It's been a quiet offseason to this point for the Heat. There are no serious discussions (or rumors) about a contract extension with guard Dwyane Wade, there isn't much money for free agency, and the team doesn't have a first-round pick in the June draft.
Wade has consistently said he's not sure if he'll negotiate a contract extension during the offseason. He can opt out of his current contract after next season and become part of the high-profile 2010 free agent class. Or he can negotiate an extension during the offseason, before the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires. Some think players might get more money under the current CBA because under the next CBA, the length of a maximum contract (currently five years) might be reduced. In addition to Wade's contract situation, forward Udonis Haslem ($7.1 million), center Mark Blount ($7.9 million) and center Jermaine O'Neal ($21 million) are all in the final year of their contract, which means the Heat has bargaining chips. And with president Pat Riley's penchant for making big deals, everyone, including Wade, expects the Heat to be the subject of lots of trade rumors.
"I do expect it (the rumor mill) to be a little more turned up this year with the 2010 thing," Wade said.
But so far there's no talk of the Heat eyeing any particular player.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: G Dwyane Wade provided the best moments of the season and one of the best seasons in NBA history. There was the game at Chicago before the All-Star break when he recorded a steal in the final seconds. That set up F Shawn Marion's game-winning dunk with 1.5 seconds left. Wade victimized Chicago again at Miami when he stole the ball in the closing seconds of double overtime and then hit a running 3-pointer to win the game as time expired. There was also the game against New York at Miami in which Wade finished with 42 points, 24 in the fourth quarter. And then there was the triple-overtime victory against Utah in which Wade recorded 50 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two blocks, the first time in NBA history a player reached those minimums. There was also the career-best 55-point game against New York. You get the idea.
TURNING POINT: The trade that brought C Jermaine O'Neal and F Jamario Moon to the Heat from Toronto in exchange for F Shawn Marion and G Marcus Banks helped and hurt. The trade, made during the All-Star break, landed Miami two starters and gave it financial flexibility for the future via O'Neal's $23 million expiring contract. However, Miami never had a quality defender at small forward after Marion's departure, and that proved hurtful. Still, it was a good trade.
