As the 2009 NBA offseason winds down and training camp gets closer, we have seen plenty of NBA teams bolster their rosters through trades and free agent signings. It has been a busy offseason, with a lot of big names moving to different cities and a lot of teams adding the one piece they hope will put them over the top.
Championship contenders such as Cleveland, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston, and San Antonio have all made big moves to strengthen their chances at a title run. The Cavaliers traded for Shaquille O'Neal, the Magic traded for Vince Carter, the Lakers signed Ron Artest, the Celtics inked Rasheed Wallace, and San Antonio acquired Richard Jefferson.
With that in mind, it is clear that it will be that much harder to vie for a playoff spot in both the Eastern and Western Conference. While even the non-contending teams made upgrades, the Miami Heat have not tampered with their lineup the least bit. They are one of two teams (Utah Jazz) in the NBA that didn't add a veteran free agent in this year's offseason.
In addition to that, Miami has not signed either of their two second round draft picks, Patrick Beverley and Robert Dozier. The only thing the Heat have accomplished this offseason? Resigning their two backup centers, Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire, to one-year deals. Other than that minor move, the Miami Heat have been completely quiet.
Although the Heat were quiet in action, they certainly made some noise when it came to trade/free agent speculation.
Rumors started with free agent point guard Allen Iverson. The 10-time All-Star was linked to the Heat for weeks, before talks finally quieted down. Pat Riley was only willing to give Iverson a one-year deal worth the veterans minimum, which appears to be not nearly enough for Iverson.
As Iverson rumors faded, trade rumors started swirling. After the Utah Jazz resigned Paul Millsap, it is clear that forward Carlos Boozer is on his way out. And just like that, Miami was in the headlines for a possible deal that would send Dorrell Wright and Udonis Haslem to Utah in exchange for the disgruntled Boozer.
Boozer publicly expressed his desire to play for the Heat, stating how he has a great friendship with Heat superstar Dwyane Wade and has a home down in Miami. Rumors eventually died down when both Pat Riley and the Jazz publicly announced there was nothing going on.
Then came the most intense action of the summer when free agent Lamar Odom got his multi-year offer withdrawn from Jerry Buss and the Lakers. Riley and the Heat jumped on the opportunity and aggressively pursued the former Heat forward.
Not only did Riley pursue Odom, but Wade got in on the recruitment by using his Twitter account to express his desire to bring Odom back to Miami. He tweeted a message directed for LO, saying "Come back home. Come back to where it all started."
Weeks of speculation passed as Odom left everyone in limbo about his future. After LA withdrew their offer, ESPN reported that Miami and Odom were very close to reaching a deal.
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