Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Pop quiz, hotshot: what do you call the situation if you are able to attach to your title contending roster the most important name in the franchise's history, a career 20-and-10 guy who is still capable of putting up huge numbers, and all it costs you is $375,000 for the remainder of the season? If you're Pat Riley, you call it a "no-brainer." Where's the downside? Alonzo Mourning went through extensive medical checks and is in the final stages of becoming a Heat, again. The only real hurdle is waiving someone (Wang Zhi-Zhi) or trading a disgruntled player (Wesley Person).
Person had filed a grievance with the players' union earlier this year after being placed on the injured list at a moment in time when he felt he was actually pretty healthy. Everyone knows the injured list has nothing to do with injuries and everything to do with the fact that only 12 players can be activated at a certain time. Ironically, there are three players on the Heat's injured list right now and Person still isn't playing, being listed as questionable for tonight's game against the Clippers because of sustained food poisoning. Don't even think about conspiracy theories because that'll just turn your stomach.
Meanwhile, Wang Zhi-Zhi would likely be waived, and he would not be a bad pickup for any team. He's a surprisingly talented young man still, though no teams seems to give him much playing time. He's got good range and is a versatile lefty who can also put it on the floor. He tears up summer league games when he plays and gets himself some time in preseason games but then finds himself buried on the bench. Oh well.
With the addition of Mourning, who single-handedly would have pushed the Nets into Finals contention last year if he had remained healthy, the Heat, who were already one of the stronger contenders to the title, become that much more favored. Mourning may even give Grant Hill, who scored a season high 39 points against the Clippers last night, a run for his money for Comeback Player of the Year, if such an award still existed.
Either way, Zo's signing is imminent, unless you ask Shaquille O'Neal. According to Shaq, it's already done.
NEXT GAME
The Heat (39-14, first in the Southeast) play their last game of the season before the All-Star break TONIGHT, Wednesday, February 16th, 2005, as they host LA! No, notthatLA. The Clippers (23-29, fourth in the Pacific) are looking to win at least one Florida game, having dropped its contest yesterday with the Magic. The game starts at 7:30pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Sun Sports and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Alonzo Mourning is a career 19.8 point, 9.6 rebound man, though this year with the Nets he averaged 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 18 games averaging 25 minutes per game. He also swatted more than 2 shots per game.
INJURY UPDATE
Christian Laettner(foot),Qyntel Woods(knee), andDorell Wright(knee) are all on the injured list.Wesley Person(food poisoning) is questionable for Wednesday's game.
Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press writes inThe Times Argus: Alonzo Mourning's return to the Miami Heat is imminent.The seven-time All-Star center was examined by doctors Tuesday, and Heat president Pat Riley expects Miami's former franchise cornerstone to begin practicing with the team immediately after this weekend's All-Star break.
The Miami Heraldwrites: Entering Tuesday night's game at Orlando, the Clippers were trying to shake a five-game losing streak after sparking playoff talk earlier in the season.And only one of those five losses, Washington, has a winning record. Miami lost to the Clippers last month at Los Angeles in double overtime despite Shaquille O'Neal's 39 points and 10 rebounds. Dwyane Wade missed that game with back spasms.
The Miami Heraldwrites: Free agent center Alonzo Mourning cleared waivers Tuesday and could sign a free agent contract with the Heat at any moment, and when he does, both the Heat and Mourning will have only one motivation for making the move. ''This is not sentimental,'' Heat president Pat Riley said Tuesday, when he confirmed the team's interest in Mourning for the first time. ``This is not Pat and Zo. . . . This is about winning.''