CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Considering Moon

One player I didn't mention on my previous post as to who Danny might be targeting is Jamario Moon because he is a restricted free agent and the Heat can match any offer we make for him. Since all we can offer is the vet minimum or the LLE, it wouldn't be hard to match.

The Heat have tendered Moon a qualifying offer of $1,000,497 for next year. The Heat are over the cap with a payroll of $69,681,637 for next season but then they drop to just over $17 million for the 2010-11 free agent extravaganza. Dwyane Wade has given the Heat an ultimatum of sorts saying that he will stay in Miami if they are a contender. So, they have to be thinking of trying to sign a couple other superstars to go along with Wade if they want to keep him. The salary cap is expected to drop even lower next season to just over $50 million and so if they want to make a big splash they can use all the cap space they can get.

Moon is 29 years old, but has only been in the league for 2 years. Moon entered the 2001 NBA Draft but he wasn't drafted and took the long road to the NBA playing for the Profile Patriots, Harlem Globetrotters, CBA's Albany Patroons, Fuerza Regia in the Mexican league, and the USBL Gary Steelheads. Moon signed a two-year deal with the Raptors on July 10, 2007, after he had impressed the coaching staff in a three-day mini-camp held by the club. In February of 2009, Moon was traded by the Raptors to the Heat along with Jermaine O'Neal and conditional draft pick for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

Moon's stats declined from his first to his second season. In his first season with Toronto, he averaged 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.4 blocks. In his second season with Toronto he averaged 7.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 steals and .8 blocks in 39 games before being traded to Miami where he averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, .8 steals and .6 blocks in his 26 games with them.

At 6'8" he is long and can defend well. He is very athletic with an incredible vertical leap that earned him a spot in the dunk contest. He isn't a very good ball handler but can hit the open shot when he has it but can be inconsistent. His basketball IQ has been questioned. He is a good one on one defender and with his size and quickness can guard the bigger 3's as a back up for Pierce. He has his pluses and minuses but so do all the remaining free agents. I think he would be a good fit.

It would seem as though Danny would be offering the expiring contracts of Scal and Tony who are on the outside looking in at the rotation. The Heat should think about it as another $5 million in expiring contracts could help the Heat to land another star next summer to keep Wade happy.

On another note, it appears that the Cavs are targeting Matt Barnes.

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