The NBA's free-agency period began at midnight, which means we can finally start getting some facts to go with all of the insane rumors and mindless speculation. Our Miami Heat, which has basically put all of its eggs in this year's free-agency basket, is already hard at work trying to woo big names such as Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh. But meetings with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have yet to go down.
The Miami Herald reports the Heat made a recruiting pitch to the Suns' Amare Stoudemire early this morning in Los Angeles. Pat Riley and company have had their eyes on Stoudemire for quite some time and made an earnest attempt to trade for him in February. Riley -- along with vice president and owner's son Nick Arison, coach Erik Spoelstra, and Alonzo Mourning -- was in L.A. for the meeting with Stoudemire, indicating he's a very big target for the Heat.
Nothing was agreed to yet.
"Everything was cool, but no one was ready to jump all the way in just yet,'' a source told the Herald. "It was like a first date. Everyone was trying to see what everyone else is going to do.''
Meanwhile, Chris Bosh (the subject of yesterday's big Heat rumor) tweeted this morning he has already received a presentation from the Heat. He also had interest from Houston, Chicago, and his current team, Toronto. David Lee, Mike Miller, Raymond Felton, and Rudy Gay also received interest from the Heat this morning.
A meeting with LeBron James in Ohio might happen later today, while Dwyane Wade won't be back in Miami until next week.
