Ther heat are looking at power forwards according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. On Friday they auditioned Duke’s Carlos Boozer, Maryland’s Lonnie Baxter and Brazilian big man Maybyner Hilario. Whilke Boozer and Baxter are projected as late first round picks, Hilario may be available when the Heat pick at number ten. ''That group of power forwards -- Jared Jeffries, Hilario, Marcus Haislip, Amare Stoudemire -- is moving up,'' Heat general manager Randy Pfund said. ``Hilario moved up in our evaluation after seeing him in person.'' Stanford center Curtis Borchardt, another potential lottery pick, will work out for the Heat today. His stock is also rising because of a lack of true centers in the draft, Pfund said. Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel reports that the Heat have several options available to them to fill their small forward position. Pfund said Indiana forward Jared Jeffries has moved up in the estimation of some teams “right behind the first four,” with junior-college standout Qyntel Woods rounding out what is considered the top of the field at small forward. With Alonzo Mourning at center, Brian Grant at power forward and Eddie Jones at shooting guard under contract, and with free-agent point guard Rod Strickland giving indications he could return at the Heat’s price, small forward remains the team’s greatest unknown. Pfund said the staff already has identified trade options and free-agent possibilities at the position, with a wide-ranging list that goes all the way to low-end options such as former Heat forward Walt Williams.
The Heat have 3 players - Mourning, Grant and Jones - whose three contracts are nealy equal to the cap. Walt for the Vet exception seems like a good fit. I wish him well... 80 games a year.
Actually I agree that he was a bad fit for this team he is the type of player that needs to get in to the flow of the game. He never got going in Houston. But he showed some flashes. If we kept him I would not at all be disapointed, he is a much more viable option that Glen Rice.
go ahead they can have walt. We sure as hell don't need him...i'd be pissed if h town gave him another contract. grrrrrr .........
I am opposing most of ya'll, I think Walt would be exactly what we need off the bench. If we can re-sign him for the Vet's minimum I will be happy, but at this time, he isn't valuable enough for the Rocks to pay him more. However you must look at the Moochie situation as well, the guy has a huge contract for his role on the team. Without Walt and the chance at possibly dumping Rice, what veterans do we have? He'd also be good insurance incase TMo doesn't make it here. He is also mixes well with our group of guys on and off the court. I think Rudy may surprise you all with this one.
I'd be cool with keeping Walt at the minimum. Part of the problem though is roster space. Assuming we sign two first-round draft picks, we won't have any more room left on the roster for our own free agents. Of the players under contract, the only one I could see riding the injured list is Collier, even though I wouldn't want that for his sake.
If a real SF isn't acquired this offseason, I wouldn't mind having Wiz back for another year as insurance to Rice.
You know, I can't believe Malt hasn't been offered more NBA endorsement spots, what with all the "funkifying" the NBA is doing nowadays.
