Once NBA teams can speak with free agents beginning Monday,
Miami Heat president Pat Riley has his franchise in strong position to sell
Shane Battier on signing to play with
LeBron James and
Dwyane Wade, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Battier has been a primary target in free agency for the Heat, and sources say the pitch of Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and key Heat players could ultimately confirm Battierâs strong feelings about chasing a championship in Miami.
Riley and Spoelstra see Battier as a strong defender with an ability to hit the open shots thatâll come his way playing with James, Wade and
Chris Bosh. Battier has been a proven playoff performer, and possesses the professionalism and maturity to navigate within the harsh glare of the Heatâs existence.
Shane Battier helped the Grizzlies reach the Western Conference semifinals last season.
(NBAE/Getty Images)
Battier, 33, is still studying the marketplace, and how his personal scenario could change as different teams use the amnesty clause to create salary-cap space. Nevertheless, Miami currently stands as the most compelling option for him.
Teams arenât allowed to enter into formal agreements with free agents until Friday, but the NBA sent a memo on Saturday telling team officials they can talk to players starting on Monday morning. Teams have been able to negotiate with player agents since Thursday, but currently canât come to terms on deals.
Many had expected the
Oklahoma City Thunder to aggressively pursue Battier, but that hasnât happened. While
Kevin Durant publicly campaigned for Battier on Twitter in the offseason, Thunder officials havenât been engaged in the recruitment. With Battier in his advancing years, there are natural questions about his slippage as an elite perimeter defender, especially over a multiyear deal.
Battier would account for a portion â or all â of Miamiâs midlevel exception. Depending on the Heatâs maneuvering above or below the luxury-tax threshold, he could be eligible for up to a four-year, $20 million contract or a three-year, $9.4 million deal under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement.
Miami has had strong interest in free-agent center
Samuel Dalembert, but sources said itâs doubtful he would accept a midlevel exception at the expense of more lucrative offers available elsewhere. The Heat could use a portion of the midlevel to lure free-agent center
Kwame Brown, who is strongly considering Miami. The
Charlotte Bobcats are also pushing to hold onto Brown.
For more than a year, Miamiâs star players have pushed for Battier to join them in free agency. Battier spent last season with the
Houston Rockets and
Memphis Grizzlies. He played a significant role in the Grizzliesâ run to the Western Conference semifinals, and has publicly and privately said that heâs determined to sign with a title contender at this stage in his career.
By
Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
