http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-mike-miller-s071520,0,2362927.story The logistics have fallen into place. Washington Wizards free-agent swingman Mike Miller is the latest newest member of the Miami Heat. A makeover that began with the re-signing of free-agent guard Dwyane Wade and the addition of Cleveland Cavaliers free-agent forward LeBron James and Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh, now has a shooting specialist to keep defenses honest. Miller confirmed the agreement Thursday on his Twitter page, posting, "It's official! Thanks to the Miami Heat Organization, Mr. Arison, Pat Riley, the fans and the players that made this happen!" By taking less than maximum salaries, Wade, James and Bosh opened the door for the Heat to also add Miller and Heat free-agent power forward Udonis Haslem with what remained of its league-high amount of salary-cap space. The Heat now can begin signing free agents to minimum-scale contracts, the only means it can exceed the salary cap for such agreements with outside players. Signings of Cavaliers free-agent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Portland Trail Blazers power forward Juwan Howard are expected to follow. Miller is expected to wind up with a five-year package in the $25 million to $30 million range. Miller was Haslem's University of Florida roommate and his signing was pushed by James. The space opened for Miller when the Minnesota Timberwolves finalized their acquisition of No. 2 overall 2008 first-round NBA Draft pick Michael Beasley. The Heat now also can re-sign center Joel Anthony, a restricted free agent who has spent the past three seasons in South Florida and is the only player from the 2009-10 Heat roster still with his Bird Rights. That mechanism will allow the Heat to exceed the league's soft salary cap to retain the shot-blocker. Beyond Howard and Ilgauskas, the Heat has been linked to several other minimum-scale prospects, a group that now could include defensive stopper Matt Barnes, the forward who was squeezed out by recent personnel moves by the Orlando Magic. Among names already floated with potential interest in the Heat are Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse, Eddie House, Keyon Dooling, Jason Williams, Kwame Brown and Rasual Butler, and that does not even include members of the 2009-10 Heat who could be called back for encores, such as James Jones, Carlos Arroyo and Jamaal Magloire. Jones, however, also is receiving a late push from the San Antonio Spurs. "We still have a lot of people that want to be a part of it that we can add," Wade said, "but we're just waiting to make sure we add the right people." Miller arrived Wednesday in South Florida and immediately hit the court at AmericanAirlines Arena. He departed Thursday due to an upcoming charity event he is hosting in Mississippi. In an interview with a Memphis radio station, Miller told WHBQ, "You're looking at three of the most dynamic players in the league. And you need to surround that with shooters. And hopefully I can go in there and do that for these guys. "I've never had an opportunity to really lace them up in June. This one gives me an opportunity." Even with Miller, the Heat still is somewhat lacking on the perimeter, which could lead to an encore by Butler. "There has been contact. I wouldn't say anything is imminent," agent Andy Miller said. "Miami is still on his list." The Heat, of course, is on a lot of lists, including that of former Heat guard Mike James, who played Wednesday in Wade's charity golf event at Doral. "Because of my matureness of the game and my wisdom of the game, I would be able to fit any situation, especially a situation like here in Miami," James said. Where others saw significant voids after the Heat put the overwhelming majority of its salary-cap space into three players, Wade sees coveted opportunities, minimum-scale roster spots that are drawing maximum interest. "I think our roster is filling up well," he said. "I think it's coming together better than people expected."
Hahaha. I seriously laughed out loud at this. The way the Heat are building their team is so much like a video game. This may be one of the first teams in sports history to be made up of 90% free agent signings from the same off-season. It will be a very interesting thing to watch... and hope they lose every game.
Them signing Jason Williams could be somewhat problematic. The 1 and the 5 are where the Heat are screwed and if they can plug those weaknesses I'd be a bit concerned.
So are there any more centers in the pipeline? I wouldn't feel good going to battle with big Z and Joel Anthony as my only centers.
I considered them but I'm not as familiar with baseball as, say, the NBA and NHL. Has there been a season where their team (anyone who played 20+ games) was 80% new signees? Either way I guess I should say "NBA history", not "sports history."
It probably won't matter. In crunchtime of any close game, the Heat will be playing Bosh and Haslem as their "bigs". Or they could go small, with Lebron at PF and Bosh/Haslem at C.
The only problem with the Yankee scenario, is that even when they were spending like mad in the early 2000s, they still didn't win. It wasn't until after they developed some homegrown talent to complement the FA signings did they win another Championship. It'll be interesting to see what these minimum vet contracts bring them though.. they gonna have enough legs left if/when they make it to the playoffs?
Adding minimum vets is exciting for them if they are getting players who are really worth more. I don't think there are a ton of those on that list. There are serviceable minimum vet type players, yes. But ultimately, they will have to rely on their big 3, hope to get enough from Chalmers/Haslem/Miller, get some contribution from minimum vets, and hope they are not seriously outmatched at the PG or C spots. I think it could all work for them.... BUT, some of their Eastern competition will include teams that are strong in areas that they are weak (Orlando, Chicago, Boston) and if they make it to the Finals, against the Lakers (if the Lakers make it), like pretty much every other team, they will be at a disadvantage from a size and length standpoint in the frontcourt. Which is why adding Bosh to Yao was compelling to Morey. Bosh + Yao..add in Scola, Hill, Patterson, etc. - that was a squad that int eh frontcourt could contend for a championship, if healthy. Still, you can't fault the Heat's strategy. There isn't a ton of good lenght out there available, and they did need good perimeter shooting, and Miller was available at the right price, so it's a good signing (the guy is a 41% CAREER three point shooter). Getting Haslem back is good. Keeping Anthony, though not a great player, is good for them. And the vet players they will have to attract from now on are what they are. The Heat will obviously be a very very good team.
"I'm old as ****, I probably can't play ball anymore, but I can sit on the bench in street clothes and cheer like a crazy mother ****er."
Am telling you, you'll are sleeping on Stephon Marbury he could probably teach the team how to eat vaseline
I never thought they would have problems filling out that roster with that core. They could sign Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker and win with that team. Surprised there is no mention of AI either, is he done (retired)?
Starters: Big Z Bosh Lebaby Miller Wade Bench: Haslem Howard T-Mac Francis Mike James Ex-Rockets bench :grin:
Joel Anthony is playoff quality back-up center. He was better than Jermaine O'neal during the playoffs.
This guy is not gonna help them. He plays a position where LBJ and Wade already occupy 40 + mpg. Bron can't play PF full time with the plethora of bigs there and Miller/Wade can't play PG defenensively.
