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the spurs and pistons should send their team physicians over. but they're not going to let that guy go. (they'd be crazy)
Heat's Haslem would take less money to stay in Miami
By Michael Cunningham
Sun-Sentinel
July 7, 2005
MIAMI--Saying he is willing to sign a Heat contract for less than what he might earn on the open market, forward Udonis Haslem expressed optimism he would re-sign with the team.
Haslem, speaking Wednesday morning on 790 AM The Ticket (WAXY), said Atlanta and Cleveland expressed an interest in offering him a free-agent contract but that he prefers to return to the Heat, which signed the Miami native and University of Florida product after he played a season in France.
Haslem said he's grateful to the team for giving him a chance.
"I am forever thankful to those guys and if we can get anything close to a deal done, something around the range of what I should get, even if it's not as much, I will be glad to take it," Haslem said.
Heat President Pat Riley has said re-signing Haslem, the starting power forward, is a priority.
Haslem's agent, Jason Levien, and the Heat are negotiating a multi-year contract to replace the one that expired June 30.
"It's looking good," Haslem said of negotiations. "Obviously this is where I want to be."
The Heat can offer Haslem, 25, a maximum deal of five years at about $33 million. The Heat can match a higher offer from another team if it uses its mid-level exception, a move it hopes to avoid as it looks to use that exception on other free agents.
Teams can't sign players other than rookies until July 22, by which time the new collective bargaining agreement is expected to be in place.
The date could be pushed back if the CBA is not ready.
After helping the Heat to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, Haslem said he wants to play for a winning team
The Heat is expected to again contend for a le next season and perhaps beyond with the Heat working on a new contract for center Shaquille O'Neal.
"I can't see anybody winning the championship any sooner than this team right here," Haslem said.
The Heat has some fallback options in case Haslem leaves.
Free agent Shareef Abdur-Rahim told the New York Post the Heat is among the five teams that are recruiting him.
But Abdur-Rahim is the top free-agent target for the New Jersey Nets, who reportedly are set to offer him a four- or five-year deal worth between $22-$29 million.
Also, Kansas power forward Wayne Simien, whom the Heat selected in the first round of the draft last week, could be ready to play now.
In addition to O'Neal and Haslem, the Heat also hopes to re-sign starting point guard Damon Jones, who did not opt in the second year of the contract he signed last summer.
The Heat would be in good position to sign Jones to a multi-year contract if it doesn't have to use its mid-level exception to keep Haslem.
Michael Cunningham can be reached at [email protected].
the spurs and pistons should send their team physicians over. but they're not going to let that guy go. (they'd be crazy)
NBA forum?? But true, the would be sick in the brains not to keep him!
I don't see the Heat getting any farther into the playoffs than this year. Shaq is declining and will probably get another "toe injury" and he will sit half the season. He will be out of shape and unable to carry this team, like so many people believe he can. Wade will be great but unless they get a younger backup 5, they are not going far.
The Heat should be the favorite in the east and if they pick up SAR they could win it all.
we shall see
Duplicate post
Last edited by ChumpDumper; 07-09-2005 at 09:24 AM.
Which is it? Is he staying in Miami or leaving for more money?
If Miami has to use their MLE on Haslem that could deliver Marshall to the Spurs.
Miami has to use the MLE on a point guard.
If Cleveland makes that offer to Haslem and he's interested it could force the Heat to decide whether to use their MLE to go after Haslem, another PF or a PG.
As I understand it, the Heat have EB rights on Haslem and can match any offer up to the midlevel. If the offer is higher, they couldn't match -- though I had heard the new CBA keeps other teams from bidding higher.
I think that rule may not apply retrospectively to contracts. There' an article in the Miami paper on the Cavs efforts to sign Haslem and it's implications that I can't cut and paste but you can read it on the RealGM Miami message board.
I read the article, and I trust beat writers' knowledge of the CBA about as far as I can throw TPark.
If I remember correctly, a team that signs another team's EB player to a contract that is more than the MLE must structure the contract such that the first year is at the MLE salary level, thus allowing the player's current team to match.
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