Poe

I liked what I saw on both ends of the floor. It was fun watching the Heat play so efficiently and pouring on the points from the get-go, but considering the competition they were facing... meh. I want to see the Heat win the rest of their games this month. Wade has picked up his shooting percentage, and Beasley is beginning to show consistency scoring at least 20 and grabbing at least 7 rebounds in the past 5 or so games. Everyone else is starting to get a consistent role with Spoelstra giving a consistent rotation. The last 7 games this month will include tough home courts in Charlotte and Toronto, and the best conference team with Cleveland. The rest of the teams the Heat will face are below .500. I think with the way things are now, with everyone knowing their role out there, the Heat should be able to pull off an 8 game winning streak to end this month. Let's just hope it happens.

The better individual overall player now is Hinrich, though Gordon is younger and has a greater upside.

Cause he either won't do it unless he gets payed millions, wants to be a drama queen and show up at the last minute, is afraid that his lack of creativity will be exposed, or is simply too much of a [expletive] to actually enter.

When the Grizzlies signed Randolph and Iverson, I thought they were going to have a disastrous season for sure. The Iverson deal didn't turn out the way they hoped, but at least they were able to get him off their shoulders. Randolph, on the other hand, has been a huge surprise. It turns out him and Gasol make a monstrous rebounding duo, and both have proven to score with efficiency. If Randolph keeps up his changed mindset, this team could go places.

What I was saying about bringing Bosh is that it mismatches the Heat. Whether you put Bosh at 5 or Beasley at 3, it's going to give the Heat a lot of trouble defensively, especially against the top teams in the league. Sure, if the Heat get Bosh, they'll probably have a great regular season record, but come playoff time, the defensive mismatches will come back to haunt them for a possible second or third round upset against a team that would exploit the lack of size. Camby might be a good option for center, especially since he won't command too much money at this point in his career and if the Heat are in position to go for the championship. I wouldn't mind Przybilla or Wallace, either. Chandler would be a great pick up if the Heat can afford him, which they would if they could grab T-Mac for cheap (if Bron or JJ isn't available, of course). @SRV, I'm still unsure whether Chalmers will be fit to start by next year. I think he does have an upside, and Riles and Spoe have high hopes for him.. I guess it's sort of a wait-and-see sort of thing. If he isn't starter-ready by then, then I think Blake would be a great pick up. No way is he staying in Portland with Miller and Bayless, and he's bros with Haslem.

Possible key available Free Agents that the Heat should be looking at: Considering all of this, Wade is a lock to stay if the Heat can keep him. The Heat already have a franchise power forward in Michael Beasley, who I personally believe the Heat should be looking to develop primarily at the power forward position. The gaps to fill this offseason is the 1, 3, and 5. Although getting a talent at the level of Bosh or Boozer would be great, I think the Heat need to be considering match ups when envisioning a championship team. With Beasley occupying the PF position, that would force Bosh to play center, which isn't the best match up considering playing against teams like the Magic with Dwight Howard, the Lakers with Andrew Bynum, or the Celtics with Kendrick Perkins. If the Heat moved Beasley to the SF position and acquire Bosh or Boozer, or even Lee, Beasley would be forced to guard guys like LeBron James... which would be a complete disaster for the Heat. If Wade is locked at the 2 and Beasley at the 4, and considering the fact that there are no all star caliber 1s or 5s, I think an All Star SF is the #1 priority. Any of the above guys would do for me, maybe to the exception of Richard Jefferson. Rudy Gay's offensive game is expanding, T-Mac is still a prolific scorer and playmaker IMO, and James and JJ are... well.. you know. Let's say the Heat do grab one of the big time wings, with 3 20-30 ppg caliber scorers on the team, all the Heat will need is defensive-minded veterans. Steve Blake, who I think was a friend of Haslem's in high school, looks like he would be a great fit to me. He's got range, has a great assist/TO ratio, he isn't ball-dominant, and he's very underrated defensively. And to occupy the starting center position, any of the above centers would do for me. Just anyone who can be a force down low. For the bench line up, the Heat should try to keep who they have. Chalmers - Wright - Haslem - Joel. If Chalmers, Wright, and Joel continue to develop, that should be a solid enough bench squad to compliment a championship caliber starting line up. So there you go. There's a thought out response to free agency. Maybe I'll make an account on bleacherreport, expand on the Heat's free agent needs, and type up an article about this sometime, since FA talk is so big around the league.

If the Heat have a chance to pair the two of the top 3 players in the world on the same team.... well, I think you know the answer.

Just based off of what I hear and read: - Wade has absolutely "no help" - Iverson would have actually been a good pick up. - Beasley is underachieving. - Wright "sucks", is a "garbage" player, is a "scrub". - Q-Rich is a bad defender. - Alston was a useless signing. - The Heat have "no bench" (Chalmers, Wright, and Haslem, anyone? Anthony ain't bad, either.)

They should add in one of the NBA's greatest athletes ever.... Steve Nash.

I look forward to seeing Wallace and Shannon. I would actually like to see LeBron enter and see what tricks he pull off, though I'm no fan of his showboating. The fact that he's been so indecisive is just showing that he's trying to draw attention to himself. He'll probably show up last minute like Real said to increase the excitement level and basically guarantee his chances own of winning... doesn't leave much room left to respect him for.

So Kobe... is in the NBA, making millions of dollars, already has a few championships... Yep. Definitely sounds like hell. Big time.

Any shoe that fits on my foot that I can run in.

Imagine having both. Alston - Wade - Granger - Beasley - Jefferson *drools*

I'd still prefer seeing K-Mart off the bench. He'd bring continuity to their offense, instead of packing all the offensive weapons into the starting line up and leaving the bench with virtually nothing. Like you said, the Raptors' wing rotation hasn't been looking good. K-Mart off the bench could be ideal, and leave DeMar in the starting group for his defensive effort plus developmental purposes. AFAIK, Caron is a guy who needs the ball in his hands to be affective offensively, just like Hedo. I really don't think Caron would be a good fit at all, starting or not.

Not hard to see coming. The only reason PFG/Clutch/whatever came here and did that hastily-made apology topic was because he was recently banned from BTA, the site he had gone to after being banned from here... Looks like he'll just have to find something else to occupy his time.

IMO, the Raptors aren't in need of a wing player. They have Hedo, and a developing DeRozan. They aren't in need of a big man either, with Bosh as their franchise PF and Bargs' defensive game showing signs of improvement, plus Reggie Evens soon to return who will bring some energy and defense off the bench. If there is anything the Raptors need is a defensive-minded, non-ball-dominant point guard. If the Raptors are planning on an upgrade to their wing position, a Terry/Manu-like scorer off the bench would be their biggest benefit. Caron isn't equipped to being a scoring sixth man, but I think I can see that role for K-Mart. Neither should start cause it might slow down DeMar's growth. Still, if the Raptors are to make any moves, it should be to strengthen their weaker areas. More defense at the point position, get more out of their starting center defensively, and maybe add a scoring sixth man at the wing as an extra. In a perfect world, the Raptors will somehow get rid of Calderon and replace him with Hinrich, moving Jack to coming off the bench. They'll get Martin as a scoring punch off the bench while still keeping their key players, Evens will increase the energy defensively when he gets back, and Bargnani will become an above average defender. Edit: To answer the question directly, I'd pick Kevin Martin, but only as a sixth man. I'd prefer the starting line up as is rather than add either of them.

Odd timing on the suspension.

It sounds like it's draft picks. The Heat need to get under the luxury tax, so people think Dorell is an ideal contract to get rid of.... when Jones is taking up more money and hasn't gotten a lick of playing time this year. Anyway, I have no reason to believe the Heat have any intention of getting rid of Wright, unless I hear it from the man himself, Pat Riley.

He would fit. A guy who can play 1-4 can fit anywhere. The Heat won't trade him, though.

A more legit thread would be to compare all, or at least a few of, the actual Lakers teams who have won a championship in NBA history, and then ask which would win a 7 gamer. Anyway, in haste I'll say team two.

Damn thunder outside is making my satellite lose signal. Kind of ironic, though...

Arenas is a good player on the court and all, but not a good fit for Orlando. They would have to completely change their gameplan for him.