The Miami Off-Season Super Plan

[Bang]

This is basically what I believe is the best case scenario or one of the best case scenarios of what they can do in the off-season to make Miami a much better team. The Heat will not be able to do all of this, not even most of this!

1. Extend Shaq's contract.
2. Trade Eddie Jones for Ray Allen/Joe Johnson/Michael Redd using a sign-and-trade. Eddie Jones is a free agent next year so it gives Seattle/Suns/Milwaukee a whole lot of cap. Ray Allen is most likely to do this...I think.
3. Re-sign Alonzo Mourning with minimum.
4. Sign Shareef Abdur-Rahim with the mid-level exception.
5. Sign Damon Stoudamire/Gary Payton/? with low-level exception (I read in SLAM or something that he wants to play for Miami if they don't re-sign him in Portland.)
6. Re-sign Udonis Haslem
7. Re-sign another "old or young, but probably not young, player who wants a ring" for minimum.
8. Re-sign/Pick up Option of Damon Jones.

[cyanide]

They'll have a hard time getting even half of the list completed.

[Its_asdf]

2. Trade Eddie Jones for Ray Allen/Joe Johnson/Michael Redd using a sign-and-trade. Eddie Jones is a free agent next year so it gives Seattle/Suns/Milwaukee a whole lot of cap. Ray Allen is most likely to do this...I think.

Do you seriously think person in the right mind would make those trades?

4. Sign Shareef Abdur-Rahim with the mid-level exception.

I don't think Reef won't be asking for the mid-level exception.

5. Sign Damon Stoudamire/Gary Payton/? with low-level exception (I read in SLAM or something that he wants to play for Miami if they don't re-sign him in Portland.)

I'd rather try to resign Damon Jones, and he does have a player option I think.

6. Re-sign Udonis Haslem

A lotta teams would be after him (I think Atlanta is pretty interested) and with Shaq's extension they could really screw over their financial situation.

[maes]

What possible benefit would Seattle's Wally Walker get by obtaining Eddie Jones for Ray Allen? If Ray all of a sudden suffered some split personality thing and decided that he hates Seattle instead of wanting to finish his career there, Wally Walker would be infinitely better off just letting Ray go rather than taking on Eddie Jones' bloated contract. In that case, Miami can't sign Ray because they'll need about $16M in cap space.

Ray also knows that the Spurs hold the championship, and not only did the Sonics split the regular season w/ the Spurs, they were a buzzer beater short of taking the Spurs to game 7, even with most of the Sonics injured.

Why would SAR settle for MLE? He makes double that now. The only reason is if he wants to pull a Payton/Malone ring desperation contract move. SAR has never indicated he'd sink that low, and if he did he'd join the Spurs, not Miami. That would be as goofy as Payton & Malone taking minimum to join Sacramento instead of the Lakers.

This list is based on the NBA bending over backwards to join Miami..that isn't the case. Christian Laettner and Damon Jones might be bending over backwards, but that's a world away from Ray Allen.

[Cu/Clux/Clan]

ooh my man ray allen is going to miami?They're the champions.

[Indy]

ooh my man ray allen is going to miami?They're the champions.

No bang youth is a moron.

[Blue Nugget]

Sounds like a cool plan even though I'd rather have Eddie Jones stay.

[Bang]

Did nobody read? I said BEST CASE SCENARIO, not all of this will happen nor do I expect them to happen. Why is it that people just tend to blurt moron and such without reading the whole thing? Of course, maybe only 1 or 2 of them will happen. Not to mention, IndyPacers, you spelled my nickname wrong.

Why would Ray Allen be traded for nothing but cap space? What if Ray Allen refuses to sign with Seattle? What other choices do they have? They have to sign and trade him. It's what happened with various players. Eric Dampier was signed and traded for nothing. Grant Hill was signed and traded for Ben Wallace (and a few other players). Back then it looked like a desperate situation, but it turned out fine. Remember, Grant Hill was probably the best SF in the league or one of the best at that time, there was no way it seemed Ben Wallace was enough. Brad Miller was signed and traded to Sacramento for Scott Pollard. Kenyon Martin was signed and traded for measly draft picks. There are tons of more sign and trade examples like this where the teams will trade star players for crap. Eddie Jones' bloated contract expires next year, that means 15M in cap space for 2006 off-season, and if Ray Allen were to leave, they need that cap.

Spurs do not have a sign-and-trade option that will be able to satisfy the salary needs of Ray Allen. Also, the Spurs have Ginobili, Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry. Where does Ray Allen fit in? You don't want to really mess with a championship formula anyhow.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim has played in crap teams for years, I think Miami will be a welcome change. He might go to the other contender teams though.

As for Damon Jones, I was unsure if he was a free agent or not. That should be number 8. Lemme change that...

REMEMBER it's BEST CASE SCENARIO. They should work to do this, but doing all this is impossible, or near iimpossible. I only expect about one or two things to get done. So don't go telling people that they are morons or anything. REMEMBER..BEST CASE SCENARIO...

[Indy]

Ray Allen would never be traded for Eddie Jones, the Pacers have an offer on the table of Jamaal Tinsley, Stephen Jackson, Fred Jones and Scot Pollard for Ray Allen, Luke Ridinour and the Sonics second round pick. The Sonics are much more likely to do this. I'm not going to make a topic about it untill after it happens (if it happens) because I don't want to jinx it.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

the Pacers have an offer on the table of Jamaal Tinsley, Stephen Jackson, Fred Jones and Scot Pollard for Ray Allen, Luke Ridinour

Who in their right mind would take Pollard and his over-bloated contract, along with an undersized 2 guard and a tweener, also giving away a hopeful PG in the process. If that happens, the Sonics' GM should be stoned to a pulp...

[The Game]

^^Isiah Thomas would do that in a heartbeat.

[Indy]

the Pacers have an offer on the table of Jamaal Tinsley, Stephen Jackson, Fred Jones and Scot Pollard for Ray Allen, Luke Ridinour

Who in their right mind would take Pollard and his over-bloated contract, along with an undersized 2 guard and a tweener, also giving away a hopeful PG in the process. If that happens, the Sonics' GM should be stoned to a pulp...

Pollard is an expiring contract, Jones has a ton of potential, whos a tweener? Tinsley is a far better PG then Ridinour, and this is the best anybody is going to offer for Ray, and there is no way Ray is staying in Seattle.

When I heard about this deal I didn't want to do it at first, we give up a lot of our depth. Plus Jack is a guy who I really like a lot who is a very expirienced champion. Tinsley is a top 5 point guard in the league when healthy and Fred Jones has a ton of potential, he has a chance to be a guy who could average 20 ppg.

I'm not going to induldge myself in talking about it anymore though because I will believe it when I see it.

[T-Comm55]

Even simpler list.

1. Get Robert Horry some how and they will win a chapionship.

[j.23]

4. Sign Shareef Abdur-Rahim with the mid-level exception.

good player but every team he's been to has not made the playoffs. he's not a winner. save your money and sign someone else

[Jackal_]

Some people have no idea what they're talking about

First off, Ray Allen would never be traded for Eddie Jones..
Second, Haslem is gonna be traded without a doubt..
Third, All of the above.

[Bang]

I guess Robert Horry might be a good option for that low level...or mid level. He's still mad clutch, as we all saw, and he plays very good defense.
As for Shareef Abdur-Rahim...he hasn't played on any good teams, so we won't know how capable he is until he does...You can argue that Blazers were pretty good before Shareef Abdur-Rahim joined though..

As for the sign and trade...It's up to Ray Allen, not up to the team. Ray Allen doesn't care if that trade is better for Seattle. He won't re-sign with Seattle and be traded to Pacers if he doesn't like going there. So even if that offer is better (which I'm not sure of...because 15M in cap is pretty good.) Ray Allen might not want to go to Pacers, or Heat. So, it's up to him I guess. I will not guess what team Ray Allen will choose but I'm just hoping it's the Heat.

[maes]

I'd be surprised if that trade went through Indy, not because it's a bad deal but because Walker is enamored of superstar players like a little kid. He almost pulled the trigger on a Ray <> AI trade years ago, that's the kind of trade he likes. Recognition. Newsworthy. Free marketing.

However, the recent success and McMillan's new clout may push him to make more sensible trades, so who knows.

But last i heard Seattle is angling hard for a big man scoring threat with cash and their 1st round pick...McMillan wants SAR.

[Indy]

I agree, I would be shocked if it went through too.

[Andrew]

1. Extend Shaq's contract.

Agreed. It's also feasible.

2. Trade Eddie Jones for Ray Allen/Joe Johnson/Michael Redd using a sign-and-trade. Eddie Jones is a free agent next year so it gives Seattle/Suns/Milwaukee a whole lot of cap. Ray Allen is most likely to do this...I think.

It would never happen. I'd call it wishful thinking more than a best-case scenario.

3. Re-sign Alonzo Mourning with minimum.

They've already picked up their option on Mourning. If he plays again next year, he'll be a member of the Heat.

4. Sign Shareef Abdur-Rahim with the mid-level exception.

Probably not going to happen, but I don't know why they'd do this if they want to keep Haslem. Besides, Shareef's not the "blue collar role player" type.

5. Sign Damon Stoudamire/Gary Payton/? with low-level exception (I read in SLAM or something that he wants to play for Miami if they don't re-sign him in Portland.)

Perhaps not too unlikely, but probably unnecessary if they retain Damon Jones.

6. Re-sign Udonis Haslem

Agreed.

7. Re-sign another "old or young, but probably not young, player who wants a ring" for minimum.

Probably not necessary, though depth and experience wouldn't hurt.

8. Re-sign/Pick up Option of Damon Jones.

Agreed.

[Jackal_]

I'm hoping they keep Dooling, that guy can play..not the wisest shots sometimes but he's still young..

[[L3]1101]

I'm hoping they keep Dooling, that guy can play..not the wisest shots sometimes but he's still young..

yea i like Dooling as well. I've seen him jump and let me tell you, he can really jump. Not as good of a shooter compared to Damon Jones, but Dooling will be a great back up. As for Damon Jones, i don't really like him. He's not much of a point guard. He's more of a SG than PG. He tried to be a PG this season and he did alright, but he's better at SG. I wouldn't be surprised if the Heat do a sign-and-trade with Jones.

[Matt]

a more realistic best case scenarion is signing shaq to bout 15/yr

[rabbitx]

shaq for stoudemire, barbosa, 2 future 1st rd picks

[Ruff Ryder]

I'm hoping they keep Dooling, that guy can play..not the wisest shots sometimes but he's still young..

yea i like Dooling as well. I've seen him jump and let me tell you, he can really jump. Not as good of a shooter compared to Damon Jones, but Dooling will be a great back up. As for Damon Jones, i don't really like him. He's not much of a point guard. He's more of a SG than PG. He tried to be a PG this season and he did alright, but he's better at SG. I wouldn't be surprised if the Heat do a sign-and-trade with Jones.

No, according to Damon Jones, he's a "Point Guard who can shoot".

shaq for stoudemire, barbosa, 2 future 1st rd picks

Phoenix wouldn't even consider it. Shaq's good for about 2-3 more seasons. Stoudemire and Barbosa are the future of the suns.

Is Haslem a restricted free agent cuz I thought he was unrestricted.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

No, according to Damon Jones, he's a "Point Guard who can shoot".

... and can't pass...