temptations are there, but the Miami Heat can't touch.

Not now, and possibly not at all before the start of next season.

With NBA free agency opening Wednesday, answers to practically every Heat need will be available. There are Jason Kidd and Andre Miller at point guard, Hedo Turkoglu, Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom at small forward, bulky inside presences such as Zaza Pachulia and Marcin Gortat at center.

All would fit the Heat roster. Yet none fit into the current game plan.

With 2010 free agency still the target, when players such as his own Dwyane Wade as well as LeBron James, Chris Bosh and a host of other top-tier talents can relocate, Heat President Pat Riley insists he cannot scratch his itchy trigger finger.

Add any free agent for more than one season this summer, and the ability to bring back Wade and add a near-equal alongside in 2010 could be lost.

"We have a great blueprint in mind for 2010," coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday.

The escape hatch to such patience is one that only can be activated by Wade. Should Wade, when allowed starting on July 12, opt to extend his contract, the Heat then could not only utilize its $5 million-plus mid-level exception on a long-term contract with a free agent, but also could trade away expiring contracts such as Jermaine O'Neal, Mark Blount and Udonis Haslem for players whose contracts extend beyond the coming season.

"In 14 years working for Pat, you expect the unexpected," Spoelstra said. "We have the guy that's proven over the years that he'll pull the trigger at the drop of a dime, if it's the right deal.

"But we feel comfortable that we're in a position of patience right now. Things develop always, and we'll see what happens."

For the entire league, there will be somewhat of a waiting game. While free-agent negotiations are allowed to commence July 1, teams may not sign free agents or complete trades until July 8, when the signing moratorium ends and the salary-cap and luxury-tax figures for 2009-10 are announced.

Already above the projected salary cap and dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on excessive payroll for next season, the Heat, even if it wanted to jump into free agency, would be limited to the mid-level exception, which should fall at about $5.5 million, and the bi-annual exception, which is $2 million for next season.

In a tight economy, and with most prospects seeking multiyear deals, it is possible those funds go unspent. As it is, Riley said the Heat could carry as few as 13 players next season. The Heat not only already has 11 players under guaranteed contract for next season, but qualifying offers in place to restricted free agents Jamario Moon and Joel Anthony. And that 13-player total does not even include second-round draft choice Patrick Beverley or free agents Jamaal Magloire or Luther Head.

For his part, Riley is aware of the perceptions of the Heat falling behind the competition, what with Cleveland adding Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando trading for Vince Carter and Atlanta acquiring Jamal Crawford.

But compromising a 2010 salary-cap stash that currently has enough room for a re-signed Wade, a max free agent and possibly another quality free agent is not something Riley dares touch.

Unless. Unless Wade agrees to an extension that fast-tracks the process. With Wade under long-term contract, Riley believes such big trades also could be there for the Heat before the start of training camp.

"I think those kinds of trades, in the future, will be there again," he said. "We've got all summer."

Without a commitment from Wade or a change of salary-cap heart by Riley, the Heat figures to again shop at the type of bargain bin that produced Magloire and Yakhouba Diawara last summer, with the focus placed on the growth of young prospects Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers and Daequan Cook.

As sexy as a major free-agent or trade splash? No, not close. But it's all part of Riley's plan for a full-fledged seduction of elite talent in 2010.

Exactly, 2010 is going to be where amare, bosh, boozer, mcgrady, and so on will be free agents and which the heat will be a major factor.

i don't mind waiting for 2010 to get the big deal. Beasely Mario and Cook are going to get plenty better this offseason and we will have a nice core of young talent that will contribute. With this core and a healthy JO and Moon we can be a playoff contention team. Once 2010 comes, we get a superstar like Bosh or someone of that cailber to go with Wade + that same core of young players with 2 years of playoff experience and we got one hell of a team.

quote:

Originally posted by EternalSageX:
Exactly, 2010 is going to be where amare, bosh, boozer, mcgrady, and so on will be free agents and which the heat will be a major factor.

Dont mention mcgrady..lol He is the new steve francis

mcgrady is washed up he had his prime early in his career and now he is not as good i used to worship Tmac but know i dont even follow him

quote:

Originally posted by justafan:
mcgrady is washed up he had his prime early in his career and now he is not as good i used to worship Tmac but know i dont even follow him

2-3 years from now and we wont even know if he is still in the league or not

yea he is exactly what we dont need

I am sick of the lets wait to 2010 to get a star player excuse cause we all know that most of those players will resign new contracts with their current teams,also most teams in the NBA are waiting for 2010 too and are more than willing to pay top $ to get anything.

He better have a damn good backup plan, becuase if Wade leaves, he can't act like he had no idea it was coming, just to many missed oppurtunities and little drive to capture one talent for this team.

I think hes going to trade for Boozer and possibly sign AI for a year. Then the following season, AI is off the books for 2010.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/t...chine?tradeId=myu66t

We signed Cheap labor in Beverly to help out with the bench for when AI walks. AI would have to start for this season if we pick him up. I just hope that won't hurt Mario's production. I'm sure Spo will figure out a way to get them both minutes. Then again, look what happened in Detroit with Rip. That's the only thing im worried about.

Oh, if he does trade for boozer... do you guys think he will make Boozer commit with multi-year deal or let him walk after his contract?

i believe quinn and blount are very likely to be traded. they are not involved in summer camps or maybe no reports about them.

wright will be given a chance again. head isnt re-signed, he is a FA, so he cannot be traded.

I'm pretty sure Head is still on the books for next season but I could be wrong.

The is though, its easy to say "lets wait for 2010" but its not that easy.

1. Stoudamire has already stressed that he's either looking into resigning with phoenix for a max deal if they are willing to do so. And if that doesn't work then whatever team he is traded to this year, he wants to sign an extension with.


2. Bosh is still probably our #1 priority after wade but frankly, he will be the most sought after FA if cleveland gets it all or comes close to it and Lebron resigns in cleveland. Basically, the market for Lebron is extremely large and Miami wouldn't be able to coax him like some teams would. Hell, even the raptors could possibly give him a max deal if they can go far this year.


3. A lot more teams are scrapping the 2010 plan it seems and are going into win now mode. This opens up the market for a lot more of the quality guys. Especially through trades. A backup center like Gortat is in the upper tier of guys to sign compared to allen iverson, shawn marion, etc. etc.


As of now, "who wants to play with D-Wade in south beach" is our only pick up line. This offseason is going to be just like the 07-08 off season. Nobody will want to play with us, we'll make a bad deal mid season to contend with the teams whom have already pulled away and in the end, wade will become increasingly frustrated.

quote:

Originally posted by FeelnTheHeat:
I think hes going to trade for Boozer and possibly sign AI for a year. Then the following season, AI is off the books for 2010.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/t...chine?tradeId=myu66t

We signed Cheap labor in Beverly to help out with the bench for when AI walks. AI would have to start for this season if we pick him up. I just hope that won't hurt Mario's production. I'm sure Spo will figure out a way to get them both minutes. Then again, look what happened in Detroit with Rip. That's the only thing im worried about.

Man **** AI he is a sick basketball player and has contributed many good things to the game of basketball, however after seeing lastyear's drama he brought to the pistons to be honest with you signing AI to a 1 year MLE deal would hurt us more than benefit us. The dude is sick but lets all face it he isn't what he used to be. Chalmers will be our Starting PG when we win it all in 2010 or possibly 2011 just like Rondo was Boston's in 08-09. People kept saying trade Rondo to young to inexperienced. Look at him now the dude is a triple double beast. I'm not saying Chalmers will average a triple double but at this point and time he definitely has much more upside that AI bud.