Mavs after Haslem

[Mike-Dub]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnaNzvizdZvp8x1_VBErL.28vLYF?slug=ys-freeagentbuzz071110

The Dallas Mavericks are determined to make it difficult for free agent Udonis Haslem to easily return to the Miami Heat.

The Mavs have offered a contract believed to be a minimum of three years and $20 million, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Mavericks have offered Haslem their full mid-level exception starting at $5.85 million this season, a league source said.

The Heat are trying to re-sign Haslem to play with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, but salary cap restraints could leave them with as little as $4.3 million a year to pay him. And that’s assuming the Heat signs free agent Mike Miller starting at $4.9 million.

Haslem, who made $7 million last season, has been a consistent defender and rebounder for the Heat, and president Pat Riley has been determined to keep him. He averaged 10 points and eight rebounds in seven seasons with Miami.

New Jersey has shown interest in Haslem but hasn’t made a formal offer. Haslem shares the same agent as Wade and Bosh, and has expressed a strong desire to return to the Heat.

Good I hope he doesn't go back to the Heat.  They don't deserve a competitor and hard working guy like him.

[Rashi]

Good I hope he doesn't go back to the Heat.  They don't deserve a competitor and hard working guy like him.

+ 1

[GreenEnvy]

Eh, don't really care where he goes.

[Jon]

And the Jermaine O'Neal signing continues to look like a bargain. 

[jr_3421]

And the Jermaine O'Neal signing continues to look like a bargain. 

Agreed.

[FallGuy]

Good I hope he doesn't go back to the Heat.  They don't deserve a competitor and hard working guy like him.

+ 1

Glad to see he got a legit offer from another team. Keeping him away from the Heat would be a boon to the Celtics. I hope the same thing happens with a few of their other targets.

[RJ87]

I still think Haslem goes back to the Heat at the end of the day.

[jdpapa3]

Heard he took a smaller deal with the Heat...crazy to leave that much money on the table, but I guess we should admire sacrificing money to win?? Hard to feel that way with Miami's acquisitions lately.

[Rashi]

Just heard from Udonis Haslem. He has turned down far larger deals from the Nuggets and Mavericks . . . and will be back with the Heat!

http://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat

Haslem email to Sun Sentinel, and, therefore, Heat fans: "Turned down full mid level from Dallas and Denver. See u next season."

http://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat

[hpantazo]

Just heard from Udonis Haslem. He has turned down far larger deals from the Nuggets and Mavericks . . . and will be back with the Heat!

http://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat

Haslem email to Sun Sentinel, and, therefore, Heat fans: "Turned down full mid level from Dallas and Denver. See u next season."

http://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat

With Haslem and Miller, the Heat are inching closer to being a true championship team. They need a tough center now.

[jdpapa3]

I think this has the potential to get very sketchy if it is a one year deal and then he inks a large, mid-level type deal next season.

[Chris]

I think this has the potential to get very sketchy if it is a one year deal and then he inks a large, mid-level type deal next season.

Why? No matter what, he is giving up a lot of money.  He can give up money all he wants, to play where he wants.  Everyone wants guys to do that for the C's, why can't they do that for the Heat?

[jdpapa3]

I think this has the potential to get very sketchy if it is a one year deal and then he inks a large, mid-level type deal next season.

Why? No matter what, he is giving up a lot of money.  He can give up money all he wants, to play where he wants.  Everyone wants guys to do that for the C's, why can't they do that for the Heat?

I'm saying an under the table type of agreement where they promise him midlevel money next season. Will look obvious if he gets hurt, but otherwise will be close to impossible to prove.

[Chris]

I think this has the potential to get very sketchy if it is a one year deal and then he inks a large, mid-level type deal next season.

Why? No matter what, he is giving up a lot of money.  He can give up money all he wants, to play where he wants.  Everyone wants guys to do that for the C's, why can't they do that for the Heat?

I'm saying an under the table type of agreement where they promise him midlevel money next season. Will look obvious if he gets hurt, but otherwise will be close to impossible to prove.

Yeah, I know thats what you meant, but I still have no problem with it, if that's what they want to do.  He would still be giving up a lot of money, since he could get a full MLE deal right now.  These things happen all the time in sports. 

I mean, the Celtics are trying to get around the salary cap by having a handshake agreement with Sheed to wait until after they trade him to retire. 

And, making an agreement under the table has its own risks, since there is nothing binding, and either side could pull out, without suffering for it.  Just ask Carlos Boozer about handshake agreements.