NBA Rumors: Miami Heat after Vince Carter, Luol Deng, Channing Frye, & Shawn Marion
Te Miami are hoping to keep their big three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade together while adding another star player like New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony or on a lesser level, Toronto Raptors’ point guard Kyle Lowry.
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However, that seems like a pipe dream and the Heat are probably better off looking for bargain veterans who can fill a specific role.
Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders lists Dallas Mavericks’ swingman Vince Carter and forward Shawn Marion, Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward Luol Deng, Phoenix Suns’ big man Channing Frye as options for the Heat in free agency.
"Their biggest needs are on defense. So they need a big guy who can protect the rim and if they’re going to keep playing small another guy who can effectively play a Battier like role. They could go old on the wing with V. Carter or S. Marion. Channing Frye would be great for the offense, less so for the D. Luol Deng might not be a bad option either if he’s willing to sign there, although he’s slowing down athletically also.Now that Bosh, LeBron, and Wade are older, they need someone else to do the athletic dirty work or they’ll have to change their defensive scheme though. The type of athletes they really need to fly around aren’t really in this free agent class off the top of my head."
Carter averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season, Marion went 10.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game, Frye put up 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game and Deng averaged 16.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game.