Shaquille O'Neal shows off his new jersey with then Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy during a press conference to introduce the All-Star center at AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday, July 20, 2004. O'Neal has since bounced to the Suns and Cavaliers after winning a championship with Miami in 2006.
gcote@MiamiHerald.com
``Bring back Shaq!'' ``Hey T-Mac is still out there!'' ``They should sign Iverson!''
Too numerous to count are the times I have heard comments such as these mentioned by Heat fans or seen them written in e-mails over the past few days. I prefer the e-mails, because when said directly to me the comments tend to be accompanied by a strong waft of liquor -- as thinking Miami should sign Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady or Allen Iverson is not nearly as likely when sober.
They are the NBA's three biggest remaining free agents in terms of flagging name value and past-weighted résumés, but the idea that means they make sense for Miami right now is insane. They make the opposite of sense.
In choosing how to fill out the remainder of the 15-man roster, who Pat Riley doesn't sign might be as important as who he does.
The criteria from here should be heavy on chemistry. On fit.
The team we will see night in night out starting in October is set. Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh dominating marquee and minutes; Joel Anthony and Mario Chalmers as the token other starters at center and point guard; Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem as the primary first-off-the-bench guys; and Zydrunas Ilgauskas in heavy rotation as the backup big.
That's eight by my count.
And when Miller is in, which will be a lot, Chalmers will usually sit and James or Wade will run things from the point.
SIT AND WATCH
Simple. Neat.
That means anybody brought in from here will need to be comfortable on the bench, on the far end of rotation, as maybe the ninth guy who not always even get in a game. (Not to mention swallowing a minimum salary.)
Does that sound like Shaq, T-Mac or Iverson?
There never was a chance with Shaq returning. The Big Bridge Burner blew it with this regime when he ripped the training staff when traded to Phoenix. Shaq has also jabbed and needled Bosh in the past.
Even if there wasn't the bad blood, the Heat will struggle as it is to find enough basketball for Wade, James and Bosh without Jabba the Hut planted in the paint and crying for his touches.
McGrady and Iverson also have been starters throughout their careers whose eager acceptance of a limited role is tough to fathom.
The same limited role is why a free agent the Heat could use -- former Heater Jason Williams, a point guard -- could go elsewhere.
Miami could use another veteran such as Williams geared mostly to the guard rotation but the names that make the most sense now are not Iverson or McGrady but guys such as Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley, Williams or Eddie House.
Stackhouse should intrigue. Riley is not averse to veterans in niche roles, and Stackhouse would serve more value to this roster than, say, the already signed Juwan Howard. Stackhouse, 6-6 and age 36, last was a full-time NBA starter in 2003 so is comfortable as a role player and even went on NBA TV to campaign for a Heat role, saying he would agree to a minimum salary.
(Anyway, how appropriate that a team playing with the basketball equivalent of a stacked deck or full house might add a guy named Stackhouse?)
EARNING HIS WAY
Stackhouse wouldn't present the chemistry threat of, say, Iverson -- yet has far more left to give than others who have come out of the woodwork begging to grab onto the Dream Team coattails, like 39-year-old Penny Hardaway.
(Can Tim Hardaway's declared comeback be far behind?)
The overriding idea is that Wade/James/Bosh will be so dominant as a triumvirate that whatever parts are plugged into the other two spots will be better by their surroundings. I mean, how can Chalmers not be a better point guard assured of averaging at least two or three more assists per game when he is dribbling up the floor and seeing three options that, combined, averaged 80 points last season?
The main eight players are set.
It's the others who might not have much role on the hardwood but who will have a say in the team's chemistry and harmony. No egos allowed from here. Miami has its full share, thanks.
The Heat's last couple of signings will be made with that rather delicate balance in mind.
That's why the man nicknamed The Answer, Iverson, likely won't be part of the solution here.
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