Another day, another non-update “update” on the Miami Heat and free agency.
While rumors fly the camps of the actual players in question — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — have been very quiet. The agents have taken meetings and had some preliminary talks from teams, but they are not making commitments and have not been the sides leaking/talking. (If you hear something, assume it’s from a team and take with the appropriate grains of salt.)
For Wade and Bosh, it’s a waiting game — see how Pat Riley does restocking the team, see how LeBron reacts to it (and how they feel about it) then make their next moves. Michael Wallace of ESPN spoke to Wade/Bosh’s agent who said it is status quo right now.The agent for Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh said his clients continue to sort through their options and that “nothing’s changed” in their approach since the July 1 start of free agency….
“They appreciate what they’ve done in Miami those four years together, and they want to make sure they have a chance to have that same success the next four (years),” said Thomas, who attended Sunday’s games at the Orlando Pro Summer League. “With Dwyane, he’s been there his entire career, so he’s in a unique situation. Chris has made it known how he’s felt about being in Miami these four years.”
Wallace summed up what is going on with the Heat well.
Sense I get is plan was always opt out, let Riley work w/flexible cap space, then reassess where all stands closer to July 10.
— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) July 6, 2014
Riley is trying to work his magic, reports Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports:
Heat prez Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra flew to NC to meet with Jazz free agent forward Marvin Williams yesterday, a source told Yahoo.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 6, 2014
Williams is an interesting fit with the Heat, guy with all the physical tools and a very laid-back, passive game. If LeBron and company could light a fire under him it could be a great signing (and ease the burden on Wade), but more likely this is Michael Beasley 2.0 (with fewer off the court issues).
LeBron has all the reasons in the world to be patient. The same is true for Wade and Bosh. Pat Riley is getting a sense of who he can and can’t sign, but until he has firm financial requests from Wade and Bosh he doesn’t know specifically what he can offer. This could be the case where all of the “big three” sign just after the 10th somewhere then a host of quick moves come to grab guys happens.
Or, maybe it goes sideways.
Most people around the league still think it’s the former, but nobody is betting the rent on it.