Brian Windhorst over the Heat Index is reporting that
Mike Miller is being offered up as potential trade bait in the ongoing quest for a definitive answer at point guard and center. How might close friends LeBron James, who actively recruited him to come to Miami, and Udonis Haslem, his old college roommate, feel about this getting leaked out and the potential loss of a teammate who has yet to have some good luck this season and stay on the court for a significant amount of time?
No question that changes need to be made but there could also be some intriguing names out there in the coming weeks as trades and player transactions will free up vets who have been bought out. Because the Heat only need to add complimentary pieces (instead of what the Magic or Knicks felt compelled to do), they might be better off to be patient and rely on how attractive a free agent destination Miami is right now. There is little left on the roster that can be offered to other teams aside from Mario Chalmers and Joel Anthony.
According to multiple league executives, the Heat have floated Mike Miller in several different trade scenarios as they look to upgrade at the center or point guard positions. Miller missed his second straight game Tuesday -- when the Heat knocked off the Kings 117-87 -- out of precaution as he recovers from a head injury and an ear infection.
Miller is the Heat’s most tradable asset, even though he’s in the first season of a five-year, $29 million contract he signed last summer and is averaging just 5.9 points on 41 percent shooting as he recovers from a hand injury that cost him the first two months of the season.
Heat critic Adrian Wojnarowski is
reporting on Yahoo that the Golden State Warriors and the New Jersey Nets, who lost out on Carmelo Anthony and have plenty of trade assets freed up as a result, are discussing the parameters of a trade that would net the Nets Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric.
The Warriors, who would also receive a 2012 second-round pick from the Nets, will buy out the remainder of the $12 million owed Murphy in the final year of his contract and allow him to become a free agent.
Murphy, a 6-foot-11 forward, has the interest of several playoff contenders, including Orlando, Dallas, Miami and Boston, sources said. His 3-point range and size make him attractive to playoff teams.
Update: It appears that Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams has been traded to the New Jersey Nets in a 3-team deal in which Murphy is indeed heading to the Golden State Warriors to be bought out. Teams will soon have a chance to bid for Murphy with the Heat possibly the only contending team that could offer him a starting job.
Update #2: Wojnarowski is reporting that the Heat are indeed offering Miller to at least one team.
Miami has been trying to pry Brendan Haywood, offering Mike Miller as part of package, but Mavs have consistently resisted, source says.
Also at Yahoo, Marc J Spears is claiming that the Heat have called the Nuggets about Brazilian center Nene but it's a long shot at this point. "This is where I want to be," Nene told
FanHouse Tuesday night. "I have family here. Today, I'm here. Tomorrow, I can't control. I'm here right now."
With Carmelo Anthony now gone, Denver Nuggets center Nene has become increasingly frustrated that he hasn’t been offered a contract extension, a league source said.
The Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder have all inquired about Nene, but the Nuggets don’t plan to trade him, a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking said. The source expects the Nuggets to soon give Nene an extension offer.
Nene has said he prefers to stay in Denver. His wife is from Colorado and the couple is expecting a child in June.
Various sources have reported for the last week that the Memphis Grizzlies unsurprisingly want to get rid of their draft bust Hasheem Thabeet and the Miami Heat once again are mentioned as a team that is interested. Remember, he was drafted second overall so his contract is similar to what Michael Beasley makes in the $5 million range. With OJ Mayo said to be on the trading block as well, some team may bite on a package centered on both players who have potential but need a change of scenery. Could it be the Heat?
The Toronto Raptors traded the Heat's upcoming first round pick (acquired via the Chris Bosh trade) to the Chicago Bulls
in exchange for 2009 #16 first round pick James Johnson. The Bulls now have some more cap room to possibly make a deal for a SG and try to close the gap on the Celtics and Heat.
