Miami Heat make long-shot inquiry about Allen Iverson - 籃球

By CHRIS PERKINS
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 02, 2009

MIAMI — The Heat's process of free agent due diligence agency has led it to
inquire about Detroit guard Allen Iverson, according to a NBA source, but the
source said the Heat is probably far down on Iverson's list of preferred teams.


Miami, which routinely asks about a large number of players early in the free
agency process, also inquired about Houston forward Ron Artest, but Artest,
an unrestricted free agent, said Thursday he'll sign with the Los Angeles
Lakers.


"I'm definitely going to L.A. - to sign, yeah," Artest told CBSsports.com.
"Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I'm in L.A. right now."

Teams were allowed to begin negotiating with free agents Wednesday. Teams can't
sign free agents until July 8.

Heat president Pat Riley has insisted the Heat isn't likely to be active in
free agency considering its financial constraints.

"This is not our year," Riley said recently.

Miami's projected payroll for next season is already around $70 million, which
exceeds the projected salary cap of $58 million and is right at the projected
luxury tax. The Heat only has the mid-level exception, which is projected to be
around $5.5 million and the $2 million veteran's exception to offer without
going deeper into the punitive dollar-for-dollar luxury tax.

The Heat's chance of signing Iverson would rely largely on two things: other
destinations for Iverson becoming unavailable, and whether the future Hall of
Fame player would be willing to settle for the mid-level exception, which is
estimated to be around $5.5 million.


Iverson, who earned $20 million last season, still has hopes of signing with a
team that has money or having Detroit work a sign-and-trade deal with another
team.


Miami is thought to be primarily seeking a veteran point guard, a reserve
shooting guard and a forward-center.


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