Jan. 21--As the Miami Heat continues to consider a deal for Jermaine O'Neal, Miami has been giving thought to other Shawn Marion trade scenarios, including one involving Dallas small forward Josh Howard, according to an official involved in the Marion discussions. Several teams have inquired about Marion, who's unlikely to re-sign here, but it's not certain a deal will happen.
The Heat considers center its No. 1 need and O'Neal as the best center available but remains concerned about his sore right knee (which has sidelined him 11 games this season) and the $23 million he's due in 2009-10, the last year of his contract. It's 50-50 whether Miami will accept Toronto's offer of O'Neal for Marion and Marcus Banks, the official said. The O'Neal camp is optimistic it will happen. The Heat is studying at least three other options, with Dallas confirmed to be among them. The Heat and Mavericks spoke about a four-team deal that would have brought Howard here, but that was sidetracked when Dallas sent DeSagana Diop to Charlotte. But the Heat remains intrigued by Howard, who's due $10.8 million in 2009-10 and has a team option for $11.8 million in 2010-11. Dallas would need to add at least one other player for cap reasons.
The Heat also prefers to move Mark Blount or Banks in a Marion trade.
Charlotte spoke to the Heat, but Miami doesn't want Gerald Wallace's long-term contract. New Orleans likes Marion, but the Heat -- which wants ample 2010 cap space -- presumably would not want Peja Stojakovic's contract, which pays him $15.3 million in 2010-11.
Sacramento would consider a deal involving center Brad Miller and a second player (but not John Salmons) for Marion, but the Heat hasn't pursued that since an initial inquiry about Miller more than a month ago.
Miami inquired earlier about the Clippers' Marcus Camby but was told he's not available. There have been no serious Heat talks about Chris Kaman, whose deal runs past 2011. New York would welcome Marion's expiring contract, but seemingly has little to appeal to the Heat.
Portland, hypothetically, could use Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract ($12 million this year) and tempt the Heat if it offered one or two of its young, cheap players such as Travis Outlaw and Jerryd Bayless.
Miami is happy with Mario Chalmers, but would listen if a quality point guard is offered. The Heat has not offered Marion a new contract after Marion rejected its initial offer last summer.
One NBA scout, on O'Neal (averaging 13.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and shooting 47 percent): "He's not the guy he was, but he's not washed up. It looks like he's lost a step, but he can defend and give them a shot-blocker." But in the past four seasons, he played in only 44, 51, 69 and 42 games.
The Heat is receptive to trading Marion for a productive player whose contract runs through 2009-10 because: 1) Carlos Boozer, the top impending free agent, is no longer viewed as the ideal fit here, with Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley at power forward. 2) Even if Miami kept Marion and didn't re-sign him, it would have less than $10 million in cap space this summer, not enough for Boozer anyway.
The plan remains big cap space in 2010, with Miami expected to pursue Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudamire to pair with Dwyane Wade, who can also be a free agent that summer.
Marion said Tuesday he is "really tired" of the trade rumors. "It's very distracting. It's frustrating."
CHATTER
If the Marion/O'Neal trade happens, that would not open a starting spot for Beasley, because the Heat views him as a power forward. Asked Tuesday how much small forward Beasley could play now, coach Erik Spoelstra said, "Eventually, he could probably play some. I don't want to do that right now because that's a tough transition. I want to simplify his thinking as much as possible." Spoelstra said Beasley can play small forward offensively "right now. Defensively, that would be the biggest adjustment."
Spoelstra said Alonzo Mourning's future should be clarified by the mid-February All-Star break. Spoelstra said he doesn't known what Mourning will decide but that Mourning continues to work out hard and has had no medical setbacks.
Agent Carl Carey said the Dolphins likely "will be on the list of potential destinations" for Julius Peppers, the top free-agent pass-rusher whose "desire is to move on" from Carolina. But if Carolina places the franchise tag on him, a team would have to trade for him and pay him big money -- a steep price.
Because of a Sept. 12 conflict with a Marlins game, UM will announce it's moving its home football game against Oklahoma to Oct. 3 and the game at UCF to Oct. 17.
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