Wow! Miami is now a major player in the FA market with as much as $11 million to spend. If I'm Carter, I'm firing, then suing my current agent. There's no way he'll get another contract that pays him $4.1 million this year. The irony, is that Miami had been trying to trade his contract away. Now, suddenly, it's gone. As for Miami, with a nucleus of Butler, Grant, & Jones to build around, $11 million will make them a serious contender in the East. Who will they pursue now? http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...04jul04,0,5824964.story?coll=sfla-sports-heat Carter's oversight may allow Heat to pursue major acquistions By Ira Winderman Staff Writer Posted July 4 2003 A shocking oversight by Anthony Carter suddenly has established the Heat as a major player in NBA free agency, one now with the salary-cap space to sign the likes of Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal or Gilbert Arenas. The staggering lapse by the veteran point guard effectively terminates the Heat's financial obligation and unexpectedly has it in position to spend as much as $11 million this summer on upgrades. Instead of settling on a mid-level acquisition to help reverse its slide to last season's 25-67 record, the Heat either can offer a maximum contract to a single All-Star or afford two mid-level free agents, such as P.J. Brown, Gary Payton, Brad Miller or Lamar Odom. Holding a player option on the third and final year of his contract for $4.1 million for the coming season, Carter merely had to inform the Heat by Monday's deadline that he would remain under contract. Astonishingly, that deadline was allowed to pass without any communication to the Heat by Carter or his representatives. As of the close of business Thursday there still had not been any contact between the parties. "Somebody just mentioned this to me," agent Bill Duffy said when contacted Thursday evening before abruptly ending the phone call. A call to Carter's South Florida home was answered and then hung up on. A return call was answered with a response that the guard had stepped out. The result is the Heat has eliminated one of its most significant salary-cap headaches. On the open market, Carter does not figure to merit more than the $688,679 NBA minimum this season for a player with four seasons of experience. The Heat had the opportunity to release Carter before the end of the season and challenge his right to therefore invoke his 2003-04 option. But coach Pat Riley said he did not believe such a gambit was ethical, nor could he be sure the maneuver would be allowed. Carter was signed to the three-year, $12 million contract July 19, 2001, after agreeing to play 2000-01 at a minimal wage as part of the Heat's restocking with Eddie Jones and Brian Grant. The option year was included at the end of the deal in case the statistics of the 6-foot-2 guard merited a raise after two seasons. But Carter shot a dismal 35.6 percent this season and was benched for 20 games. The wording of Carter's agreement stated he had to "opt in" for the third year of the contract by June 30. There is not believed to be any recourse in such a deadline situation. The Heat entered the July 1 start to free agency under the impression it could have as much as $7 million to spend on an additional player. At that figure, there was some thought the Heat would save the cap space, wait for Carter's contract to expire next summer, and then make its move on the open market. Instead, the Heat finds itself amid the heavy hitters in the league's offseason bidding derby. The only other teams in position to offer a maximum contract to a single player are the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz. However, Utah and Los Angeles would be removed from that group if the Clippers re-sign Elton Brand and the Jazz brings back Karl Malone. By being freed of its commitment to Carter, the Heat is in position to overhaul its alignment at point guard. Travis Best, last year's starter, is not expected back as a free agent. Mike James, who emerged at the top reserve at the position last season, is a free agent and is at the Indiana Pacers' summer camp. Eddie House, the undersized shooter who also has played point guard under Riley, was not extended a qualifying offer by Monday's deadline and is a free agent. It's possible he now could return with a roster spot no longer required for Carter.
Maybe there was no oversight and Anthony Carter opted out so that he could find a place on a team where he could get some playing time. Either way, If the heat can sign someone like Jermaine O'Neal or Jason Kidd they'll be as good if not better than anyone in the east.
........What's wrong with Carter? Depressed? Hmm...pretty dumb. Well...making $688,679 is still pretty darn good....just not as good as $4,000,000. Heat now have a chance!
How'd you like to be privy to the conversation that resulted after this info was released? I bet there was a lot of yelling going on & possibly some *ss whooping. "Somebody just mentioned this to me," agent Bill Duffy said when contacted Thursday evening before abruptly ending the phone call. A call to Carter's South Florida home was answered and then hung up on. A return call was answered with a response that the guard had stepped out.
LOL. Bill Duffy just became an ex-superagent. I hope that guy is insured... 4 million bucks is a commission on a lot of contracts these days. Congratulations to Miami. You know they have sat on that information quietly all summer...
Gotta think they are going to throw a max deal at Lamar Odom. The Heat have longed for him ever since he came into the league. A lineup of Wade, Jones, Butler, Odom, and Grant may not hold true to defined roles at the point guard and power forward positions, but it is a rather competitive starting five, especially in the East. Only problem is that Miami has little quality depth outside of Rasual Butler, and sometimes it can be just as hard to find quality depth as it can to nab a superstar. They have especially little at the point; in fact, having released Mike James, Eddie House, Travis Best, and now Carter, they have absolutely nothing.
Actually a lineup like that with four guards and a post man has become more and more common among highschool and college teams in the last few years. Opposing team's guards can be outmuscled and outsized while their big men will be outquicked. It's great when you've got 4 players all above 6'4 who can handle the ball.
People were somewhat baffled by the Heat picking up Wade, saying him and Eddie Jones play the same position. The Heat said they're going to play Wade at the 1. But do you think they'll go after Odom who plays the same position as Caron Butler? Then they'll have 2 players out of position. I think they'd be better suited to go after perhaps a true 1 and try to trade Eddie Jones or something along those lines.
I read this on ESPN Insider this morning. I was stunned! Amazing that the Heat out of nowhere are now major players! What is funny is they have ALL THAT cap money and are STILL paying Eddie Jones and Brian Grant ridiculous amounts of money! You have to wonder if the Heat will go STRONGLY after Lamar Odom (7 or 8 million), try to outbid the Clippers for him and then with whatever is left go after Kandiman or a PJ Brown/Juwon Howard type player. PG- Odom SG - Wade SF - Butler PF - Grant C - Kandi With those kind of moves the Heat could turn into contenders in the East. Also, with this new found money it will be interesting to see if the Heat now can try to resign Alonzo Mourning along with one other big FA. Before it looked like Zo was gone but now with the new found money they might have a better chance. I agree with the sentiments above that any moves the Heat make to bring talented people out of the West and into the East is fine by me!
Bill Duffy forgets to have Anthony Carter exercise his player option for $4 mil. Miami suddenly has $11 mil to sign a quality free agent. Bill Duffy's other client is Michael Olowokandi. Coincidence?
I was just hoping we can get in on some of that action. I wouldn't mind Odom or Brand on this team. But as long as the Clippers dont have them both either. Or any other Western Conference team. Hopefully Miami goes hard after Payton. If he and Malone go to LA then the 28 other teams might as well forfiet their season.
Anybody think something is amiss here. Agents and players and owners don't scew up. They make deals. It wouldn't suprise me at all if Carter is still getting paid under the table.
This wouldn't surprise me either. Miami did do that Juwan Howard scam in 96. Hopefully they get busted again.
An interesting, good piece of analysis regarding Miami cap situation and it's implication on their FA acquisition program and franchise future. I found it at other message board. Guy who wrote it seems having a good sense of CBA and pretty realistic aka non homer LINK
