When Zo comes back next year they would have the best starting five in the league. PG: Strickland SG: Jones SF: Mason PF: Grant C: Mourning Tim Hardaway is getting too old for that team but they would dominate the East with a big lineup like that. Teams would be hard pressed to score 80 points against all of the defense they could put together out there. ------------------ "We messed with the Bull, and we got the horns." -- Larry Brown "quote" from AirBullard.com
That's a good point. I never really thought of Miami as a possible destination for him. And, with the starting five they've already got there (WHEN they're healthy), that would be a DAMN menacing team. ------------------ Jazzkiller
Do you know that they didn't? Did Portland sign him off waivers or did he clear waivers? If he cleared waivers it was more or less his decision. ------------------
I thought about the same thing Strickland would have been great for them even this season. If he did not clear waiver didn't he have to goto the team with the worse record? BSIDES I think Jordan released him to get a favor from Faulk later Rocket River ------------------
When you are placed on waivers the team with the worst record has the opportunity to pick you up first. If you clear waivers you are a free agent and can sign anywhere you choose. If you are picked up via waivers it is a bigger salary cap hit then if you clear them. Most (if not all) expensive veteran players will clear waivers (as Hakeem would have) due to the salary and salary cap hit the team claiming them would take. ------------------
Even if Miami had the chance to get Strick, I'm not sure they would have gone for him. He clearly doesn't fit the criteria for a Riley player. Rod is not known to be a hard-working, punctual, committed practice player, and that would surely not have fit in with Riley and the Heat, no matter how "good" the starting 5 would look on paper. And while T.Hardaway is broken down and A.Carter inexperienced, they're getting the job done. Personally, I think it was a good no-move for the Heat. They should have, however, made a move for a cheap yet solid big man before the deadline. Azim da Dream ------------------ There's a very fine line between genius and madness. http://www.clutchtown.com