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NBA Rumors: Miami Heat make surprise run at LaMarcus Aldridge

By Josh Hill

Feb 11, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami Heat have finally arrived to the LaMarcus Alridge party, and Pat Riley might end up pulling off the steal of the offseason.

Next: 10 Teams That Should Sign Dwyane Wade

The Miami Heat need to find a way to re-sign Dwyane Wad without giving him max money he’s outlandishly asking for. Just like how LeBron James held Pat Riley’s feet to the fire before burning him last summer, Wade is playing hardball with Miami to get a better roster compiled.

Pat Riley might have found his secret weapon to convince Wade to come back and buckle.

According to Marc Stein from ESPN.com, the Miami Heat came late to the LaMarcus Aldridge party but have arrived nevertheless.

Pat Riley not getting in on the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes seemed wrong, and we were all starting to get suspicious about what he was up to. Miami is focused on re-signing Dwyane Wade and have already handed out a $90 million contract to Goran Dragic.

There’s also the matter of figuring out the long-term plan for Hassan Whiteside, although that’s not an immediate concern.

Adding Aldridge would be expensive, but if there’s a man in the NBA who is better at selling free agents on playing for him than Pat Riley, we haven’t met him yet. Riley doesn’t have a perfect negotiating record, but he’s a man with a plan and knows how to get what he wants.

What this also proves is that Aldridge isn’t sold on one team yet, he’s still feeling out all of his options. The Suns made a huge trade to dump salary and make room for LMA, the Spurs are at the top of the leaderboard when it comes to signing him and even the Lakers are getting a second chance at wooing him.

But teams need to take note of how quickly Pat Riley swam up from the dark depth of the free agency ocean to lunge at Aldridge. It’s an unexpected move, an outlandish idea and one that Pat Riley might find a way to make work in his evil Emperor Palpatine ways.

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