Not Just Home Runs, But Singles

Since Lamar Odom bypassed the Miami Heat’s offer and re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, there haven’t been any new rumors about who Miami is looking at — that is, unless you count Jamaal Tinsley. Tinsley may have great court vision, but he was injury prone before the Indiana Pacers asked him to stay away from the team last season. Why take an unnecessary risk on someone who doesn’t view basketball as a priority and may not be much of an upgrade over Patrick Beverley or Chris Quinn?

The course of action should still be to move towards a contending roster. That’s why I said that Heat President Pat Riley should acquire Carlos Boozer and Raymond Felton. A starting lineup of Felton, Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, Boozer and Jermaine O’Neal is good enough to compete with the East’s cream of the crop. With the presumed departure of Udonis Haslem in the Boozer deal, there would be a depth problem at the power forward spot, however. While obtaining Boozer and Felton would be considered home runs for Riley, a championship roster also needs a few singles.

The Boston Celtics previously explored a sign-and-trade deal that would have sent Glen Davis to Miami in exchange for Jamario Moon. In hindsight, it would have been a good idea for the Heat to push forward on the proposed trade. Despite having the trade die, Boston still appears to have moved on from Davis. Its latest signing is a one-year deal for Shelden Williams. Williams’ signing likely rounds out the Celtics’ frontcourt lineup of Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Kendrick Perkins and Williams.

That is why Boston may pass on matching an offer sheet for Davis and instead let the restricted free agent walk. It already has its frontcourt lineup complete, so why should the Celtics go through the trouble of keeping Davis only to find a trade partner for him? Moon’s presence in Cleveland doesn’t necessarily preclude the possibility of Davis coming to Miami.

How could the Heat use Big Baby? He may be heavy, but he’s a freak of nature; he’s quick off his feet. Davis also has a reliable 15-footer and could benefit off of Wade’s penetration. He’s also proven that he can step in and start for a team — with Garnett’s injury serving as a testament to that. With the Heat, Davis would be a quality backup who could step in if Boozer were to get injured.

Miami would only be able to offer the $1.9 million bi-annual exception for Davis if it is to use the full mid-level exception on Felton. But as mentioned above, the Celtics may just decide not to match the offer because it has moved on. And in the worst-case scenario that Boston matches the offer, the Heat could still sign Melvin Ely, someone who would surely sign for $1.9 million.

There is still nothing new of the Utah Jazz closing in on a deal that would make Boozer come to Miami, which is pretty odd. Perhaps Utah has said that it wants Beasley. Whatever the reason, Riley should make the trade happen, but not at the cost of Beasley. Giving up a first-round pick should not be holding this trade back. If the Jazz wants James Jones, then Riley should ask for a small forward — like C.J. Miles — in return. Riley should be working to give the Jazz whatever it wants to pull the trigger on the trade, even if it means adding a third team into the equation.

If all goes according to plan,  Miami’s rotation would consist of Felton and Mario Chalmers at the point, Wade and Daequan Cook at the shooting guard position, Beasley and James Jones or C.J. Miles at the three, Boozer and Davis at the four and O’Neal and Jamaal Magloire at the five. Can that team contend with the three top teams in the East — Cleveland, Orlando and Boston? When healthy and with chemistry, I’d say yes.