Submitted by Mase from Canada

Q: Does Miami get Allen Iverson?

Answered 07/09/09 13:59:27 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: Today? No. Next week? Probably not. Three weeks from now? Maybe. Next month? Likely.

Submitted by Oladele from new york

Q: who do you think miami will sign in 2010. or who should they get. also wat do you think are the chances of getting the former mvp iverson won't that be a good backcourt the answer and flash. the miami wiil most likely have a chance to compete for a title. or batman and robin wade is batman and you know who iverson is. lol nice talkin to you. peace my brother

Answered 07/09/09 13:58:06 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: I think Miami will first sign Dwyane Wade in 2010. From there, the options could range from Chris Bosh to Amare Stoudemire to Joe Johnson, depending on who is willing to walk away from their current situation. Iverson would not be a long-term solution for the Heat. He would make Miami a better team right now, with the right attitude and commitment to a team-firts approach.

Submitted by tony surin from Your Location (City, State)

Q: i think miami heat starting 5 :mario,dwyane,michael,udonis,jermaine: and the bench should look like this :Iverson,cook,wallace,james,moon,wright,yakhouba,jamaal,anthony

Answered 07/09/09 13:54:56 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: Wallace is already off the board and headed to Boston. Other than that, I would switch Marion and Iverson in the starting lineup - and expect to see a lot of three-guard play if AI were to somehow land with the Heat.

Submitted by tony surin from Your Location (City, State)

Q: i respect AI when he was at his prime but if he doesn't want to sign so bit.rasheed wallace is better fit for us or the greek center (yiannis bouroussis)because we need big guys to help right now and i heard what coach erick said about the summer workouts beside all that injuries are another concern for any team.

Answered 07/09/09 13:52:32 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: The Heat, if nothing else, will be a better team next season if it opens training camp with the same roster it had last season. But a better team does not necessarily mean it will have a better record or finish higher than fifth in the conference. The East will be tough next season. 12 of the 15 teams have a legit shot to make the playoffs.

Submitted by Roberto from Miami, FL

Q: with hedo going to toronto, there is a possibility that toronto becomes a playoff contending team. with that said, don't the heat get a first round pick from the marion - oneal trade? and if we do, what do you think we could do with that pick?

Answered 07/09/09 13:47:42 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: Yes, as part of the conditions of the protected first-round pick, the Heat essentially gets Toronto's first-rounder as soon as they make the playoffs. Riley likes he possibility of using it as a "chip" he could package with the Heat's first-round pick next season if it leads to a blockbuster trade of the Kevin Garnett magnitude. Or, in the unlikely event that Wade leaves, those two first-round picks could be the springboard to a rebuilding job.

Submitted by James from Pinecrest

Q: Do the majority of readers submit grammatically incorrect questions? It certainly seems so with all of the improper capitalization, missing punctuation and run-on sentences. It hurts the eyes attempting to read these questions.

Answered 07/09/09 13:45:14 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: That might be the cleanest question I've ever had on this forum. But the majority of questions are clear. My answers, however, can be muddled.

Submitted by Rob from Key West

Q: Two questions. 1) With the advancement of other teams in the East, even if Wade decides to sign the extention this year, is there enough out there left in free agency and trades to make a Miami a serious contender immediately? 2) The fact that many players can get more money staying with there current teams, how big will be free agency in 2010?

Answered 07/09/09 13:43:18 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: Yes, there are several moves the Heat can make to improve its chances at contending this season. Sign-and-Trade options could include Lamar Odom, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Rip Hamilton and others out there who could boost this roster right now - even as the free agent options thin out. There will still be a significant crop of free agents out there even if LeBron, Wade and Bosh stay put next summer.

Submitted by tony surin from Your Location (City, State)

Q: that's going to be a thought one to swallow,if D-wade leave pat.we need a big man and AI i said again why don't you try to get the greek center yiannis bouroussis.there's no one left as center to help jermaine you better do something before it's to late you heard from him as franchise player of the team.

Answered 07/09/09 13:38:45 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: I would be surprised if Wade simply leaves Miami next summer. There's too much to walk away from here. I think he truly wants to stay. He just wants to stay at or near the top when it comes to championship contenders.

Submitted by Jamil from Miami Beach, FL 33139

Q: Hey Michael, Lost in all the hoopla of the elite making this summer an "arms race", and other teams still signing free agents, I feel the Heat can improve best by trying to sign RFA's such as David Lee or a Paul Millsap who would bang the boards better than Haslem while trading the likes of a Haslem and or Blount with a pick for Tyson Chandler. The Heat would be younger and immediately better defensively while still keeping an expiring Jermaine O'neal to add a solid role player from next year's Free Agent Class, since its starting to look more and more as if Lebron, Bosh or even Stoudemire won't be leaving. Thoughts?

Answered 07/09/09 13:35:55 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: The Heat doesn't have the kind of money available to make a competitive offer for David Lee. Millsap, who I like a lot, would only add another undersized power forward to the roster. Miami seems to have had that market cornered. Would New Orleans be willing to take back expiring contracts for Tyson Chandler? Perhaps. But what does it say about Chandler that a contending team like the Hornets were so willing to part with a young, defensive-minded center? There's something about Chandler that scares a lot of people. We'll see.

Submitted by BeasleyisabustQuinns from miami,fl

Q: Where do the Heat stand as far as contract negotiations among their draft picks. I have been hearing for the last couple of hours a lot of the first rounders are being signed already. I guess this is the way to go about it in the NBA, sign first rounders and top guys first than the rest of the group. In the NFL its the opposite, usually work with the later round guys because they have easier signability.. so, do you think we will sign Beverly and Dozier anytime soon no matter what the terms of the contracts are.

Answered 07/09/09 13:30:17 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: NBA rookie salaries are already set, so there really aren't any negotiations necessary. Beverley and Dozier aren't signed yet, as far as I know. But there's no rush at this point. The contracts won't be guaranteed because they are second-round picks, so they would essentially have to make the roster to make any real money in Miami. Then, you're talking about 400K to $600K for those guys. They will, however, go through the entire summer program before training camp.

Submitted by TJames from miami

Q: What Wade wanted to say but is too nice a person to say:'Either Riley goes or I go! What honestly can the HEAT do to keep Wade past next season? I like saving cap space for next summer,but so are most other NBA teams. After watching Riley draft and trade a Championship team into the toilet, what YOUNG NBA ALL STAR player is eager to leave his team and join Flash in Miami? I for one am sick of Pat betting the farm on 30+ over the hill 'allstar',what Wade needs...deserves is someone his own age or younger to move the HEAT back to a #1 seed. But who? There's a line to play with Wade,but Riley... ha

Answered 07/09/09 13:27:34 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: I wouldn't go nearly that far to suggest it's a he-got-or-I-go situation with Wade and Riley. I do think Wade was a little disturbed when Riley suggested he could make any major roster moves unless Wade signs an extension. I also think it was unfair for Wade to go to the lengths he has this week to call out his team and Riley and demand a championship roster before he resigns. That's a little extreme on both sides. The Heat is a contender. But there needs to be a bit of reality and perspective shown from both sides.

Submitted by jamal mclamore from pompano beach fl

Q: do you think miami will sign allen iverson

Answered 07/09/09 13:24:31 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: Today, I would put the odds at 70-30 they won't. But that changes more by the day if he's still on the market. The longer he's unsigned, the better the Heat's chances of landing him because that would mean his demand has decreased and the market value favors the Heat, which would only be interested at about $3 million and for one seasons.

Submitted by Eli from Miami, FL

Q: Hey Michael great to hear from you, now that the NBA has put out a memo stating that the cap next year could decrease to the $50-53 million range, signing two max contract players, i.e. Wade and Bosh, would take up a substantial amount of the cap space. With that mixed along with Dwayne wanting for us to make a move already, do you see Pat and the Heat rethinking the 2010 approach and making the big moves now since they have $40 million in expiring contracts? If so who are possible targets?

Answered 07/09/09 13:22:24 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: The salary cap has never really been the issue for the Heat. It's the luxury tax. This team is going to spend right up to the tax amoung, which is $70 million this season, and then make decisions about whether to go beyond. Miami basically cleared the books for 2010, meaning there is still enough money to sign two max players. The issue then becomes one of support. Is there enough to support those two max players after the two major chunks of the cap is gone.

Submitted by Marcelo from Dade County

Q: Hello Michael.... Okay, whats da deal.. We wheelin n' dealin or what.. I hear a lot about Bosh, but I keep reading that Stoudamire is also available via trade. I'm sure they would love to take Beasley so why not try to work that out? Amare might be smaller (height-wise), but he plays much bigger. Remember, Zo was only 6'10 but played like he was a 7 footer. I would rather have Amare than Bosh because he has more heart and more fire. He's also much more aggressive don't u think? And what's up with Iverson. You gotta be kidding if we don't try to get this guy. I don't care what anybody says, this is ALLEN IVERSON! He's not what he use to be but come on now. Imagine AI, Wade and Amare with a healthy O'neal? I can!

Answered 07/09/09 13:19:42 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: The two big guys I think are worth keeping an eye on if the Heat makes a major splash this summer is Amare Stoudemire and Lamar Odom. The longer Odom and the Lakers are apart, the more realistic it might become that a sign-and-trade situation might be possible with the Heat. Stoudemire could be a decent fall-back option if things don't work out with Bosh. Other than that, it's about how much the Heat is willing to spend into the luxury tax to make a move through free agency. As I said before, Allen would be a solid addition - but only at the right price. He's still got game.

Submitted by Adrian from Kendall

Q: How real are the Iverson rumors? I think it makes a lot of sense if they can get him for a little over the veterans minimum and a 1 year contract. I know all the baggage he brings to a team, but he can still score and relieve Wade when he goes to the bench. In any case, he's an upgrade over Cook. Your thoughts?

Answered 07/09/09 13:10:19 by Miami Heat Beat Reporter

A: Thanks for joining me for this week's live Heat chat. Michael Wallace here. Let's get right to the questions. There are some legs to the Iverson-Heat talks. I've talked to both sides and there is interest. But the question is which side will be willing to budge. Allen wants the full mid-level, or close to it, if he is to sign a 1-year deal. The Heat sees him closer to a veteran's exception option, which is about $2 million. Maybe they meet in the middle. Maybe not. But I do think he would be a good one-year fit for the roster. His scoring and experience is exactly what the Heat lacked on the perimeter alongside Wade.