Heat Check

“Bringing the Heat”

Who’s following the Big 3 to South Beach?  Fans, GMs and LeBron haters all want to know.  Lakers fans in particular have a vested interest in the question; after all, we’d love knowing who we’ll be seeing in the NBA Finals next year.  The Heat currently have four players under contract: LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers.  Here is a list of some of the players you should expect to see on Miami’s roster next season, beginning with potential starters:

“Heat Wave”

SF/SG Mike Miller – Miller has agreed to and signed the 5 year, $30M contract the Heat offered him a few days ago.  The sweet-stroking swingman came at the request of The King himself and provides Miami with another weapon in their quest for a championship.  Possible nickname: Heat Stroke.

PF Udonis Haslem – Haslem’s the one guy Miami desperately wants to bring back.  After agreeing to sign-and-trade deals for LeBron and Bosh, they’re in position to re-sign him to a fair-value deal.  Dallas has come in with a 3 year, $20M full mid-level offer that may make Udonis think twice.  UPDATE: Haslem has taken less money to return to the Heat, turning down better offers from Denver and Dallas.

PG Derek Fisher – The Heat are looking for a veteran PG to mentor Mario Chalmers and have targeted Fisher.  The Lakers may find themselves in a bidding war for their clutch-shooting floor general if they don’t pony up the $5M/year Derek is asking for.  UPDATE: Fisher has re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for 3 years, $10M.

C Zydrunas Ilgauskas – LeBron’s former teammate is said to be considering joining The King in South Beach.  He’d likely sign for the veteran’s minimum of $1.4M and would give Bosh a chance to play strictly PF next season for Miami.  UPDATE: Ilgauskas is close to signing with the Heat.

PF Juwan Howard – the gritty veteran would provide leadership and rebounding for Miami at a bargain rate.  The big man is being targeted by the Heat and a deal for the veteran’s minimum could be done soon.

PG Jason Williams – White Chocolate already has a championship with the Heat as a result of his first stint with the team, why not give it another go?  With all of the double teams Wade and LeBron would command, J-Will would be a perfect fit at PG to knock down all the wide open 3’s.

Shaq shouldn't expect a call from Pat Riley, though he has played with both D-Wade AND LeBron. Hmmm...

Miami is also looking at a slew of veterans, including former members of the Heat:

“Subs of South Beach”
PG Carlos Arroyo
C Joel Anthony
SG/SF James Jones
PG Mike James
C Jamaal Magloire
C Dexter Pittman (rookie)
PF Jarvis Varnado (rookie)

After all of the dust settles, the Miami Heat roster should look something like this, barring any major trades:

Depth Chart
PG Jason Williams, Mario Chalmers, Mike James
SG Dwayne Wade, James Jones
SF LeBron James, Mike Miller, Jarvis Varnado
PF Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Dexter Pittman

Meet your 2010-2011 Miami Heat!  This team would no doubt be good enough to contend for a championship, but I still think Boston and Orlando will have something to say come playoff time.  Either way, the Lakers will be poised for another 3-peat and Kobe will be trying on his 6th ring while LeBron wonders how having even one feels like.