The loss of Miami Heat star Chris Bosh has the team eying free agents such as Andray Blatche and Michael Beasley, with the frontrunner to end up in Miami likely being Blatche.
Miami announced Saturday Bosh would be out for the season because of the blood clots found in one of his lungs. While the good news for Heat fans is Bosh is expected to make a full recovery, the bad news is Miami now needs to find a replacement for him to close out the season. There are a few names on the market worth looking at, but Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler believes the Heat will ultimately sign Blatche.
"I think Andray Blatche is going to Miami, but that's not a done deal yet," Kyler wrote Monday.
Blatche, who played for the Brooklyn Nets last season, became available in February after his Chinese Basketball Association team - the Xinjiang Flying Tigers - failed to reach the playoffs. Miami reportedly expressed interest in signing Blatche back in December, but they were unable to because of his contractual obligations to the CBA.
"Heard while in Miami: Heat have Andray Blatche in their sights after Josh Smith wound up choosing Houston to team up with pal Dwight Howard," ESPN's Marc Stein tweeted Dec 27. "... Trouble there, of course, is that Blatche will be with his team in China through at least February. Heat need a big sooner than later."
Another possibility is bringing back Beasley, whom the Heat let go in the summer. Beasley looked like an improved player last year in Miami, and a report on Saturday from Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel claimed the 26-year-old has been working out at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Kyler, who confirmed Blatche and Beasley both were possibilities, said he didn't think Beasley working out at AmericanAirlines was indicative of anything - Beasley, Kyler noted, has a home in Miami.
Other options, albeit far more unlikely, include free agents Al Harrington and Thomas Robinson. Jermaine O'Neal would be another option, but the veteran indicated earlier in February he wasn't ready to play this season.
UPDATE: Brooklyn signed Robinson to a 10-day contract Monday afternoon, according to ESPN.
