The Miami Heat are thrilled after signing Luol Deng for Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and now the team has other free agent options they can look at, including names like Chris Douglas-Roberts, Andrew Bynum, Greg Oden, Chris Singleton, Ray Allen and Ramon Sessions, as those names are the top players left in free agency as Miami fills out the rest of their roster.
Despite losing LeBron James back to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat feel that they have made strong moves and that they will be stronger on the bench than last season. According to the Miami Herald, the team is considering bringing back Beasley and/or Oden, but right now it looks like neither of those players will be back next season. Pro Basketball Talk reports that the LA Lakers have worked out Michael Beasley and while they have not signed him yet, there is a chance that a deal could get done soon.
Miami has been looking at signing Chris Douglas-Roberts this offseason as well and he could be a very good option off the bench. Douglas-Roberts had a solid season for the Hornets last season and he played in nearly 50 games and was a strong shooter at over 42 percent overall he also shot over 35 percent from three. Douglas-Roberts averaged 6.9 points and 2.4 rebounds and he could be a solid bench option, while Oden now is dealing with some legal trouble and may not play this season. Last year Oden averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 23 games and did not make too much of an impact for Miami and now he could be out for the season if his legal issues keep going.
According to ESPN.com, Ray Allen is planning on playing next season, but he has not decided on where yet. Allen is being pursued by Miami and Cleveland and all reports say that the Cavaliers are the top option. Allen was considering retirement, but reports say that he will play next season, although no decision has yet been made about what he will do.
Miami feels that they have the chance to win the east still despite the move of James and while Cleveland will be very good after the Kevin Love trade, it is no guarantee the team will make it to the finals. James and the Cavaliers have a solid roster coming together after adding Shawn Marion and Miami has made some very good moves as well, including adding Deng and keeping Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem on the roster.
Miami has been to four straight NBA finals in the east and now the Cavs could be the favorites to unseat them. Once the Kevin Love deal gets real, Cleveland should be looking real good in the east.
