The Miami Heat have free agent options in Eric Bledsoe, Greg Monroe, Ray Allen, Andrew Bynum, Michael Beasley and Greg Oden after Carlos Boozer was claimed by Los Angeles and that comes after the team made big moves keeping Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers while also signing Luol Deng and as Bledsoe is at odds with the Suns.
According to ESPN.com, the team is still looking to fill in spots on the roster and while the Cavaliers are making a push, Ray Allen could remain an option with the team, while Eric Bledsoe is also a target, but his price may be too high. ESPN writes that Bledsoe and the Suns are far apart on a deal and he wants nearly double what they offered him. Bledsoe also wants the max five years and they have offered four.
James is now in Cleveland, but the Heat should still be a major force in the east with their new Big 3 of Wade, Bosh and Luol Deng. The team has made smart moves to fill in the bench and they can use the money left over from not signing James to keep adding players as well. Jimmer Fredette was an option, but he is going to the Pelicans, while Oden, Andrew Bynum and Beasley could be cheap options as well.
Luol Deng was a huge signing for the team, as he can help fill the void left by LeBron James and while he obviously is not as dominant or talented a player as James, he is athletic and is strong on both ends of the floor. According to ESPN.com, Deng signed a two year deal worth $20 million after reported interest from the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers and he will be the centerpiece along with Dwyane Wade once he re-signs. Bosh returned to the Heat on a five year deal after getting heavy interest from the Houston Rockets and now Miami has a pseudo Big 3 after LeBron James left to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Deng is a strong player on both sides of the floor and while he isn't the scorer that LeBron James was, he can play man to man on the top player on the floor and he also rebounds very well from inside and on the wings. The Chicago Bulls traded Deng this summer to the Cleveland Cavaliers after not coming to an agreement on a contract extension and his agent said to the media after signing with the Heat that the Bulls offered a take it or leave it offer and did not negotiate with Deng past a certain point. The Bulls now have Gasol and now the east remains wide open, as the Cavaliers will be better along with the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and NY Knicks with Anthony staying put.
The Heat have signed Luol Deng in free agency after losing LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers and now other players like Eric Bledsoe, Greg Monroe and Shawn Marion could be potential options to group with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts as the team tries to rebound from their loss to the Spurs in the NBA finals and the split of the Big 3.
