Sitting in this dead period of the sports world (not even Baseball has heated up for the playoffs) I find myself constantly sifting through NBA material looking for any hinkering of a rumor about a big deal that’s about to happen.  The latest on that front appears to be two potential moves, both involving the Miami Heat.  As a Miami native and a loyal Heat fan, I can’t help but want to talk about it.  Here’s the potential moves:

1. Lamar Odom is mulling over a decision to sign a 5 year deal with the Heat (income tax free), or trying to work out contract talks with the Lakers.
2. The Jazz, fresh off matching Paul Millsap’s Portland offer worth WAY TOO MUCH, are looking to now trade Boozer to get under the salary cap.  The Jazz, Boozer, and Miami have all shown mutual interest in making a deal.

Plain and simple, the Heat could be on the verge of making huge upgrades that would bolster them into the thick of it in the Eastern Conference.

Logistics?

I’m sure many people scratch their heads over the prospect of Lamar leaving LA fresh off winning a championship.  Truth is, there are plenty of reasons why this would make sense.  First, Lamar is 30, he’s at the stage in his career where he needs to lock up a long term deal that will carry him until he hits veteran minimum status.  That’s why, he was upset that the Lakers only offered him a 3 year deal (depending on where you get your information from, the Lakers said their max offer was $27 million, or 3 years at $9 mil a year). 

Second, $9 million in LA is probably the equivalent of about $6.5 million in Miami because of the absence of State Income Tax in Florida.  So essentially, the Heat’s offer of their mid level exception for 5 years is equivalent to the Laker’s offering $9 million for 5 years (if they offer a 5 year deal).  Realistically its less in Miami, but it hovers in the same ball park. 

Third, Lamar Odom has always said he wants to play somewhere where there is a Beach.  Now, Santa Monica is great and all, but lets get serious, you can’t match sunny Miami Beach (or even Crandon Park for that matter).  Odom still has a house in Miami, and says that his most fun year in the NBA was in Miami.  All these factors give legitimate reasons as to why Odom could realistically pick the Heat over the Lakers.

Boozer would arrive in Miami via trade.  According our wonderful insiders over at ESPN, the Jazz and Heat have reached some sort of agreement on a trade.  My guess is taht means there is mutual interest to talk, but nothing substantial has been agreed on.  The first deal I heard was Carlos Boozer to Miami for Udonis Haslem, James Jones, and a future first round pick (probably via Toronto, who owes the Heat their next, non-lottery, first round pick).  I’ve also heard Dorrell Wright instead of James Jones in the same deal. 

The heat get their coveted big man in Boozer, who can produce 20-10 night in and night out, the Jazz get that Blue Collar forward in Haslem as well as a spot shooter in Jones (AKA a more athletic version of Ashton….I mean Kyle Korver).  I think the first rounder might be a little too much to give up, but since the Heat are owed one, it might not hurt as much in the long term.  I would say a second round pick instead of a first rounder is a more balanced trade.

What do they Offer?

These are the kind of complimentary players Wade needs around him.  With Shaq, Wade could just go out and play basketball, Shaq would be the vocal leader.  With Boozer and Odom, Wade can be the undeniable leader of the team, and have reliable veteran 2nd and 3rd options that can absorb the blows when Wade is on the bench.  Each player brings a distinct skill set that the team has lacked since they were in the Finals 4 years ago.

Lamar Odom is a long, hybrid 3-4 forward with nifty moves around the basket as well as spot up shooting ability that can stretch to the three point line (but can be very streaky).  He is left handed which is uncommon in the NBA and that can lead to some advantages.  He has the ability to play small forward because of his agility and relative quickness, but he can also play power forward because of his length and strength at pounding the ball inside.  He is the kind of player that really gives defenses fits.  He would start at the small forward spot and then shift to the power forward in situations when Boozer is on the bench.

Carlos Boozer is a banger inside that has a broad upper body that allows him to create space in the paint and gobble up rebounds.  I still believe that he should have remained in Cleveland and the Cavs would have won a title by now (since Boozer left, the Cavs have had a black hole at the power forward position).  He has soft hands, and can finish in the lane with both his left and right hand as well as use his bulky size to defend the post.  His skill set is a little similar to Jermaine O’Neal’s so that could lead to some problems in terms of the big men complementing each other, but they both are talented/veteran enough to adjust to how the other one is playing. He would start at the small forward position and in certain situations, play center in relief of JO.

Last Thoughts

Overall, this trade and this Free Agent signing would instantly make Miami as good as anyone in the conference.  Wade is a superstar and the Heat always have a chance of winning from his ability alone.  Odom has great respect for Pat Riley, has a house in Miami, wants the 5 year deal security, and has a close relationship with Wade.  Boozer, also has a house in Miami, has a great relationship with Wade (from the Olympics) and has even said Miami is his number one choice of a destination.  The addition of Boozer and Odom, without the loss of young talent such as Mario Chalmers, Dequan Cook, and Michael Beasley, gives the heat a solid core of playmaking veterans, as well as a groud of young play finishers to surround the vets. 

With pretty much D-Wade doing all the work last year, the heat went 43-39.  The addition of Boozer and Odom would give the Heat at the very least a 10 win improvement, probably more, leaving them at around 55+ wins.  Then, with Wade having these veterans around him in the playoffs, he can do what he does best, and be able to rely on his teamates to pick up the slack when he’s on the bench.  Based on seeding, the best possible outcome I could forsee for the Heat next year would be a loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.  That’s quite an improvement from a first round exit to Atlanta.  If these moves are going to happen, look for it be finalized by the end of the week.

Related posts:

1. NBA Free Agency: Off and Running (UPDATED…..again)
2. NBA: Major Moves – Good or Bad?
3. Outside the Box: Hedo and Kidd
4. NBA Draft: Minnesota Misses the Point, San Antonio Steals Some Studs
5. NBA Draft: More Thoughts