Though the class is mediocre, Pat Riley said he will enter free agency Tuesday expecting to add quality pieces partly because only a few teams (Memphis, Philadelphia) have much cap room, and ``there are going to be a lot of players that eventually filter to the exception or part of it.''
The Heat would be comfortable splitting the $5.8 million exception to fill two needs among point guard, center and a wing player to upgrade over Ricky Davis. At least one should be addressed via trade. But with Miami and others eyeing cap space in a year or two, Riley said, ``A lot of short [term] money will have to be accepted by these guys . . . We've got to protect our backside in 2010.''
Riley bypassed others last summer while waiting on Mo Williams. But unless Elton Brand opts out, there are few potential pie-in-the-sky unrestricted free-agent targets. Gilbert Arenas wants to re-sign with Washington (if Antawn Jamison does), and Corey Maggette and Ron Artest (if they opt out) make sense only if Shawn Marion is traded.
The Heat privately expects the Nets' DeSagana Diop -- the top available center -- to return to Dallas and believes point guard Beno Udrih will get a multiyear deal in Sacramento or elsewhere. A friend said coveted Warriors restricted free agent point guard Monta Ellis would love to play here, but that requires a sign-and-trade, and the Warriors prefer to keep him.
• Riley said he still might trade for
a point guard, with Memphis ( Kyle Lowry, among others) considered in play. Otherwise, the Heat believes it can find a stopgap starter from a free agent group including Chris Duhon, Carlos Arroyo, Keyon Dooling, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Jannero Pargo and Anthony Carter. And the Heat likes restricted free agent Sebastian Telfair, though Minnesota can match any offer.
Plus, ''I can't wait to see what Mario Chalmers can do,'' Riley said. But ``I'm not expecting miracles from a young kid.''
• Riley pointed to the potential to lure a player from ''teams that have three or four unrestricted free agents.'' Keep an eye on Orlando ( Arroyo, Dooling, Maurice Evans) and Golden State, where Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes (who appealed to Miami before) and restricted Kelenna Azubuike join unrestricted free agents Evans, Devean George and James Jones as potential options to replace Davis.
• The Heat knows Alonzo Mourning might not be ready by the opener, and Riley wants a defensively skilled center. It expects to find one cheaply among Kwame Brown-types.
CHATTER
• With Double A prospect Cameron Maybin (batting .267 overall and .318 in June) emerging, Marlins executive Larry Beinfest said he's comfortable in center field with Cody Ross -- and Alfredo Amezaga ''as a fallback'' -- until Maybin is deemed ready, which could be soon if he improves further: ``We're waiting for Cameron to be consistent. We're as high on him today as the day we acquired him.''
• Will there will be a multiyear offer to MLB home run leader Dan Uggla? Beinfest said there is no decision yet: ''Probably . . . that would be something we would tackle in the offseason. . . . Danny is in line for a big raise, and he's earned that.'' With Uggla not eligible for free agency until age 31 (after 2011), the Marlins might go year to year. He makes $417,000 but could top $5 million in arbitration this winter.
• Feedback from the Dolphins is that Josh McCown's leadership and athleticism were impressive during offseason practices, but they want to see better accuracy in what shapes up as a very competitive battle with John Beck. The sense internally is that Chad Henne needs time to develop.
• Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said he might move winger Nathan Horton to center to replace Olli Jokinen and has $4-5 million to spend on one free agent center or winger if he chooses. Though the Panthers ranked 20th in goals and lost Jokinen, Martin said he isn't worried: ``Three playoff teams scored less than we did -- the Rangers, Devils and Bruins.''
• Miami Northwestern offensive tackle Ben Jones said he qualified academically, leaving four Canes recruits waiting to do so (safeties C.J. Odom and C.J. Holton, linebacker Antonio Harper, Northwestern offensive lineman Brandon Washington). . . . Because the financial guarantee wasn't big enough, FAU declined a chance to play at UM, which needs an '09 non-ACC opponent to round out Oklahoma, at UCF and at USF.
