply they can get him from Miami. Chris Herrington of the Memphis Flyer adds two and two:

Over the past couple of days, I've heard from three different team-connected sources that something may be happening with Beasley. Mind you, these are all people without direct connection to any potential negotiations and no-one has quite the same tale to tell: One source says Mike Conley is included but not the #5 pick, another says Mike Miller is included but not Conley, and the third didn't have any particulars but had the sense that something is afoot involving Beasley. I don't put much stock into any of these tips individually, but, collectively, it's clear that there's a lot of scuttle about a potential Beasley deal surrounding the team.

ESPN's Chad Ford pushed the Conley version Tuesday, but this morning both the Miami Herald and the Memphis Commercial-Appeal indicate Conley is off the table.

Obviously, the previously rumored Kyle Lowry-Miller-#5 package -- even with Mark Blount coming back -- would be a stellar swap for Memphis. Miami isn't likely to get a better offer, and if they land Brook Lopez at #5, they could be getting 3/5ths of their 2008-09 starting lineup in the deal. But this is Michael Beasley. I'd reject the deal. But unlike Pat Riley, I'm not all that worried about the kid's future.

What Will Memphis Give Up to Get Beasley? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Columnists Should Not Tell Dwyane Wade What He Should or Should Not Do

Tom Ziller — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:47:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, NBA Media Watch, Miami, USA Basketball, FIBA, Beijing, USA, Americas

Greg Stoda's Palm Beach Post column headlined "Dwyane Wade Should Not Play in the Olympics" would seem quaint were it not so cynical and headstrong (via TrueHoop). In the piece, Stoda argues that Wade is being selfish for rejoining U.S.A. Basketball this summer, insisting the real motives for his play in Beijing are marketing cash and pride of self. And from the get-go, Stoda tells Wade (bluntly) to decline Jerry Colangelo's invitation.

Color me liberal, but don't you think we ought to let Wade make this decision? The thought of deferring to corporate employer over nation and self is extraordinarily silly; it's Wade's offseason, and so long as his employer has agreed to let him go play basketball and he is healthy enough to do so, why shouldn't he? Why is it assumed -- just because Mickey Arison pays him $14 million a year -- that anything Wade does should be done with Miami on his mind? Wade, of course, performs his end of the bargain during the NBA season.

Yes, he was injured last season. But it was the Heat who -- mired in embarrassing depths -- shut Wade down early. (The team also shut down Udonis Haslem and Shawn Marion, who did not appear a fraction as injured as Wade, and Pat Riley trotted out a parade of D-Leaguers as the losses piled. Go figure.) If Wade is comfortable with his physical condition, and the team is comfortable with his physical condition, there should be no issue.

In spite of this, Stoda goes out of his way to indicate the Heat secretly hate that Wade's going to Beijing, that Wade cares more about promoting "The Wade Corp." than winning gold for the United States, and to generally diminish any sort of patriotism Wade has shown in previous media interviews. Basically, Stoda thinks Wade is a selfish liar, and Stoda thinks he (a columnist for a daily newspaper) knows what's best for a wealthy, 26-year-old man near the top of his profession. Anyone else have a problem with this?

Columnists Should Not Tell Dwyane Wade What He Should or Should Not Do originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Might Marion Stay in Miami?

Tom Ziller — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:40:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, NBA Draft, NBA Rumors, Miami

The most question-heavy subplot of the Shaq-Shawn Marion trade last February -- beyond what the Hades is Steve Kerr thinking?! -- was whether Matrix would be greeted in Miami with chocolates and flowers, or whether he'd be viewed as a salary cap liberator who would ply his expensive trade elsewhere in 2008-09. That question, for the past four months, has gotten further and further from explanation. The #2 pick in a draft in which the #2 pick is a potential franchise power forward tends to complicate things.

But Marion signing a multi-year deal to stay with the Heat seems more plausible than ever, based on a report from Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald.

Shawn Marion and the Miami Heat plan to resume negotiations this weekend on a possible extension. [...] The Heat and Marion had been in off-and-on negotiations for nearly a month. Riley had said the process was ''productive'' as recently as three weeks ago. But there appears to be a gap between the sides, and talks might have broken down recently.

Tuesday is the day Marion decides whether to opt out. You'd assume any contract extension would include Marion shrinking his 2008-09 salary (almost $18 million, egads!) while offering a bit of longer term security. Based on the numbers Wallace tosses out, Marion seems to want a three-year, $40-45 million deal. Miami seems to be looking at $30 million. That's a huge difference, and maybe not one which can be settled in the sort of protracted negotiations the sides can afford between today and Tuesday ... especially considering the whole little draft thing going on this week.

If they don't reach a deal, and Marion doesn't opt out: he could be up for grabs on Thursday night. The more trade chips available, the merrier.

Might Marion Stay in Miami? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Far Can the Heat Trade Down?

Tom Ziller — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, SuperSonics, Grizzlies, NBA Draft, NBA Rumors, Miami

Both the Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel discuss rumors the Heat could trade down in the lottery, as they don't seem entirely sweet on Michael Beasley. Strangely, both papers press Memphis at #5 as the best option, with some hefty contracts and Kyle Lowry predicted to change hands.

The real question is, for me: will O.J. Mayo still be around at #5? Word has been over the last few weeks that Mayo's the guy Pat Riley wants. If Derrick Rose and Beasley go 1-2, what does Minnesota do? Brook Lopez was the first-guess choice there, given the lack of an able center in Minneapolis. But Lopez has been said to be slipping. You wouldn't think Jerryd Bayless or Mayo would make sense there, given the presence of Randy Foye and Rashad McCants, both of whom Kevin McHale seems to believe in. Does Kevin Love actually go this high? Small forward's a huge need -- is Danilo Gallinari on option?

Seattle's less of a wildcard -- folks still suspect Bayless here, and I think the idea Sam Presti would trade down to pick up extra cheap assets is valid. Mayo seems rather unlikely to go to Seattle in any case, given Kevin Durant's padlock on shot attempts.

So there's the risk Miami would have to take if they, in fact, want to trade down to take O.J. Mayo. It seems likely he'd be around ... but if the move has been telegraphed this far in advance by two different papers, how hard would it be for someone like Presti to figure it out and throw a wrench to get himself another concession?

How Far Can the Heat Trade Down? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dwyane Wade to Chicago Rumors That Everyone Thought Were False Were False

Matt Moore — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Playoffs, Miami

A few days ago Dwyane Wade caught everyone a little off guard, talking about the possibility of a trade to Chicago. For a media and blogosphere that kind of, sort of love to make up absurd trade ideas, even we were shocked and caught off guard. So much so that Chad Ford for ESPN started bandying about the idea, weighing its merits.

Well, on Friday, Wade came out and put the rumors to bed, saying he had been told by Heat president Pat Riley he was not on the trading block.

Well that was fun while it lasted.

Part of me actually thinks it would be funny if Wade had started these rumors, whether to boost his public profile, try and escape the rebuilding process in Miami, or just to screw with the media. It didn't happen, of course, but what a great way to exert pressure on the Heat not to screw up this draft and keep his name in the papers. And hey, if Kevin Garnett can end up in Boston, and Pau Gasol can be traded for Kwame Brown, what couldn't happen?

The Dwyane Wade to Chicago Rumors That Everyone Thought Were False Were False originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alonzo Mourning Is Probably, Most Likely, Maybe Not Done Yet. Perhaps.

Matt Moore — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:19:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, Miami

When most fans think of Alonzo Mourning, one of the first words that comes to mind is "passionate." Mourning's game was always considered incomplete, though versatile. He was never able to establish himself as a dominant force, but was certainly one of the most influential players of the 90s. He was best known, though, for the outrageous amount of passion he has for the game. After suffering a severe knee injury to go along with that whole losing a kidney thing, it was expected that Mourning would hang up the laces this year. Especially with that ring on his finger after 06.

But apparently, he wants one more year on the hardwood. While his comments aren't an iron-lock either way (shocker), it at least indicates where Zo's head is at.

Mourning is 38 years old. Which is kind of a lot in the NBA. But he still feels that he can "contribute" and wants to try and give it another go, depending on how his body reacts. The question is whether Mourning's return helps or hinders Miami's rebuilding effort. Surely having a 38 year old with chronic injury issues is probably not the young and athletic direction they're searching for, but at least it provides veteran leadership, and possibly a role model for a young frontcourt that may get younger with the draft.

Mourning's return will almost certainly not help the Heat in terms of on-court play, but you have to at least admire a guy with his passion who's not only willing but eager to come back and help in any way, shape, or form.

Alonzo Mourning Is Probably, Most Likely, Maybe Not Done Yet. Perhaps. originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An Anecdote Indicating Pat Riley's Lack of Bemusement Regarding Beasley's Personality

Tom Ziller — Sat, 31 May 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, NBA Draft, NBA Gossip, Miami

Any fan of a team holding out some element of hope their team might be able to convince Miami to part ways with the #2 pick (and by extension the Michael Beasley which comes with it) should derive some measure of pleasure from this Ira Winderman South Florida Sun-Sentinel dispatch from Orlando (via TrueHoop):

Pat Riley was seated in the first row of the balcony Friday at the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports, so it was difficult to get close enough to hear if that grinding sound was the Heat president gnashing his teeth. Below, Michael Beasley was having fun, kidding around on a side court with a few wild shots while other draft prospects were fighting for their pro lives. [...]

And while Riley hates nothing more than people trying to read his emotions, it is difficult not to get this read: Michael Beasley is not Pat Riley's type of player. We're not talking skills here, just personality.

Earlier, we noted Beasley's brand of "character flaw" seems mostly harmless, though the concerns of folks hitching their apple wagon to his star can't be dismissed as unreasonable. That Riley would be a man especially suspect of Beasley's youthful joker's spirit isn't surprising. In fact, it is in retrospect amazing Riley and Shaq lasted so long.

An Anecdote Indicating Pat Riley's Lack of Bemusement Regarding Beasley's Personality originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 31 May 2008 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beasley's Refreshing (But Frightening) Honesty

Tom Ziller — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Heat, NBA Draft, Chicago, Miami

Via HoopsHype, the Miami Herald's Heat blog has some 'media day' quotes from top prospect Michael Beasley which simultaneously cause smiles and queasiness for anyone hopeful for his NBA future.

"I just turned 19 years old in January," Beasley said. "How mature do you want me to be? I'm still a kid. I'm not 20 yet. I'm not legal. I can vote, but that's about it. On the basketball side of things, I'm 30 years old. Off the court, I don't know how old y'all want me to be. Do you want me to act 25? 30? 40?. I'm 19. I'm a kid. I'm going to live my life. I'm going to mess up. I don't know as much as you do or him. I'm learning day by day. I hear a lot about character issues. But I've yet to hear what those character issues are. Until I hear somebody tell me, I don't feel the need to change."

The honest perspective -- these kids are kids, you know -- seems spot on. Not every elite prospect can be as businesslike as Kevin Durant or as camp as Greg Oden. Moreover, we shouldn't want them to be. Personality, even if it means the guy's a bit of a practical joker, shouldn't be a demerit.

At the same time, when you're spending a top-2 pick and about $20 million on a player, basically lashing your franchise to a single decision, you want some assurances the dude is serious about being serious. So yeah, Chicago or Miami would like you to act 25, 30 or 40 years old. And if you haven't heard what "those character issues" are, you should probably read the landmark Washington Post feature written about you in 2007, which has been cited 2,700 times since April. (In fairness, Beasley had an impeccable season at K-State and seems more goofball than future felon, for all the worry [guilty] he caused.)

Previously on FanHouse:
NBA Frankenstein: Michael Beasley

Beasley's Refreshing (But Frightening) Honesty originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 May 2008 10:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joey Dorsey Is Omniscient and All Up Inside John Paxson's Head

Will Brinson — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Heat, NBA Draft, NBA Gossip, NBA Media Watch, Chicago, Miami

NBA draft pundits/experts/whathaveyou's always have two schools of thought. One, who a team should take and two, who a team will take, given their draft position.

Joey Dorsey, on the other hand, doesn't mess around. He is just flat out letting everyone know what is going to happen. Because, apparently, he has some sort of inside source.

'Chicago's got a lot of pressure on them because Derrick's from Chicago,' Dorsey said. 'But they're going to take Beasley. I've got the inside. They're going to get Beasley. ... I'm not telling you how I know. You'll see June 26. I can't say any more.'

Dorsey might be right, but neither the Bulls or the Heat are willing to say so.

'I'm not going to get into any details on that,' Heat general manager Randy Pfund said when asked how Miami's work leading into the draft, including the scheduling of workouts with potential lottery picks, is going.

Clearly, Pfund is just pflustered by Dorsey's call out of the Bulls in the top slot.

Now, the bonus to Dorsey's gamble here is that he has a 50/50 shot, since no one else even enters the conversation. Unless of course Paxson slipped up and already told Derrick Rose they are not taking him and Rose told Dorsey, which I suppose, is actually plausible if you've followed the Bulls recently.

Joey Dorsey Is Omniscient and All Up Inside John Paxson's Head originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 May 2008 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford: Miami Not Interested in Michael Beasley

Matt Watson — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Heat, NBA Draft, NBA Rumors, Chicago, Miami

Is the draft really a two-man race like we've assumed? While most of the debate since Tuesday's lottery has centered on whether the Bulls should take Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, everyone seems to have taken for granted that the Heat would be content with whatever player falls to them at No. 2. Not so fast, says ESPN's Chad Ford.

After speaking with Bulls GM John Paxson as well as unnamed sources within the Heat organization, Ford is convinced both teams have Rose on top of their draft board ... and if the Bulls take Rose, the Heat might might opt for O.J. Mayo instead of Beasley:

I'm not sure why the Heat are shying away from Beasley, as he would be a good fit in Miami. But I see why Miami likes Mayo. While Rose is a pure point guard, his lack of a jump shot would make him a somewhat less than ideal fit alongside Wade. Yes, the Heat would have the most athletic backcourt in the league, but without much outside shooting.

Mayo, on the other hand, is an excellent shooter with deep range. He also has enough point guard skills to run a team like Miami, especially with Wade, a combo guard, also handling the ball a lot. Mayo's basketball IQ and age (he'll be 21 in November) also make him a little more NBA-ready than Rose right now.

Of course, if the Heat really want Mayo, they'd be foolish to simply draft him at No. 2. Instead, they'll probably solicit offers to move down, with the end result being getting the player they really want as well as an extra pick or a veteran to grease the deal.

Ford: Miami Not Interested in Michael Beasley originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 May 2008 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If Malevolent Basketball Gods Rule the Lottery

Tom Ziller — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, SuperSonics, Grizzlies, NBA Draft, Miami, Seattle

By theory, the NBA Draft Lottery (tonight at 7:30 p.m. Eastern) is left to randomness. But what if a set of malevolent Basketball Gods, hellbent on upsetting the Order of the League, driving the depressed into further hopelessness, and rewarding only those with misguided or evil intentions, dictated the results? (Note: These malevolent Basketball Gods were responsible for Robert Horry and the Shaq-Marion trade.) Close your eyes and imagine such a world ...

#1 Pick: Seattle SuperSonics. Clay Bennett's already been rewarded by the forces in receiving approval for his relocation to Oklahoma City. But Bennett hates Seattle, and if the Basketball Gods feel the same, they'd totally gift Bennett the choice of Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose to pair up with Kevin Durant as the wagon rides into the dark, dark night. Hell, maybe with the #1 pick in toe, the Sonics can have one final, wildly exciting season in Seattle, just to rub salt in Seattle's gash (which is, of course, in its back).

#2 Pick: Miami Heat. Let's set aside Pat Riley's well-documented relationship with Satan. (They're half-brothers.) Look at the team Riley sent onto the court in March and April! No offense to the D-League purists among us, but if Kasib Powell and Blake Ahearn are regularly starting games for you at this point, you deserve a little anti-karma on the tanking front. The Basketball Gods seem to reward Riley for all of his other transgressions (trading for Jason Williams and Antoine Walker at the same time, knifing a Van Gundy), so why not the most unabashed tanking south of Boston 2007 in modern NBA history?

#3 Pick: Memphis Grizzlies. FH bro Matt Moore pleaded Memphis's case, but no one can justify the hack job ~~Chris Wallace~~ Michael Heisley did in selling Pau Gasol to the lowest bidder. Flexibility is one thing. Unabashed frugality for the goal of selling the team is unadulterated sin. If Heisley gets rewarded by way of Rose, evil has won.

Join NBA FanHouse at 7 p.m. Eastern for a live blog of the lottery, hosted by Brett Edwards.

If Malevolent Basketball Gods Rule the Lottery originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dwyane Wade Will Do the Official Derrick Rose/Michael Beasley Happy Dance

Matt Moore — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:01:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Draft, Miami

Since Dwyane Wade hasn't been able to do anything relevant to the game of basketball for many months, he and the Heat figure he might as well act the part of the figurehead. Wade will represent the Miami Heat at the NBA Lottery next Tuesday, May 20th, during the televised announcement of the results on ESPN.

The Heat have 250 of the 1,000 viable 4-number combinations available in the official drawing, which is held two and a half hours before the televised announcement, making them the frontrunner for the #1 spot. It's important for Miami's season ticket drive that Wade maintains an active, positive role as the face of the franchise. This provides him an opportunity to show that he is committed to the future of the Heat, as he welcomes the probable opportunity to draft one of the two top players available in the draft, either one of which would help the Heat tremendously next season. Wade is currently recovering from (another) knee injury in Chicago, but feels he should be healthy enough to ~~martyr himself~~ play in the Olympic games this summer.

If the Heat manage to walk out with what is statistically probable for them, it could be the start of a new era in Miami. If the Heat somehow manage to fall out of the top two picks? It's not going to be good for that whole "Dwyane Wade is NOT cursed" sentiment.

Dwyane Wade Will Do the Official Derrick Rose/Michael Beasley Happy Dance originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 May 2008 03:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heat's Erik Spoelstra First Asian-American to Coach Major Pro Sports Team

Randy Kim — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Miami

Lost in the recent crush of stories about players partying (or not partying), coaches getting fired (or not fired), and legends having some serious skeletons in their closets (sorry Mailman, but there's no alternative scenario to bail you out here) was an interesting sidenote about new Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.

As it turns out, Spoelstra isn't just the youngest coach in the NBA right now, but he's also apparently the first Asian-American to crack the head-coaching ranks in any of the three major sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB). Wikipedia lists Spoelstra's mother as Filipino, and in a Sun-Sentinel story by Ira Winderman, the 39-year-old wunderkind refers to himself as "Dutch-Irish-Filipino."

The "first Asian-American pro coach" story angle was enthusiastically reported by the blog Rice Daddies, and their sense of pride is understandable. Prior to ex-Heat coach Pat Riley naming Spoelstra as his replacement, the only Asian-American of note in the NBA was former Heat guard Rex Walters ('93-'00), who is half-Japanese.

Asian-Americans could previously take a small sense of pride in Chinese imports like Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian succeeding in the NBA, but a big man making a pro roster just isn't the same as a skill player or a coach making it in the L. Like swine scrounging for truffles, NBA teams have historically been adept at sniffing out 7-footers from overseas (Uwe Blab and Frederic Weis come to mind). But the deck is at least slightly stacked against an outsider trying to make it as a point guard (just ask Tony Parker) or a coach, which is why, even though he's from the U.S., Spoelstra's hiring is a small breakthrough for Asian-American sports fans.

Heat's Erik Spoelstra First Asian-American to Coach Major Pro Sports Team originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 01 May 2008 17:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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