Although Pat Riley said he wants to keep Marion, Miami's first offer wasn't close to Marion's wishes.
The Warriors like Marion, 30, and likely would deal Al Harrington (who is due $9.2 million and $10.2 million over the next two seasons), but appear reluctant to include restricted free agent center Andris Biedrins in a sign-and-trade. Point guard Monta Ellis told the Warriors that Miami is among teams he would love to be traded to, but Golden State hasn't been receptive. A Marion-Warriors scenario might need a third team.
The Clippers like Marion (who is due $17.8 million in 2008-09) and were willing to do a sign-and-trade involving Elton Brand and Marion after it became clear Brand wouldn't re-sign. But Brand was headed to Philadelphia by then, and the Clippers now lack appealing assets to acquire Marion. Toronto pursued Marion before the draft, but the Heat declined a package including T.J. Ford (then traded to Indiana) and wasn't interested in Jermaine O'Neal (who went to Toronto in that trade and has a big contract). Chicago likes Marion and likely would be willing to trade Larry Hughes and another piece, but Hughes' contract is unappealing (two years left at $12.8 million and $13.6 million).
The most logical hypothetical would be Marion to the Lakers for Lamar Odom (one year left at $14.5 million) and Chris Mihm ($2.5 million), but the Lakers first said publicly they are keeping Odom, and now, according to The Sacramento Bee, have offered Odom for Sacramento's Ron Artest. A Marion/Artest trade would hurt Miami because the Heat would have to assume the last two years of either Kenny Thomas' or Shareef Abdur-Rahim's bloated contracts.
With sentiment growing that Mario Chalmers could become a starting point guard eventually, the Heat has less incentive to assume large long-term contracts such as Kirk Hinrich's (four years, $36.5 million left). So Miami's most affordable point-guard trade options include Memphis' Kyle Lowry, New Orleans' Mike James, Houston's Steve Francis or Bobby Jackson, and Seattle's Luke Ridnour , with New York's Stephon Marbury or Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley in play if they are bought out.
CHATTER
Owner Jeffrey Loria did not have to repay Major League Baseball's $38.5 million loan because the Marlins did not get a new stadium within five years of his 2002 purchase of the team (Loria paid $120 million at the time). But MLB is requiring Loria to pay back $23 million of that loan (in $2.3 million installments over 10 years), and the Marlins have lobbied to get that reduced.
But MLB isn't budging. ''There's no intention of modifying the loan terms,'' MLB president Bob DuPuy said. The Marlins paid the first installment last year and are allowed to skip this year.
• The Dolphins -- among several teams that have inquired about unsigned former All-Pro guard LeCharles Bentley -- also were among three teams that attended a workout Thursday at Rutgers for offensive tackle/guard Pedro Sosa, whom draftnik Russ Lande projected as a second- or third-rounder in April if he hadn't sustained a knee injury.
• With UM wanting only two running backs in the '09 class ( Bryce Brown and Mike James have orally committed), Miami Killian elite running back Lamar Miller said he is trying to find out whether UM has retracted its scholarship offer. UM had concerns about Miller's academics and past shoulder injury. . . . UM is so high on the offensive line that one Canes official predicted Orlando Franklin/ Joel Figueroa will be its best guard combo in a decade.
• Look for Nike and the Miami Sports Commission to announce the launch of a football kickoff classic featuring national powers. Among the games: Booker T. Washington vs. Hamilton High (Arizona) on Aug. 29 and Miami Northwestern vs. Long Beach Poly Tech (California) on Aug. 30, both at Traz-Powell. . . . Former Northwestern running back Antwain Easterling, whose 2006 arrest after consensual sex with a minor triggered major fallout, left Southern Mississippi after he was suspended from the team and was headed to a California junior college, a Golden Eagles representative said.
