The Miami Heat have extended a qualifying offer to third-year point guard Mario Chalmers, according to the Associated Press.
Which is the smart thing to do if they have any intention of keeping him. While in theory Chalmers could sign the qualifying offer, what will really happen is this allows Chalmers to explore the market but lets the Heat match any offer for him.
(Well, at least under the old Collective Bargaining Agreement, under the new ones who knows. Also, now this transition class from the new to the old CBA is dealt with is a whole other area of negotiations between the owners and players.)
The Heat like Chalmers and with no intention of bringing Mike Bibby back he would be the only PG on the roster. Chalmers stepped up in the playoffs for the Heat (his PER was highest on the team behind the Big Three) and somehow he seemed unstoppable from half court at the end of quarters in the finals. He stepped up and hit big shots, not shying away from the clutch. He’s the kind of backup point guard the Heat could really use, so long as the price isn’t too high.