Heat Matter « SporTech Matter

8
Jul/060

Heat Matter

Here are a couple of things from around the Heat orgnazination that are worth noting. I should point out that the Heat are most likely going to stand pat this offseason not really adding many high priced FA’s. The key was getting Dwyane Wade locked up and fill in pieces around him. As pointed out on MSD, Lindsey Hunter would have been a nice addition if he didn’t resign with Detroit. Here are a few pieces of Matter worth noting.

The Heat gave a two-year, $1.1 million contract to ex-West Virginia shooting guard Mike Gansey, who went undrafted last week, but only a small portion of the deal is guaranteed. Gansey, 6-4, averaged 16.8 points on 55 percent shooting last season and led the Mountaineers in rebounds (189), steals (62) and three-point percentage (42.9).

Gansey and his former West Virginia teammate, 6-11 center Kevin Pittsnogle, will be on the Heat’s summer-league team.

Appearing on ABC’s The View on Thursday, backup center Alonzo Mourning said he hasn’t decided whether to play next season. ”I’m on such a high right now,” he said. “I’m really enjoying the moment. I’m not thinking about basketball right now.”

Guard Derek Anderson planned to meet with coach Pat Riley. Unless Riley tells him he will be in the rotation, Anderson will seek a buyout from the last year of his contract, which will pay him $2.5 million next season.

But the Heat would have the option of holding on to Anderson as long as it wants in case it decides to use him or possibly Jason Kapono or Michael Doleac in a trade. Doleac ($3.13 million next season) would be needed if Mourning retires.

A contract extension remains a possibility for James Posey, who will earn $6.4 million next season.

The Heat must decide by mid-July whether to exercise a $744,000 option on center Earl Barron, who will join swingman Dorell Wright on the summer-league team.

The Heat excused forward Wayne Simien from summer league so he can get married Saturday. Seeking another big man, Miami got a summer-league commitment from Jackson Vroman, who played in 87 NBA games the past two years.

Off the court, owner Micky Arison is taking the Larry O’Brien Trophy with him on Carnival Corp. business this summer. The trophy was in China last week and Italy this week. Two in a long line of Heat parties are scheduled this weekend — Mourning’s Saturday night at Pangaea at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and Wade’s Sunday at Prive on South Beach.