--F Carlos Boozer, who has one year and $12.6 million remaining on his contract with Utah, expressed interest in playing for the Heat. Boozer and his family have a house in Miami where they reside in the off-season. Boozer even went as far as to say him and the Jazz had agreed to a trade. But Utah officials denied such an agreement exists and Heat president Pat Riley said "there's nothing going on" regarding talks with the Jazz to trade for Boozer.
It's assumed, although not confirmed, Utah would want either young forward Michael Beasley or veteran big man Udonis Haslem as part of a trade package for Boozer. Haslem, a starter on Miami's 2006 title team, has one year and $7.1 million left on his contract. --The Heat re-signed C Jamaal Magloire and C Joel Anthony, meaning it again has four centers among Jermaine O'Neal, Mark Blount, Magloire and Anthony.
--Although F Jamario Moon was signed by Cleveland, Miami remains stocked at small forward among James Jones, Yakhouba Diawara and Dorell Wright. Michael Beasley, a power forward, is expected to play the position, too, although it's not clear how much time he'll spend there.
Miami still seeks a combo guard, someone who could be a backup at point guard and shooting guard. That was the interest in Allen Iverson, but those talks have stalled. And the Heat could also use another backup power forward in addition to Beasley.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think Lamar right now is our big focus. We want to make sure ultimately we get Lamar, and go from there." -- G Dwyane Wade, on free agent F Lamar Odom.
