Posey will stay with Heat

[BAMAPHIN 22]

James Posey was a key part of the Miami Heat's run to the NBA championship. And he wants to be a part of the title defense, too.

Posey decided Friday to exercise his $6.4 million option to stay with the Heat next season, electing not to become a free agent. He and the Heat will likely talk about a longer-term deal in the coming weeks, but for now, Posey simply wanted to ensure he'd be back for the 2006-07 campaign.

"He won a championship and really enjoyed every moment of the experience in Miami," said Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein. "It's a place he wants to be. We kind of went back and forth about testing the market, but he'll be a free agent next year in the prime of his career. He couldn't lose either way."

With the free-agent window opening Saturday, Posey's decision answers one of many questions the Heat will face this summer.

Finals MVP Dwyane Wade is eligible for a five-year extension worth around $75 million, and neither side expects those negotiations to be stressful. Heat general manager Randy Pfund and Wade's agent, Henry Thomas, have already had conversations  and negotiations could formally begin Saturday at 12:01 a.m.

"The academic part of it is we hope that Dwyane will extend his contract," Heat coach Pat Riley said Friday. "We will have the conversation, whether it's at midnight, or tomorrow morning or at a sensible time. And we will move forward with really taking care of that as our first order of business."

Backup center Alonzo Mourning may retire, veteran guard Gary Payton is a free agent who wants to return to Miami, and Shandon Anderson is also a free agent. Any or all of them could return to the Heat, but Riley indicated again that Miami's younger players may be getting a shot at cracking the rotation by next season.

"We want to address the fact that Dorell Wright, Jason Kapono, Earl Barron, Wayne Simien, from that standpoint, along with Dwyane and Udonis (Haslem), represent the young, under-25-year-old core of youth," Riley said. "We have to start thinking about them, because we put a lot of time and effort in them."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/heat/2006-06-30-free-agency_x.htm

 

[Prime Time]

:bravo: Great news on Posey...

I don't see how we will play all these guys though..

 

[Fresh]

Play or pay? We played them all last year just fine; no crying over playing time at all.

 

[icephinfan]

I like Posey, glad he's coming back, it sucked when we traded and got him, reporters put him down. Well, he helped us get a ring and that is what matters.

 

[Alex44]

Play or pay? We played them all last year just fine; no crying over playing time at all.

Yeah but now we need to add another guy to the mix

Dorell Wright....and for that purpose I hope Wright/Posey split time at the 3 spot and Haslem/Walker split time at the 4

 

[Fresh]

Yeah but now we need to add another guy to the mix

Dorell Wright....and for that purpose I hope Wright/Posey split time at the 3 spot and Haslem/Walker split time at the 4

That's the exact same way I see it. Also, don't be surprised to see Wright get some time at the 1 too - in the backcourt with Wade. We're probably going to look at PG's like Chucky Atkins, Marcus Banks, Tony Delk, etc. along with the possibility of retaining Gary Payton, but Wright will see time at the 1, 2, & 3.

Also, due to Antoine Walker's better than expected postseason, I'd expect to see him in some trade rumors this summer. Although very unlikely to go down, I'd expect Pat Riley to make some calls trying to get a sign & trade for Bonzi Wells, because he just seems like a Pat Riley type of player. Sacramento may lose him for nothing, and he'll be seeking a contract probably almost identical to Toine's..

 

[icephinfan]

Trade WALKER????

 

[Fresh]

Trade WALKER????

I highly, highly, highly doubt it happens - but it probably will be discussed.

I'm sure Antoine Walker's name was thrown in on draft night. We tried to move up to #21 for Marcus Williams with Phoenix, but of course it was a no-go because we didn't have "enough"..

 

[icephinfan]

I highly, highly, highly doubt it happens - but it probably will be discussed.

I'm sure Antoine Walker's name was thrown in on draft night. We tried to move up to #22 for Marcus Williams with Phoenix, but of course it was a no-go because we didn't have "enough"..

Wow, that would have been sweet, Marcus Williams on the Heat. Were still going to look in the Free Agent pool though right??

 

[Alex44]

I highly, highly, highly doubt it happens - but it probably will be discussed.

I'm sure Antoine Walker's name was thrown in on draft night. We tried to move up to #21 for Marcus Williams with Phoenix, but of course it was a no-go because we didn't have "enough"..

Probally more like 'we wouldnt give up To much'

Those Dorell Wright rumors scared the crap out of me....he's going to be a great player

 

[Fresh]

Wow, that would have been sweet, Marcus Williams on the Heat. Were still going to look in the Free Agent pool though right??

Yep - we've already got a list of guys committed to workouts/our summer league squad. Most Miami residents are familiar with Robert Hite, guard from UM - he's going to join our summer league team, but I highly doubt he even gets a camp invite because he's very limited. Only 6'2, can't really push the ball, can't really get to the basket - he doesn't really do anything but shoot. One guy I wouldn't be surprised to see on 2006-2007's edition of "15 Strong" is Mike Gansey. Even with Redick in this draft, many considered Gansey the best shooter.

Those Dorell Wright rumors scared the crap out of me....he's going to be a great player

No doubt - I expect him to take over for DA/Kapono early on, then work his way up the rotation as a potential starter by season's end (don't be surprised). The Tracy McGrady comparisons are scary. I must've been one of the only people understanding about passing on Jameer Nelson that year. I think Dorell will be better. If this guy pans out for us, which is 50/50 although I expect to see it, all of a sudden we've got a guy who can play PG, SG, & SF.

 

[icephinfan]

Yep - we've already got a list of guys committed to workouts/our summer league squad. Most Miami residents are familiar with Robert Hite, guard from UM - he's going to join our summer league team, but I highly doubt he even gets a camp invite because he's very limited. Only 6'2, can't really push the ball, can't really get to the basket - he doesn't really do anything but shoot. One guy I wouldn't be surprised to see on 2006-2007's edition of "15 Strong" is Mike Gansey. Even with Redick in this draft, many considered Gansey the best shooter.

Interesting Mike Gansey huh, was he in the draft????

 

[Fresh]

Interesting Mike Gansey huh, was he in the draft????

Yeah, most people had him going early-2nd, but he went undrafted.

I'm still puzzled on that, same with Allan Ray who is expected to sign with Boston.

In round 2, teams just went crazy for international players..

 

[icephinfan]

Yeah, most people had him going early-2nd, but he went undrafted.

I'm still puzzled on that, same with Allan Ray who is expected to sign with Boston.

In round 2, teams just went crazy for international players..

Yeah, I did notice that too, alot of international players got picked.

Speaking of international players, what about the Heat signing Peja"don't know how to spell his last name" LOL.????

 

[King Felix]

Yeah, I did notice that too, alot of international players got picked.

Speaking of international players, what about the Heat signing Peja"don't know how to spell his last name" LOL.????

peja stovakic? well then dorrells playin time goes down the drain.