[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Dallas Morning News

The Miami Heat have discussed a deal with the Dallas Mavericks to acquire big man Brendan Haywood, the Miami Herald reported, citing a player and a separate agent who have been directly involved in those discussions.

Miami would part with Heat free agent center Jermaine O’Neal or Michael Beasley — or both. The Heat has met with Mavericks free agent center Haywood already. It also has talked with the Utah Jazz and power forward Carlos Boozer.

It’s possible the Heat would also seek a backup point guard from Dallas, with Rodrigue Beaubois and J.J. Barea both playing behind Jason Kidd.

Any potential sign-and-trade with Utah would certainly center on a O’Neal-for-Boozer swap, with free agent Jazz swingman Kyle Korver also a possible Heat target.

Beasley has been erratic in his two years with the Heat. But he was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2008 and is only 21. He averaged 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds last season, and it would seem logical that his numbers are only going to get better.

O’Neal, who is a free agent and could be a part of a sign-and-trade, once averaged 24 points per game, but his scoring dipped to about 14 last season as he’s struggled with injuries in recent years.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

If Dallas could get Beasley and O’Neal for say Haywood and Carroll?

Dallas would have made a great move. Beasley needs time on the bench. He should be that 6th man who could heat it up playing behind Butler and Marion. Beas and Terry off the bench could be hectic.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

The reason this could be a sneaky good move for Miami is that if they cannot get the three-star dream, they might as well use their expiring contracts as chips and operate as a team over the salary cap. The last two rumors for Miami have been around Brendan Haywood and Carlos Boozer, both in sign-and-trades. Here is why this is smart. If they get Boozer and Haywood in sign-and-trades, they can still keep Haslem, Richardson, Wright, Arroyo, and have their roster exceptions (MLE and bi-annual).

PG: C. Arroyo, M. Chalmers, P. Beverley
SG: D. Wade, (Roger Mason Jr. for bi-annual exception), D. Butler
SF: (Mike Miller for MLE), Q. Richardson, D. Wright
PF: C. Boozer, U. Haslem, J. Varnado
C: B. Haywood, J. Anthony, D. Pittman

It isn’t a threat for 72-10, but it would be interesting.

[Author]

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