Stoudemire, Boozer will meet with Miami Heat; Riley must convince LeBron, Bosh

BY BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com
Mostly NBA chatter on the eve of free agency:

• Trying to cover his bases with the top free agents, Pat Riley has planned a meeting with Phoenix Suns free agent power forward Amare Stoudemire on Thursday in Los Angeles and also plans to meet with Utah Jazz free agent power forward Carlos Boozer.

But Riley's dream scenario is a Dwyane Wade/LeBron James/Chris Bosh troika. He will pitch that idea to the three players and not only needs to convince James to share the spotlight with Wade but also to erase Bosh's skepticism about the feasibility of Riley's three-superstar plan. When Riley meets with James this week in Akron, Ohio, and Bosh in the coming days, he must address questions about how much Miami can pay them (all three can get maximum salary if Michael Beasley is traded and Joel Anthony's qualifying offer is rescinded) and how their games will be affected by playing with two other big-time scorers.

``I don't see it happening,'' Bosh told us this past weekend of the idea of the three playing together on the Heat.

``I don't even know how it would work. It sounds pie in the sky. Riley is known as a guy who is like a mastermind-type genius. He's probably having a vision one day. But who knows? I don't see it happening.''

Despite Bosh's skepticism, the three-star alignment gained momentum the past few days, with Wade advocating the plan in talks with the other two stars. Riley, hopeful but uncertain he can pull it off, has interest in Stoudemire and Boozer if Bosh balks.

James and Wade have spoken to Boozer in recent days, and Wade made clear he would welcome playing with Boozer, who's a close friend. (That could happen only if Bosh -- Miami's prefered choice -- signs elsewhere.)

Bosh said Miami is in ``top contention'' for him and looked at houses in South Florida this past weekend, though nothing definitive should be drawn from that.

If James can be persuaded by Riley and Wade to sign with the Heat, it would not be surprising if they convince Bosh to join them. One obstacle would be if Toronto rejects the Heat's sign-and-trade efforts for Bosh, and Bosh accepts a sign-and-trade elsewhere, perhaps with strong suitors Houston and Chicago, to get a more lucrative contract.

• Stoudemire's camp believes he is Miami's number 2 power forward choice behind Bosh. But Boozer's camp was left with the impression that he is Miami's No. 2 power forward choice behind Bosh. Boozer, who would love to sign with Miami, will meet with the Heat, Knicks, Nets and Bulls. Stoudemire will meet with multiple teams.

• A confidante of Suns free agent Stoudemire said he cooled on the Heat last week because he was disappointed he was not Miami's No. 1 power forward choice. But Stoudemire was pleased to learn that Miami wants to meet with him at the start of free agency and is eager to hear what the team has to say.

• The reports of James possibly joining the Heat fueled a significant spike in Heat season ticket sales and local Internet traffic the past two days. Following a more definitive report by Stephen A. Smith, ESPN said Tuesday the Heat is the favorite for James but that James has been ``non-committal'' in discussions with Wade. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Tuesday that the Cavs have the edge.

• James Jones, who was released on Tuesday, helped the Heat by restructuring his buyout to lower his 2010-11 cap number from $1.85 million to $1.5 million. By trading Beasley for nothing on its 2010-11 cap, the Heat could give Wade, James and Bosh all max deals (starting at $16.6 million) and keep Mario Chalmers, with minimum salaries filling out the roster. The Heat on Tuesday extended a qualifying offer to Anthony - giving it the right to match any offer - but can rescind it at any time. That would count $1.06 million against the cap until he signs.


• Two teams with cap space said this week they haven't been approached by the Heat about Beasley but one said he might have interest in taking him for very little should Miami dump him.

The notion of the three stars taking slightly under the max, giving Miami more room to fill out the roster, has been raised but would be a tough sell.

• Bosh bristles at reports he will follow James wherever he signs. ``I don't even know where he wants to go,'' Bosh said. ``I have to make decisions based on how I feel.''

• One respected general manager told us if he were the Heat, he would sign Stoudemire because he can play center if needed, ``whereas Bosh doesn't like the contact'' and doesn't want to play center. ``And Stoudemire doesn't need the ball in his hands, while Bosh likes to take a few dribbles,'' the GM said. Another GM disagreed: ``Bosh is the better player. Amare is more physical but can't guard anybody.''

• A friend of Wade said if the Heat can't add James and Bosh or Boozer, Wade also likes a Wade/Bosh/Joe Johnson combo. But ESPN reported the Knicks are Johnson's first choice, with several others in pursuit.

• A Memphis official said a Beasley trade for restricted free agent Rudy Gay wouldn't make sense, noting the Grizzlies have Zach Randolph at power forward. A trade of Gay would happen only if owner Michael Heisley decides not to pay Gay (he said publicly he will) and wants a cheaper player.

• Raymond Felton, the top free agent point guard, has strong interest in the Heat, and Miami is expected to call Felton, among others, if it doesn't fill its cap with three stars. One scout cautioned, ``Felton is pretty good at a lot of things but not great at anything. And he was torched by Jameer Nelson in the playoffs.''

• Udonis Haslem, on what he believes he is worth: ``I look at guys at my position -- Anderson Varajao, Lamar Odom, Paul Millsap, and I want to be in the league with those guys. I led the league in double-doubles off the bench.'' Millsap will make $6.2 million in 2010-11, Varajeo $7 million and Odom $8.2 million.

Still, it's difficult to envision the Heat going that high. What if another team offers him more? ``It would be a big decision,'' he said. ``If we're on the verge of winning another championship here, why would I want to leave?''

• One Marlins executive has been telling people that talks with Bobby Valentine stalled because the Marlins were unwilling to give him as much autonomy as he wants.

• Though a return here would be surprising, free agent center Olli Jokinen (15 goals, 35 assists with the Flames and Rangers last season) would love to sign with the Panthers, his agent said.

• Many incoming UM football players began classes Tuesday, but a few commitments are uncertain if they will be academically eligible, including Jacksonville offensive lineman Tavadis Glenn, California linebacker Kelvin Cain and Fort Myers defensive back Jeremy Davis. Miami Beach defensive tackle Delmar Taylor will go to junior college.