Mr.Bottomtooth
11-25-2006, 01:26 PM
NOTEBOOK
Riley considers trade to land veteran guardBY MICHAEL WALLACE
[email protected]
For the first time this season, Heat coach Pat Riley publicly acknowledged that his search for a boost to get his struggling team going might extend beyond the team's roster.
Injuries and inconsistent play have hampered the Heat through a 4-7 start heading into Friday's game against the Orlando Magic. Along the way, Riley has changed his starting lineup, his strategy and, he said, his patience level with the team's sporadic play.
Next could be a roster change, possibly at point guard, where Jason Williams and Gary Payton are battling knee injuries and Dwyane Wade has, at times, been overextended while logging extensive minutes at both guard positions.
Asked before Friday's game if it might be time to consider a roster move to land a veteran point guard, Riley said: ``Probably. Yeah. I think, probably. You've gotta do your due diligence. And plus, I'm not going to make any kind of lateral move.
``It's gotta be somebody who can play. I can play Dwyane there. I'd rather have a 50 percent Dwyane as a point guard than somebody who can't play.''
Riley shook up the lineup Friday, starting Wade at point guard, Dorell Wright and Jason Kapono on the wings and Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning in the post.
Wright and Kapono started in place of Payton and Antoine Walker, who had been mired in a 5 for 33 (15.1 percent) shooting slump over four games entering Friday.
Riley already has gotten a close-up look at two potential veteran point guards the Heat might consider pursuing.
Seattle Sonics reserve Earl Watson has been unhappy with his inconsistent playing time.
Memphis' Damon Stoudamire and Atlanta's Tyronn Lue might also be attractive options because both are playing on short, relatively inexpensive contracts and fit Riley's win-now, rebuild-later philosophy.
''We've got a long list,'' Riley said.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/basketball/16093991.htm
Riley considers trade to land veteran guardBY MICHAEL WALLACE
[email protected]
For the first time this season, Heat coach Pat Riley publicly acknowledged that his search for a boost to get his struggling team going might extend beyond the team's roster.
Injuries and inconsistent play have hampered the Heat through a 4-7 start heading into Friday's game against the Orlando Magic. Along the way, Riley has changed his starting lineup, his strategy and, he said, his patience level with the team's sporadic play.
Next could be a roster change, possibly at point guard, where Jason Williams and Gary Payton are battling knee injuries and Dwyane Wade has, at times, been overextended while logging extensive minutes at both guard positions.
Asked before Friday's game if it might be time to consider a roster move to land a veteran point guard, Riley said: ``Probably. Yeah. I think, probably. You've gotta do your due diligence. And plus, I'm not going to make any kind of lateral move.
``It's gotta be somebody who can play. I can play Dwyane there. I'd rather have a 50 percent Dwyane as a point guard than somebody who can't play.''
Riley shook up the lineup Friday, starting Wade at point guard, Dorell Wright and Jason Kapono on the wings and Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning in the post.
Wright and Kapono started in place of Payton and Antoine Walker, who had been mired in a 5 for 33 (15.1 percent) shooting slump over four games entering Friday.
Riley already has gotten a close-up look at two potential veteran point guards the Heat might consider pursuing.
Seattle Sonics reserve Earl Watson has been unhappy with his inconsistent playing time.
Memphis' Damon Stoudamire and Atlanta's Tyronn Lue might also be attractive options because both are playing on short, relatively inexpensive contracts and fit Riley's win-now, rebuild-later philosophy.
''We've got a long list,'' Riley said.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/basketball/16093991.htm